Gothamist: Between Subway Cars Are Lots of Summonses

Chris

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:07:44 -0500

It seems to me that 9 times out of 10 people crossing between subway cars are either selling something, or begging. Whenever I hear those doors slide open and look over it is almost always a homeless person coming through. I've seen groups of 3 or 4 kids ride between the cars for the fun of it. I have no problem with this rule. I've ridden the subway for 5 years now and have never come across an odor so bad or a car so packed that I had to walk between cars to avoid it. I'm surprised at the number of summons given out though because I have never seen one given out even though I see someone walking between cars daily. Also, how about fining people stretched out across the seats asleep? I've been on a car with a sleeping person stretched out and a cop, and the cop didn't do anything about it.

number 11

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:49:55 -0500

#10, it's because you people don't want to pay for it (see #7).

Rob

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:32:09 -0500

Why can't the NYC subway use the same looooooooong one car system as other subways around the world?

bklynd

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:13:11 -0500

Because they are bigger, the cars on the A, D, and F trains would be *really* fucking dangerous to walk between - watch how they connect (or don't connect) the next time you go around a corner. That's why those doors are always locked.

ohplease

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:35:56 -0500

I think the rule is stupid, especially when most people just passing through, for the reasons Bodyguards mentioned. For the same reason I think it's stupid to lock the doors between cars (like most A, D and F trains). I was once on an A when some guy went nuts and started throwing meds and other objects around the car he was in. For some reason it took the conductor and the cops several minutes to unlock the doors and get to him. Meanwhile during his freakout a bunch of people were trapped in that car WITH him.

Ed

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:14:49 -0500

Let's be honest: when the city imposes new rules like this it's not really about public safety or quality of life. It's just a quick and easy way to raise revenue to help balance the budget--which continues to swell to absurd levels thanks in no small part to the staggering amount of pension money and other benefits promised the municipal unions. It's not enough that New Yorkers already pay the highest taxes in the country; the city also deems it necessary to screw regular people out of every possible dollar in the form of petty summonses and the like, metered parking on Sundays (which thankfully was revoked) and anything else the Bloomberg administration can come up with to suck a few more dollars from people's pockets. Instead, they should stop handing out crazy money and benefits to the unions who are just protecting their lazy members and their cushy way of life.

anonymass

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:49:03 -0500

I don't have a problem banning people from moving between cars when the train is in motion - it's dangerous. I do have a problem with this when the subway is stopped in a station. It doesn't make sense. What I'd much rather see - even more than the feet on the seat fines (which I am in favor of) - are fines for people eating on the subway or in stations. That shit is nasty. Many people in this city behave like animals when left to their own devices.

BODYGUARDS

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:31:12 -0500

Riding between Subway Cars requires a completely different mindset than someone walking between cars - especially when the train is not moving. Summonss can be issued whether the train is moving or not moving - so now, more people are running outside to get into another car. Sometimes it could be that a car is too cold orwithout heat - or has a horrible odor - or passengers are talking too loud - or just to find a seat in an less crowded car

Andrew J. Lederer

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:37:54 -0500

my recent experience with the new rules -- http://blogs.chortle.co.uk/andrewjlederer/2007/03/04/the_people_vs_andrew_j_lederer

rschnabel

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:25:40 -0500

And this rule certainly won't deter anyone from selling bootlegs, batteries or offering food for the homeless.

Kevin Bracken

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:36:56 -0500

I agree, the rule is stupid. If the car you've gotten into is crowded, you are much less likely to hold up the train by passing into the next car than leaving the train and running to the next car, hoping to find a seat. Also, being able to pass through doors makes multi-car subway parties much better!

bklynd

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:22:52 -0500

Actually, I don't think the rule is stupid. It is obviously dangerous to cross between cars - every now and then there is a story of some poor sap who gets seriously injured or killed doing it. As you note, there is rarely a good reason to cross between cars, and the rule makes exceptions for situations where you have to do it. So, where's the dumb part?