InsideTransit

Take a ride on the NYC subway today and you see a (relatively) clean system – no graffiti on the cars (except the new advertising wrapped cars), good quality announcements, air conditioning that works, and overall good service.

Go back 30 years to the 1980s and the NYC subway was completely different. I was a young kid during the 80s but I remember riding how different the subway was back then. The dirt, the endless amounts of graffiti, the crime, the lack of maintenance on the cars, I could go on… But it’s also important to remember the city itself was different back then.

24Flinching has put together a collection of photos from a variety of artists that take you back to the NYC subways of the ’80s.

Here’s one sample – check out the post for the rest of the artwork.

For as long as there have been subway maps, there have  been people who want to redesign the map. It seems to take decades for transit authorities around the world to implement new map styles.

Julie Steele from O’Reilly sat down with designer Eddie Jabbour to discuss his new implementation of the NYC Subway Map.

I’m not a huge fan of the current NYC Subway Map (July 2010 issue) for several reasons including:

• there’s no need to have the commuter rail (LIRR & Metro-North) on one side of the subway map – so few people based in NYC will ride both systems on a regular basis and for those that do, they can grab two maps
• on the back of the map replacing the commuter rail, I would rather see strip maps like they had in the 80s PLUS ads – the MTA is always complaining about cash-flow and budget issues, why not run ads on the back of the map? They ads could pay for the printing costs and also allow for more rotation of maps (monthly perhaps with new ads)
• The new map removed the “guide” box which told you in words where a train ran at different times of the day. They have removed the box and now you are left wondering where a train runs during the day since they show multiple terminals on the map with no info regarding time of service.

I don’t want to post any of Eddie’s map images here because you really need to read his story to understand the changes he is suggesting. I like a lot of Eddie’s suggestions including how he notes which stations you can’t switch directions at if you missed your stop. I can’t tell you how many times people exited the train at my station only to learn that if they wanted to switch back they would have to fork over another $2.25 and if they just stayed on the train one more stop they could easily switch back. Eddie’s map also just looks more modern and current.

The NYC MTA has posted all of the new maps for the five boroughs that include the massive cuts that will take place on June 27, 2010. You can download the maps here. The changes are the biggest set of cuts ever in the history of the MTA. Many of the buses I take on a daily/weekly basis will see major cuts that will impact my ride in a very negative way.

The W and V subway lines will be discontinued and the M becomes orange and will go into midtown instead of lower manhattan.

The week of June 27th should be a very interesting week in NYC. My guess is that by mid-July the complaining and yelling will have subsided and commuters will just learn to deal with the situation. It’s certainly soothing to know the new MTA boss gets $6k for housing each month in addition to his salary.

From June 1 – November 30, the transit authorities of the NYC metro area will run a “contactless payment” trial. The new contactless payment system allows you to enter the NYC subway, city bus, commuter bus or PATH by just tapping your credit card or mobile device to the entry point rather than having to enter your Metrocard or ticket.

The system should speed up the ability for passengers to enter the system – something that is desperately needed on city buses (especially the crosstown buses).

You can learn more about the contactless payment trial on the Mastercard site.

Sadly the test will be run by Mastercard and it appears the card or mobile device you use must be PayPass enabled. I would have preferred to see a system like the Oyster Card in London.

This video is pretty neat – it is a railfan window video from the Long Island Rail Road in New York. You can watch a trip from Penn Station in NYC to Long Beach station in Long Island in just under 2 minutes. I guess this is an express because it skips a bunch of stations. You can also watch the reverse ride into NYC – the normal trip takes 49 minutes.

Make sure to watch this video in 1080 HD for the best quality.

The transit management in NYC, known as the MTA, has posted a press release noting that they will be terminating more than 1,000 positions. The MTA says this is more than 15% of the administrative payroll. Over 500 transit station agent positions will also begin to be cut – at my station. I’ve often wondered what the station agent does but sit there or stand outside and talk on their cell phone all day. Why not give them a broom and some bleach and let them clean the stations.

“The State’s economic crisis demands that the MTA move quickly and decisively to cut costs, and that is exactly what we are doing,” said Jay H. Walder, MTA Chairman and CEO. “These layoffs are extremely painful, but we must live within our means and make the tough decisions that businesses and families across New York are making.” Walder continues, “We will be reducing overtime, consolidating redundant functions and working with suppliers to lower costs. We will not stop until I can say that every dollar the MTA receives is spent wisely.”

I’m just wondering how long before we hear that the prices will be increasing – I say somewhere around mid-April.

Amtrak has announced cancellations for Sunday February 7th due to the massive snow that fell between Washington and New Jersey. I can only imagine what a zoo Penn Station must be with all of the canceled trains! Here’s a partial list of the canceled trains – view all of the changes on the Amtrak website.

• Carolinian trains 79 and 80 will operate only between Raleigh and Charlotte with no alternate transportation between New York and Raleigh. 
• Palmetto trains 89 and 90 are canceled in their entirety between New York and Savannah.

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Over my many years riding the NYC subway, I like to think I’ve seen it all. From having a gun pointed at me, to watching a man take a pee off the edge of the platform, to a woman changing her clothes between two cars as we crossed the Manhattan Bridge, nearly nothing could shock me.

But today I have a video that I never thought I would see. Below is a video of a man playing with his chicken on a Bronx-bound 6 subway train. The video shows a man on the floor playing with his chicken (yes a clucking chicken) while others look on. You see, most people probably weren’t pissed that a chicken was on the subway, but that they were missing some seats!

So leave a comment, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on the subway or bus? Make sure to note your city as well.

The NYC MTA has posted a pdf of the latest version of their proposed service cuts. The major changes are:

• W eliminated – replaced partially with Q and partially with N – I think this is a good change although I would route the N through the tunnel
• M eliminated – replaced with V – this is a railfans dream I think – I think this is a good change as well as it will provide M and J/Z riders with access to midtown
• elimination of the Staten Island Rail special train to the ballpark
• too many bus changes to note – see the PDF below 

Here’s the guiding principles the MTA used to determine the proposed cuts:

• Affect the fewest number of riders;
• Minimize the negative effects to riders (e.g., longer waiting time);
• Maintain network coverage (even if it requires lower frequency or altered routings);
• Operate service within existing service and capacity guidelines (except where otherwise noted); and
• Improve the cost-efficiency of the service provided.

You can download the service cuts pdf here.

For 9 years the Improv Everywhere group has completed a train ride they call “No Pants!” Basically what they do is have a bunch of people ride the subway with no pants on. It’s a hoot! And no pervs, the people aren’t naked down there – they just ride in their underwear. You can read the history of the No Pants! movement here. Last year about 20 cities participated including Atlanta, Amsterdam, Sydney and Seoul.

It’s not just a few people running the mission but a load of people. The 2010 edition will take place on January 10th. More details on the Facebook signup page. So far they show about 5,000 registered attendees but I doubt that many will actually show up. The requirements for participation are:

1) Willing to take pants off on subway
2) Able to keep a straight face about it

Here’s a video from last year’s No Pants! event.
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