Gothamist: Are Seatless Subways in Our Future?

aloria

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:27:31 -0500

Oh, fucking great. The 4 train is so fucking bumpy that I can't stand on it for more than 20 minutes without getting dizzy and having to take a seat; now what am I supposed to do, sit on the floor? Oh, and screw all those elderly people, people who stand all day at their jobs, pregnant women with swollen ankles, and anyone with a broken or sprained limb.

Jen S

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:57:52 -0500

Whoa whoa whoa. Why haven't I heard of this? Awful idea! I'd rather be late to work than have to sniff a stranger's armpit (even if it's first thing in the morning, when the deodorant is freshly applied). Everyone's boss may not be as forgiving as mine, but those people can always leave home 15 minutes earlier.

chopp3r

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:20:14 -0500

Great--subway cars in which every single seat makes that gunshot noise when stupid people stand up!

spreetaper

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:51:28 -0500

i assume you travel on every other line in the subway system during rush hour to say the 4-5-6 are the only lines that got so packed try riding on any line coming from queens boulevard some time... I don't even take those line and i know that much get a clue

jgee

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:55:39 -0500

This idea is ridiculous and is going to make people hate the MTA even more. I agree with the posters who said the doors/location of doors need to be fixed. In a crowded subway, it's near impossible to get from the middle of the car to one of the doors.

Brooklynbobby

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:54:29 -0500

This is great!!! I am disabled and cannot stand up for more than a few minutes.

charshiu

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:49:52 -0500

Now how the heck are fat people going to be able to take up TWO seats at a time! This is just more insensitivity on the part of the MTA. Maybe they should institute congestion pricing: want a seat? Pay for it!

pete

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:50:23 -0500

If the MTA won't build new train lines, its time to do what an alternative proposal to SAS said and previous in NYC subways was done. LENGTHEN THE TRAINS AND PLATFORMS!!!!!!! You can see how short the original trains were on this pic, its the bump sticking out of the wall on the left. Its time to extend the platforms to 12 or 14 cars and extend the trains likewise. Every 2 long trains will now be 3 nowadays trains. Even 16 or more is do able if you add another conductor for door closing. LIRR regularly runs trains that are 24 IRT trains, or 20 short IND/BMT trains (E, L, J, M, Z or new N trains) or 16 long IND/BMT trains (R, F, G, V, B, Q, D) long with no problems. Imagine that capacity in the subway.

virgil

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:41:07 -0500

I like the roll-up or flip-up door idea, but given how many delays occur now with people holding doors open, I can only imagine the new set of problems that might result. Still, somehow convincing door-lurkers to move into the center of the car would give the MTA a much better idea of the current system's actual capacity

shovel

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:56:37 -0500

Another great idea would be to simply puree people and pour them in. Yeah but think of all that space-hogging water...turning passengers into jerky or freeze drying might remedy this issue.

SimonLok

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:27:26 -0500

great idea, in an age of terrorism and increasing crime. Lets cram even more people on a car with the same few exits so they really cant get out or even move. I agree with [27], the MTA needs to lose a lot of personnel, especially these "idea" guys.

kissel

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:22:49 -0500

how about this idea... we fire all of the MTA employees except the track workers and a few to manage then take the billions saved in salaries, lifetime pensions and benefits and completely automate the trains and get more of them on the tracks... I know that would make me happy, and they'd probably have a surplus to boot.

mrmonkz

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:22:40 -0500

Seems like a regressive action. Besides handicapped, seniors, pregnant folk & kids it will hurt people who have to ride the train for a long time, like people who can't afford to live close to where they work. Can you imagine riding 3 hours a day standing because you live towards the end of a line? The possibility of a seat is the only compensation for people who already have long train commutes. It seems like it could be hardest on the people who are the most dependent on public transit. I'm sure the MTA has better options for moving more people without punishing riders. Though maybe not cheaper options

dagblad

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:04:06 -0500

How about a flip-up door? One entire side of the subway car opens up Bck-to-the-future-style allowing passengers to pile in with great efficiency. The door then comes down, secures, and the train drives off. Seems like a lot of the problems the flip-up seats are trying to solve would be solved by better access to the train in rush-hour situations.

angry_pickle

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:14:22 -0500

The handrails? The ones that are above the seats always seem underutilized. Because a lot of people can't either reach them or can't hold on to them comfortably. They need to install side rails on these seatless trains. I have an hour long commute. I already have to stand on my commute home everyday. Good for you. Wait until your youthful health and strength disappears. Then your tune will change. I thought the trains moved slow in the morning not because of the number of people on there but because there are more trains during rush hour and they can't easily tell how far away is the train in front of them; so they have to move slower.

kenny000

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:47:13 -0500

What are the extra people in the subway car going to hold on to then? The handrails? The ones that are above the seats always seem underutilized. Now except for the 4-5-6, trains don't get so packed that you would need this. Well I wouldn't want them on all the lines. Just the ones that get so packed that you can't get on and have to wait for the next train. I suggest the 1 train in addition to the 4-5-6. I am guessing that the people who don't have a problem with this idea don't have a very long commute. How would you like to stand for over an hour before you have to go to work?? I have an hour long commute. I already have to stand on my commute home everyday.

Shinobi Shaw

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:29:07 -0500

I second that 'rings' handle a la Tokyo trains, but knowing the damn teenage animals and their acrobatics ..... it would just be even more annoying. On second thought, keep the handles.

MFer

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:47:19 -0500

Flip-up seats will break. That's a guarantee. More maintance. More money down the drain. Now except for the 4-5-6, trains don't get so packed that you would need this. This is an obvious attempt decrease service while keeping up "capacity". And someone will figure out a way to unlock them during rushour. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Steven

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:45:44 -0500

What are the extra people in the subway car going to hold on to then?

moonbeam

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:26:46 -0500

It's an incredibly stupid idea. I can't believe there are people who think it would improve anything.

las2381

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:07:15 -0500

I am guessing that the people who don't have a problem with this idea don't have a very long commute. How would you like to stand for over an hour before you have to go to work?? I wonder what the price of this no seat installation would cost versus just adding more trains during rush hour. It seems like as the price goes up the more "benefits" we lose.

kenny000

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:47:06 -0500

Why would people need to move? The seats are locked in place at the beginning of the line at rush hour, so there's nobody on board, so nobody has to move. Even if its slower, it won't be slower by much. it still beats waiting for the next crowded train. Let's try it and see how it goes.

cucarachita

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:45:29 -0500

Maybe they should also make the entire side of the subway open up so there's no doors. Then people can get on or off with ease. Hahahahah. Also, if there are flip up seats locked into place during rush hour, I totally foresee vandalism, and lots of seats that won't stay up anymore tripping people up. Either have the seats or don't have seats, I guess. Maybe they should offer a half price discount to people willing to let other people sit on their laps. Or offer to sedate people who have the longest trips, and put them on shelves arranged in order of debarkation. Another great idea would be to simply puree people and pour them in. And I agree with wiseguynyc: it's PEOPLE who slow down the trains.

flexxy

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:57:03 -0500

Uhh's idea is illogical. Because people would have to MOVE when a person needs to flip down a seat, and that ain't happenin.

wiseguynyc

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:26:10 -0500

It's worth trying, at least at rush hour. I wonder though - the more people you pack on a train the slower it tends to run. Ever notice how speedy subways can be off hours? Will the packed cars actually slow the system down? I don't know the physics behind it but it's worth considering.

NannyState

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:11:22 -0500

We want banquettes and soft lighting.

Ace

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:56:42 -0500

The MTA must really think we're cattle. First modernize the signals and run more trains. Then, finish the "T" line. The MTA never anticipated the growth in ridership caused by our lax immigration laws and now we're all paying the price. When compared to other cities, our subway is an abomination.

amsci

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:58:44 -0500

I like Uhh's idea too, although it may be placing too much faith in the kindness of strangers.

kenny000

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:44:55 -0500

I like uhh's idea. Install flip-seats on half the train for all the cars, instead of for all the seats on half the cars.

GOP

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:36:12 -0500

It's an idea worth trying out.

usernamee

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:30:17 -0500

what about the elderly, disabled, and fatbodies? there are a lot of people who ride the train who need a seat.

Gothamist_Cynic

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:18:27 -0500

I rather they install couches and get rid of the overhead bars and have rings instead like they have in Tokyo.

uhh

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:00:19 -0500

Wouldn't it be a better idea if the MTA only installed flip-up seats on half of each car? You'll still get to pack in 9% more during the rush but there will still be seats available for those who need them.

Grand Concoursian

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:54:07 -0500

I forgot to add that this is a godawful idea. As if living here in recent years hasn't been dehumanizing enough, now we all get to ride to work in a cattle car.

Spiritof76

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:49:47 -0500

Commuting by bicycle is looking better and better. Except for New York's Finest, of course.

Jen Chung

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:47:49 -0500

Well, I added it because of anyone who will be pregnant, but it is unnecessary. What I'd love is for people to move into the train car and not block the train entrances.

hoodlum

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:43:15 -0500

I'm surprised so many of you dislike it in the poll. I hate taking the train in rush hour and having to stand on the edge of the platform with a crowd of people behind me to have any chance of getting on.

Grand Concoursian

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:40:19 -0500

Why exactly would the "soon-to-be-pregnant" require seats?