How Not to Board a NYC Subway

Trying to get onto a train can be nervewracking business, but is it worth your life? A man climbed over the gates between subway cars in an attempt to board a crowded C train at the 14th Street station. Yes, climbing over the gates. From the Daily News:

The packed subway pulled in about 8 p.m., and the victim tried to climb over a gate between the first and second cars, police at the scene said.

When the uptown train started to pull out, the man became stuck between the platform and the train and was dragged about 50 feet, leaving a gruesome trail of blood along the train's second car.

The 40-something man was described as "jumping" onto the cars, and a source told the Post, "It was probably just when the train started to move and it threw him off balance. It was a pure accident."

The MTA's safety suggestions say, "Boarding between subway cars may seem like a time-saver, but it is highly dangerous." What's strange is that it might seem possible to board that way to begin with, but we've seen it done before and simply thought, "What an idiot."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 19, 2006 11:02 AM

Comments [rss]

Myszka

Those things are called gates all of a sudden?? That's odd. Especially since the word gate suggests a structure that is used to facilitate the act of going in and and out, which in this case it's not.

Let's call them the bungee-sort of connector things that join the train cars. Thanks.

sunnysider

This summer while waiting for the 7-train sitting there to open its doors at times sq a guy did this. He climbed over the gate, opened the door between the cars, and got onto the train. I'm sure it was nice and cool inside, but a few minutes later it pulled away, without taking passengers. This was after a mets game, so they were probably trying to get all the trains back to shea or taking them out of service. I can totally picture this guy stuck on one of those out of service in the train yards by the tennis center for god knows how long ... funny since he probably thought he was so much smarter than everyone else!

Desk Sgt.

Another case of 'late for the train but early for heaven'!.

Subway Jared

#8, some Redbirds were still in use on the IRT line all the way up until a couple of years ago.

kevin bracken

actually a train car is more like 20 - 40 tons(!)

and yes, thank god they started cracking down on turnstile jumpers - 1 out of every 5 people they caught in the early 90's apparently had either a warrant, a criminal record or a weapon

cool scout

James come on. You shouldn't brag about jumping styles. Especially when most people are paying riders and are sick of the MTA gettin over. Nobody wants to hear how you get over. That just ain't cool.

Rules are there to keep you safe. Someone has already thought ahead for the public and determined that having a 4 ton train sever a limb could be fatal. The thought that the best way to keep this from happening is for people to enter and exit the doors only.

mh

Sometimes it is the shortage of your own time that leads you to believe that a short cut will help you. I have contemplated jumping on the trash bardge at 1am when it seemed there would not be another train for hours.

Also I have contemplated doing what this dead guy did. However, I know that I can be clumsy and slow. So, somehow I knew that I should never attempt it. I use to contemplate this when the red trains had the spring gates between trains. If a person is strong enough they can pull them apart an step on. Or back in the 90's, I would see guys hold them for each other. It was usually on a hot day when people would ride outside of a train on a hot day or when trains were crowded during rush hour.

eel

I'm sure some ambulance chasing trial lawyer will help him to sue the city for $100M. Gross negligence and racism (if he happens to be black).

James

This guy isn't stupid.

He just happened to fall.

If we all followed all the rules the city would suck. Imagine if we couldn't jaywalk?

When you break the rules you have to be careful...

Simply looking when you walk into the street is a good way to start.

I used to get on the train like that all the time... almost as often as jumping turnstyles.

back in the 80's... everyone did.

If you've never seen that before you haven't been living in nyc that long.

Then they changed to the newer trains where it's a bit more dangerous so i rarely see people doing it anymore.

The older trains allowed you to simply remove the chain and step in between the cars. Then you could get into either car and you'd be able to lean against the door (almost as good as a seat).

janelle

could the MTA be held liable? i would suspect that no conductor could possibly see the guy when they took off. he must have already been over the gates. this is tragic, but why would you do such a stupid thing? if you're in that much of a hurry, get a cab!

s

>> The word "accident" is overused.

So is the word "victim". Although in this case, I guess he was the victim of his own stupidity.

ed_Extinct

"It was a pure accident." No it wasn't, he meant to do it...

darwin winner of the week.

MT

How much do you want to bet the city gets sued somehow for this guy's stupidity?

mihow

"It's a predictable consequence."

What a great phrase.

Howard

I used to see it all the time 20+ yrs ago. In fact, I did it on the IRT line since it was always packed. But you could push your way through the accordian style gates. If there are actual chains, it sounds pretty hairy.

JT

"It was a pure accident." When you do something so clearly dangerous and get hurt, it's not an accident. It's a predictable consequence. The word "accident" is overused.

east side

Back when the old red trains were on the 456 line, (late 80's) all you had to do was unhook a chain to get on a train this way. People would do it all the time when the trains were too crowded to go through the door.

Kristin

I saw someone do this 2 days ago on the uptown 1 at 96th street. I had never seen it before in my 24 years here. Weird that this happened just 2 days later. Super dangerous.

Meredith

Darwin Awards nominee.

CR

Obviously a very stupid individual. Aren't those doors locked on some trains these days? If so, was he going to ride between cars and rejump over the gates at his destination?

Toby

Natural selection at work.

Dan

I saw this on (the totally fucking awesome) Gothamist Maps and was wondering what happened. Idiot, indeed!

GiGi

I've lived in New York City for 10 years and have NEVER seen anyone do this. What a stupid way to go.

bee em tea

I haven't seen someone getting on a train like this in years. I remember people doing this when there were those collapsible folding gates between cars.

but how do you get on with those ropes and then a chain? Crazy and this wasn't during the peak rush, it was towards the end of the rush hour if I recall.