Gothamist: News Flash: The Subway is LOUD

midnite wider

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:13:43 -0500

I see more people wear earplugs at concerts than I do in the subway. I have plenty of ears and eyes since I work construction but do admit the plugs can get uncomfortable. Unless you get them custom fit.

b

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:35:42 -0500

i wear earplugs on the train, and am constantly amazed that pretty much nobody else does this; i think i've seen one other person once.

Kay

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:27:19 -0500

Hey, [10], great suggestion. Why not change cars? Because it's the same in every car, that's why. On an occasion or two I have literally gone back and forth through the entire train and couldn't find even one car that didn't have someone blaring their stupid iPods. The early evening rush hour A/C/E riders are particularly awful.

Anya

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 06:07:41 -0500

Good closed phones: I use Ultrasone DJ1 for pleasure listening & they provide excellent protectino. Another good choice would be any phones that do active noise reduction, as long as they are CLOSED (a.k.a. sealed), not open design.

Anya

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 06:04:40 -0500

CLOSED HEADPHONES, people. Your white earbuds, in addition to screaming "steal me," do NOT protect your ears and the volume from them adds to the damage. Closed headphones with LOW-volume music.

Sarah

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 03:03:20 -0500

I second the nomination of Union Square as the loudest subway station in the system. That squealing as the green line trains come around the corner is unbearable. It just drills through your brain. Try having to deal with that at 8:30AM on a workday...with a hangover...

Kevin

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:27:06 -0500

I've worn earplugs on my subway commute ever since I moved to NYC. Nothing fancy, just the bright yellow, soft foam kind (29db reduction or so they say). A big box of 200 pairs will run you @ $20 and will last for years.

Steven

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:08:41 -0500

Try hearing the sound when the R32 "E" train hits the brakes ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Joe M.

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:37:38 -0500

I'm not sure what minorities have to do with noise on the subway. But Chris [13] is apparently a very angry person and may not be familiar with Gothamist's comment policy regarding racist comments.

Not Amused

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:02:16 -0500

I personally use cottonballs when I ride the "E"train in the morning . It's all about finding a solution to the problem !

FixUnion

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:25:03 -0500

Ugh.......Union Square....easily the worst.

Samantha T

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:16:51 -0500

Hilton - I'm with you. 14th Street is unbelievably loud.

Elderta

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:13:36 -0500

Hilton is so right. IThe sound of the 4/5/6 is like nails on a blackboard heighten to the millioneth power. Or something like that. I can't stand it.

Wolf

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:07:50 -0500

What is notmentioned are the hazardous levels of air pollutants int eh subways as well. The brake pads on teh cars are made of asbestos!! The EPA pretends to test hte air and gives it a passing mark because to close the subways is not an option and to fix them is too expensive..

Chris

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:44:04 -0500

Insert Lawsuite here, I can see some poor minority filing a 100 Million Dollar lawsuit with the help of a big name law firm. Most of the damages will be due to he can no longer sing. Thats right, he was just a nice kid who wanted to help people and sing his rap music, he was on the verge of signing a record deal worth millions and was going to buy his mom a house. But alas, due to the forced riding of the subway he will never realize his dream and never buy his mom that house. Predicted Jury Award is $92,093,142.92. I'm calling it right now.....

Hilton

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:35:22 -0500

Union Station is by far the worst. The 4/5/6 line makes the loudest, most piercing sound I think I have ever heard. It must be because of that curve the line makes there, but then there has to be some cost-effective technology to mitigate the problem. If not rubber wheels, then something, please.

ahmed turdside

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:30:34 -0500

Do the newstands in the subway still sell those EARZ plugs? Sounds like earplugs are a great idea. I'll get the orange/beige colored ones and have people think it's a hearing aid. I'll respond saying "What?" everytime a candy seller or solicitor asks me a question.

Urban Thought

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:25:07 -0500

Instead of covering your ears why not just change cars? I saw this woman on the train one day who held her ears for a whole half hour. All because of the kids on the train singing songs and having what they consider a good time.

hr

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:22:48 -0500

time to ban trans fats on the subway

Toby

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:16:26 -0500

Yes, lets spend billions of dollars to make the NYC Subway rubber wheeled like Paris Métro, because the stations are not falling apart and we are all riding the Second Avenue Subway right now.

b

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:14:23 -0500

leslie, i don't think the mayor's office has any control over the MTAs budget, it's independent from the city

Meredith

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:09:46 -0500

I don't laugh at people who cover their ears on the subway, because I am often one of them. There are times when it just gets so loud that it becomes disturbing and painful. I admit I am probably more sensitive to loud noises than most people, but sometimes I just have to take action. I know it's dorky as hell, but I think I'll actually consider wearing earplugs on the subway from now on.

Brightliner

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:07:42 -0500

Of course I knew subway noise was dangerous. I have the tinnitus to prove it. And, yes, using loud iPods earbuds to try to drown out the noise is stupid, but I prefer using my sealed AKG K27i headphones, which block some outside noise so I don't have to turn the iPod up. Earbuds suck.

Gg

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:59:22 -0500

The screeching of the metal wheels on the tracks is excruciating. We really need trains, like those in the Paris Métro, with rubber wheels.

Leslie

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:47:44 -0500

FINALLY! I was always appalled that Bloomberg ignored subway tunnel noise during the peak of his "quality of life" campaigns. I'd always heard that maintenance cutbacks were to blame, and if you've ever noticed the horrible screeching of transit bus brakes, you might well believe that.

anonymass

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:39:06 -0500

I don't understand this statement: 'The study is "fundamentally flawed due to inadequate research. It fails to take into account several noise abatement measures that have been undertake" (sic).' If the study measures decibels, by default it is taking into account abatement measures. WTF kind of logic is that?

bklynd

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:37:10 -0500

Actually, I think the horrible screeching of the trains as they rounded corners has been abated. Often I am trying to listen to music on the platforms, and I think "once I get into the train it will be better." Some trains are indeed quiet and some (due to air conditioning, I think) are noisy.