Seatless Subway Project Stalled

via davidfg's flickr

Not that you ever liked the idea, but the MTA has now pushed back their plans to test seatless subways. The NY Post reports that they were going to test four cars from October through December, as "part of a single 10-car train to run on a letter line yet to be determined." The benches would fold upright and lock during rush hour, and if the test proved successful, more lines would see seatless rides during those times. However, the manufacturer for the foldable benches, Kawasaki, "balked, calling the four-car order too small. So now the seats are to be retrofitted into newly delivered subway cars—once they arrive—on MTA facilities." For now, chalk it up to another stalled MTA project.

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By Jen Carlson in News on September 15, 2009 1:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Gothampc

So without seats, what are people supposed to hold onto? The people that would normally sit down need to grab something.

ANGRYGOD11

The MTA should try this on shuttle trains first.

Tower18

People are so delicate sometimes. Me, I would rather have better odds of getting on a damn train. If I lived on the Lexington Ave line, my chances of getting a seat at rush hour are just about zero anyway, so I'd rather be able to get on than...not be able to get on and have to wait 2 or 3 more trains, which themselves have no seats available either.

It's always the able-bodied people who don't want to stand for 20 minutes.

matty

Tried and failed in Chicago. People started saying that they didn't want to be hauled into "cattle cars" on their way to work. They were also outraged saying "what about the children?" and shit like that.

I can see it working in new york though.

Qraymond

Good idea for rush hour on the 4,5,6 as long as there are still a few seats for disabled/pregnant/elderly, etc...

Honestly for folks in wheelchairs and with stroller this would make their lives easier.

But what they really need is a Second Avenue subway!

Tower18

They tried this in Chicago too. Lost in all the furor (people always rally behind the disabled when they're really just lazy or opposed to change) was the fact that each car would still have like 10-12 seats, instead of 40, and those would be reserved for those with disabilities, just like today.

buttface

Best idea ever. More passengers in trains, more people moved during rush hour.

If you're a cripple you can sit in the back of the train. Problem solved.

Gothampc

With seatless subway cars, how will the disabled be able to "report" non-disabled people sitting in their seats?

longacre

That raises a good point. Would a seatless train comply with the ADA?

jaycjay

The plan has never included "seatless trains." There'd only be a few cars with the lockable seats on certain trains; probably four cars on a 10-car train. And the seats would only be flipped up during rush hour. Assuming, of course, that the MTA employee who's supposed to change them gets around to doing it.