Comments on: How to rule the subway, Time Out New York style http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:09:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: digamma http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-3792 digamma Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:27:20 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-3792 "People — for reasons unknown — tend to gravitate to the middle of the cars." Maybe because they're trying to "line up the exit"? I value seating area a lot more highly than avoiding a short walk at my destination, so I walk to wherever I think there will be the most room. On a Manhattan-bound L train in the morning, it's the 2nd and 3rd cars from the front. “People — for reasons unknown — tend to gravitate to the middle of the cars.”

Maybe because they’re trying to “line up the exit”? I value seating area a lot more highly than avoiding a short walk at my destination, so I walk to wherever I think there will be the most room. On a Manhattan-bound L train in the morning, it’s the 2nd and 3rd cars from the front.

]]> By: Carla http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-3507 Carla Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:00:55 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-3507 The secret to Herald's Square is to enter and exit at 32nd St. It's crowded, yes, but mostly with commuters who know their ways around rather than tourists who get to the stop of a stairway and stop abruptly. Also, the 32nd St. entrances take you very quickly to the tracks, whereas the ones at 34th St. make you traverse a maze of ramps, stairways, and escalators. The only problem with 32nd is that you also get a glimpse of the shiny, (relatively) clean, well-lit Path station, which makes the subway seem particularly grimy and poorly planned in comparison. The secret to Herald’s Square is to enter and exit at 32nd St. It’s crowded, yes, but mostly with commuters who know their ways around rather than tourists who get to the stop of a stairway and stop abruptly. Also, the 32nd St. entrances take you very quickly to the tracks, whereas the ones at 34th St. make you traverse a maze of ramps, stairways, and escalators.

The only problem with 32nd is that you also get a glimpse of the shiny, (relatively) clean, well-lit Path station, which makes the subway seem particularly grimy and poorly planned in comparison.

]]> By: Jacob http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-2978 Jacob Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:13:17 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-2978 The A train runs to Inwood (almost on both ends, as Inwood is both a neighborhood on the northern tip of Manhattan and a village in Long Island just past Far Rockaway). Midwood, however, is in Brooklyn and not anywhere near the A train. Also, for the 4am drunk riders: If in Manhattan or if reasonable, walk to the line that takes you all the way home, then wait for the train there. NEVER transfer late at night. I find drunk walking late at night to be easier and faster than waiting. The A train runs to Inwood (almost on both ends, as Inwood is both a neighborhood on the northern tip of Manhattan and a village in Long Island just past Far Rockaway). Midwood, however, is in Brooklyn and not anywhere near the A train.

Also, for the 4am drunk riders: If in Manhattan or if reasonable, walk to the line that takes you all the way home, then wait for the train there. NEVER transfer late at night. I find drunk walking late at night to be easier and faster than waiting.

]]> By: Peter http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-2950 Peter Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:06:01 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/11/08/how-to-rule-the-subway-time-out-new-york-style/#comment-2950 "If I feel safter riding in the center car with the conductor, how can I be sure I'll find that car & the door closest to the conductor's position?" - Look for the "Zebra Boards", long narrow black&white boards facing the tracks above the edge of platform at the center of the platform, where the conductor is positioned(note that the conductor ALWAYS points to the zebra board when opening the doors. Guess why). "What if I enjoy the thrill of potential danger & incipient criminality?" - Remember Goetz's Rule: If you're looking for trouble, you're most likely to find it in the last car of the train. “If I feel safter riding in the center car with the conductor, how can I be sure I’ll find that car & the door closest to the conductor’s position?”

- Look for the “Zebra Boards”, long narrow black&white boards facing the tracks above the edge of platform at the center of the platform, where the conductor is positioned(note that the conductor ALWAYS points to the zebra board when opening the doors. Guess why).

“What if I enjoy the thrill of potential danger & incipient criminality?”

- Remember Goetz’s Rule: If you’re looking for trouble, you’re most likely to find it in the last car of the train.

]]>