Gothamist: "Ten Plagues" of the Subway Set Forth by Straphangers

striker79

Sun, 11 May 2008 21:02:39 -0500

Just came across this very funny blog, Commuter Outrage, which lists a whole bunch of additional plagues on the NY subway. Here's the list. I don't agree with all of them - like "Complete lack of customer service," for example. There's always someone working the booth at my stop. But the rest are all true from my experience...... Pretty damn funny what we put up with every day - and to see it all there in one list, hahahaha.

sonyactivision

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:27:49 -0500

Smelly food and the mind-numbingly idiotic jerks that sit there smacking that shit like they're in the back of a minivan.

Gwinny

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:57:35 -0500

Hey #5, if you were with someone who was sick, wouldn't a cab (or an ambulance) have been a way more obvious option for all concerned??

The Green Cat

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:15:49 -0500

How about the endless track work on the A and C lines which makes weekend and late night travel a nightmare for those of us who live above 168th Street. I hear now that the weekend disruptions will continue through 2009??? I appreciate keeping things maintained but how much track work is needed there?

jaja007

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:18:28 -0500

For #5, I hate it when the old people or pregnant ladies rush into the car, push other people aside, and right in front of me. Do you think I'm an undercover cop or used to be a boy scout? I'm not giving you my seat. I saw how rude you were to the other person and tried to push them out your way assuming because I'm in shape and clean cut I must be some good old farm boy tourist or something, feel some sort of guilt, and offer you my seat. It ain't happening.

jaja007

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:10:54 -0500

I hate it when I'm sitting in an empty or nearly subway car and someone decides to sit right next to me! This happens too much. Do they think I'm going to protect them from the black thugs or something. It's so freaking annoying. Thank god for Ipods or they'd try harder to strike up a conversation or something.

drewo

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:19:32 -0500

I recently took the L train out to W'burg and experienced the "conductor-less" ride on that line - and I liked it. The ride was smooth, no jerking back and forth as the train maintained a steady speed, and it stopped smoothly. I'd like to see this technology applied to other lines.

Georgina

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:17:11 -0500

Who should be banned during RUSH HOURS: People with Buick size baby carriages (some of these kids are big enough to walk) and lazy asses taking their bikes on the subway. RIDE YOUR BIKE.

Kojak

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:09:46 -0500

* Overcrowding: Better signaling systems that allow for more trains to run on the line more efficently. Actually in the works. * Delays: Same as above, has improved. Delays and accidents happen, but they should work on a unified system to let subway riders know what the hell is happening and how to cope. * Long waits: Same as above * Flooding: More Pumps? Better Drainage? Rafts for people, rats, homeless. * Summer heat: Good question. The heat I can live with. Its the heat + the urine smell in some stations that kills me. * Dirty seats: Clean your stinkin ass. * Garbled announcements: Arrange proper english classes for train crews. And better announcement system. * MetroCard mis-swipes: RFID chips as Eric said, already deployed as a test on the Lex Ave Line. I tried it and it works great. * Just missing a train: Sucks to be you. But its nice to have electronic signs to let you know when the next one is coming like whats on the L line. * Traveling with your newborn: Stuff the child inside a well ventilated, but soundproof box. And place holes on the bottom for urine and feces to flow.

Alex

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:02:03 -0500

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8AnEHKZM1I If only our trains had more people like this.

lower manhattan

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:01:37 -0500

Why on earth does NYC allow eating and drinking in the cars and stations?? In no other city do you have to sit and watch some family chowing down on their saucy platters, balancing drinks between their knees, or someone spilling a bag of M & M peanuts that commence to roll all over the car for the remainder of its shift... It is simply unfathomable. As for the preachers, has anyone tried standing up to one and asking them to please spare everyone the message?

thenextstopwillbe

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:53:28 -0500

i'm the witness to the dead rat in the change chute. just another way for nyc to surprise you.

rbeshenk

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:53:02 -0500

11. Guy sitting next to me this morning who decided to whip it out and urinate on a crowded train during my commute to work.

EricRoberts

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:50:12 -0500

@politburo - oh no, millions of dollars! What's the MTA budget again? And I know it's a novel concept, but spending now will save money later. Remember when some switching closet caught fire and there was only one company still making the switches? And the MTA said they wouldn't have it fixed for years?

Elderta

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:46:05 -0500

I kinda like the Mariachi Brothers, and there's a Doo Wop Trio sometimes, too. They always make me smile. The Preachers, I'm no so fond of. Love that photo, Sacha Lecca, congrats!

Dude69

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:35:03 -0500

Street News Dude, kids selling candies for their "basketball uniforms", stinking bums who sleep across the seats, people who push in without letting passengers out first..the list can go on forever.

Kevin Walsh

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:23:08 -0500

Add the Mariachi Brothers, the hip hop guys, the gospel guys, and the beggars... www.forgotten-ny.com

streber

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:20:40 -0500

I hate the preacher! If I am going to spend eternity in hell, can I at least get a little peace and quiet on my commute to work?

Lord Stompo

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:56:49 -0500

I actually like the rats. They're kind of cute!

murphguide

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:32:58 -0500

When I saw that photo I thought it was another installation of the NYC Waterfalls Project.

Politburo

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:59:46 -0500

Unions may be preventing some progress, but you're ignoring the fact that your proposals would cost millions of dollars to implement.. let's re-engineer the train cars, yeah that'll be cheap.

bjornsaucey

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:42:56 -0500

Howsabout traveling with other people's children? I consider strollers the new Panzer tank.

wer1212

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:42:25 -0500

Subway Preachers? Here's a bunch. http://www.lilsubwaycrybaby.com/?page_id=17 I can't freaking deal with these people.

Jerk Store

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:35:57 -0500

I hate to take sides with the MTA (I know they blame them for flooding and a plethora of additional ridiculousness), but I think the free newspaper vendors are getting on up there in terms of plagues. At my stop, there's one who hunkers down on a dry tier of the entry staircase when it is raining. It completely jams up the stairway and creates a logjam of wet, angry people trying to descend and ascend.

west side Michael

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:22:26 -0500

Boarding with a very obvious sick partner with Shakey Parkinson's disease on the way to the hospital and not getting a seat from the ipod generation,my only feeling is that it will get worse when they are my age and more crowded. I do not expect courtesy to old age as it was when i was young nor to pregnant women who don't get seat consideration either. Glad I will be gone soon by natural age.

EricRoberts

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:55:47 -0500

I can see fixes for many of these.. Overcrowding, delays, long waits, garbled announcements, just missing a train could all be alleviated by upgrading the antiquated switching into the 21st century. A major reason why the MTA can't do this is because the unions won't allow anything that could possibly result in a loss of jobs. Think how great it would be if there were electronic signs outside the station notifying you when the next train is coming and where it currently is. Dirty seats is partly to blame on the slobs who dirty them. Metrocard misswipes could be fixed with RFID chips. The swiping was a shortsighted decision. Summer heat could be helped if they reduced the amount of air conditioning on every train, didn't leave the doors open when delayed in a station, and used magnetic braking. Flooding is probably incredibly difficult. And I'm not sure what the complaint about travelling with a newborn is??? Yes, having a baby in the city isn't very easy.

gossipgirl

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:53:50 -0500

Rats. Definitely.

spiritross

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:52:30 -0500

Great picture I cant believe that's at 34th & 8th Ave station too pretty trafficked area - not the Broadway Stop on the G train

Tim N.

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:26:53 -0500

I'd have to go with the subway preachers. Somehow, I can deal with just about anything else. Oh, and yuppies.