There is so much going on in the city that I feel compelled to begin a new series of lists compiling my favorite (and not so favorite) things about the city. So let's start with the thing I am most dependent on in the city: the MTA!
7) Inclement Weather ~ I know every subway line runs above ground at some point, but aren't most of the tracks BELOW ground? Why is it that whenever there is a rain or a snowstorm, the subway system goes berzerk?! Maybe it's just the city in general--it's stressful enough traveling in the city when it's raining, snowing, windy, too hot, pretty much anything besides perfect weather. Don't make me late to boot!
6) Loudspeakers ~ We know that things deteriorate over time. But with the amount of maintenance and construction that they are allegedly doing continuously on the MTA (see #1 below), you'd think that we could at least be able to understand the MTA employees when they let us know where the nearest train is to the station, ask them a question at the kiosk, or let us know to 'stand clear of the closing doors.' But often times we need to hear things twice, even three times before we can understand the words that are coming from the crackling, busted loudspeakers. Then again, it could very well just be the employees themselves.
5) Out of Date Advertisements ~ When I first moved to the city, I saw a public service advertisement on the train discussing the need for eyeball donors, and how everyone should do it because Broadway legend Jerry Orbach did it. I was disturbed at the thought of someone walking around with Jerry Orbach's eyeballs (or anyone else's than their own, for that matter). Almost exactly a year later, I saw the same advertisement. And almost a year later, I was equally as disturbed. I also don't care what the dates of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular were. It's April.
4) Panhandlers/Performers ~ Is it weird that I don't mind homeless people begging for money as much as I am perturbed when someone interrupts my music, magazine, or book with a performance? I've witnessed some amazingly awful as well as some awfully amazing entertainment on the subway. But let tell all of you entertainers something: I don't want to hear your mariachi rendition of "Feliz Navidad" or "La Bamba," your best take on "The Impossible Dream" or "No One" by Alicia Keys, and I ESPECIALLY don't want you to tell me to get out of the way because you don't want to knock in to me when you break dance in the middle of the subway car. Save it for the platforms!
3) Gross Bad Habits ~ Subways are not the place to urinate, vomit, pick your nose, clip and/or file your nails, or launch snot rockets. I'm grossed out that I even need to say that.
2) Poor Boarding Etiquette ~ How am I supposed to get out of the subway car if you don't wait for me to disembark before you come plowing on? Trust me, it will be much easier to board the train if you wait for me to get off first.
And my NUMBER 1 NYC Subway pet peeve is...
1) Construction ~ It was one of the main reasons Ashley and I moved out of the Upper East Side (thanks, 2nd Ave. subway line!), and it's also the reason I'm usually late to work brunch on the weekend. You'd think when they take an entire subway line off the track to work on it, they would put more cars on other tracks. Nope. It just means you'd better start naming the rats you meet on the platforms, because you're going to be there for a long time.
2 comments:
Ah yes, makes me long for the good old days in the big city. But let me tell ya, it's a pain sometimes, but remember sitting on the 405 for 2 hours going 10 miles?
ha! my pet peeves about driving in LA...there's a good idea for a post. i could probably make a top 50 list!
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