The end of summer means lots of things: school, cooler weather, new fashions and new restaurants, sure, but also the return of everyones favorite ongoing subway headache. That's right, it is time to play Is The L Train Fucked? And guess what? Yup, this weekend it most certainly is! more ›

Need to take the L to or from east of Lorimer Street this weekend? Well then, you are totally screwed. Once again the dreaded shuttle service will be back in effect, running from Lorimer to Broadway Junction, from 11:59 tonight through 5 a.m. on Monday. more ›

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum took its rally for a space shuttle underground today, to the shuttle train out of Grand Central. Gov. Paterson, Borough Presidents Scott Stringer (Manhattan) and Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn), Intrepid Museum President Bill White and a lot of space shuttle enthusiasts gathered to ask NASA to gift us one of their retired space shuttles (you can sign the petition here). How can they say no to that face? more ›

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's campaign for a space shuttle is still going strong! And tomorrow, you can join them in solidarity. They're "inviting New Yorkers to publicly show their passion for space exploration. Please join us—dressed up as your favorite space themed character—as we ride the S train shuttle from Grand Central Terminal to Times Square." Can't argue with their fervor, a retired space shuttle would be a lot cooler than the subway shuttle. more ›

There's more rallying around bringing a space shuttle to NYC. The Intrepid is still waiting it out to see if they'll be delivered one of the three space shuttles from NASA next year—up for grabs are the Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery. The Daily News talked to one local, 47-year-old Mike Massimino—an astronaut himself! He told the paper, "I would love to see one there. I think that would be a great place for it. A lot of people live in New York, and a lot of people visit New York, so that's a pretty good argument." While the big delivery wouldn't be made til next year, NASA says they are close to deciding if one will be coming our way. You can help out by signing the museum's petition, which has already been signed by nearly 50,000. more ›

This morning the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions invaded our subways, and presented straphangers with a special performance by the brass section of the Amsterdam-based Royal Concertebouw Orchestra. The above scene took place on the Holland-themed, and wrapped, Grand Central-Times Square shuttle; and while we're told by the Dutch that this "delighted" passerby, we're guessing there was at least one person annoyed they didn't get a seat. more ›

We're halfway through the G train's month-long disappearance on weekends, and naturally there have been horror stories of inconvenient commutes by shuttle bus to under-served parts of Brooklyn and Queens. That Greenpoint blog New York Shitty published a photo series of forsaken commuters waiting for the shuttle bus in Williamsburg, calling it "Waiting for G(odot)," with a dedication to the MTA. And another blogger described an annoying ride on packed shuttle that passed her usual stop by half a block. Nightmare! But not everyone misses the G train, and some wish it would stay disappeared for good. more ›

The free IKEA shuttle buses that transport passengers between the Swedish furniture giant’s Red Hook store and three nearby subway stops have been slapped with over 50 safety violations since November! State inspectors cited infractions ranging from broken headlights and worn tires to unlicensed drivers; in one case they ordered a bus driver to immediately terminate service after noticing that both rear emergency exits were broken and wouldn’t open. (Maybe they just weren't assembled correctly?) IKEA spokesman Joseph Roth says he was "surprised" to hear about the violations, which each carry a maximum fine of $5,000. The company has a contract with Corporate Express, based in Gravesend, to operate the route, but that company has subcontracted out to others. Corporate Express lawyer Arthur Miller tells the Daily News this is essentially a witch hunt (just like The Crucible!) orchestrated by the Red Hook locals who've long opposed IKEA: "The fact is, [state inspectors] were called. And any agent will tell you they can always find something wherever they go." more ›

Stuck in drab 'ol Williamsburg with an empty Metrocard and a hankering to hit up some of the bold name establishments in beautiful Downtown Brooklyn? Well mister, it's your lucky day. The Heart of Brooklyn (HoB) is a free shuttle bus in the borough; to give you an idea of the routes, on Saturdays its "Scene shuttle" offers rides from Williamsburg, Red Hook and Bay Ridge to Downtown Brooklyn. NY Press notes that "in addition to direct transportation, people who ride the 32-passenger shuttle will benefit from an onboard tour guide and coupons. Take that, G train!" Learn more about the free public transportation here, and notice that it will even steal you away from the Met or Bryant Park on Sunday and deliver you to central Brooklyn’s cultural destinations (though with drop-off and pick-up times, one enterprising straphanger could also look at this as a free ride to Manhattan). [via Free Williamsburg] more ›