Archive for the 'Subway Cell Service' Category

‘Who are you texting 50 service alerts a day?’ ‘IDK, my bff, MTA.’

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

Now, we’re talkin’ service alerts. Or is that texting?
Nearly three months after a torrential downpour led to a system-wide failure of the subways that exposed the MTA’s deep-rooted communications problems, the MTA has issued a request for proposals for a text message alert system. A press release from the MTA has more:
The MTA is [...]

Council members worry about self-policed cell-free cars (ha!) and falling passengers (what?)

Monday, October 15th, 2007

This morning, during the piece on the shakey future of Transit Wireless, I teased you all with promises of some ridiculous stories about subway cell service. Well, wait no longer because here they are.
First up is Councilman Oliver Koppel, a Democrat from the Bronx. Mr. Koppel wants promises of cell-phone-free subway cars. I’ll give [...]

Did the MTA sign a cell service contract with a bogus company?

Monday, October 15th, 2007

At the end of September, the MTA and Transit Wireless announced a multi-million-dollar deal that would usher in the age of cell phones in the subway. Since these two groups completed their 10-year deal, things were silent on the cell phone front, but this past weekend witnessed a flurry of news — one good, [...]

Subway cell service no sure thing without carriers

Monday, September 24th, 2007

Abusing sleeping people is just one of the many things you can already do with your cell phones in the subway. (Photo by flickr user Dr Joolz)
When last we saw the underground cell phone service plan, the MTA had just announced a $46.8-million deal with Transit Wireless to equip the subway stations with cell service. [...]

Annoying cell phone conversations coming soon to a platform near you

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

Fade in on a nearly-empty subway station. It’s 2:30 a.m., and you’re stuck at the 2nd Ave. subway stop waiting for an F train that never shows up. Mostly drunk and dead tired, you just want to sit there quietly until the train rolls up to shuttle you back to Brooklyn.
But the air is pierced [...]

‘It just ain’t that big…’

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

That Guy, right, just doesn’t need that much space to air out his crotch. (Photo by flickr user strohchop)
Everyone can tell a story about the time that guy on the subway had his legs spread. You know that guy. He’s the one taking up space for three people because he either can’t close his legs [...]

‘Can you hear me now?’ Straphangers wonder about MTA pay phones

Thursday, February 8th, 2007

The odds are pretty good this phone doesn’t work. (Courtesy of Flickr user Paololluch)
MTA pay phones are often a last-ditch solution for stranded Straphangers needing to make an underground call.
Just this Monday, in fact, I saw one subway rider walk approach the pay phone with exceptional caution. This woman in her mid-twenties looked to be [...]

No cell signal is good news

Friday, December 1st, 2006

Is there anything more annoying than that person on the Q train during rush hour who whips out a cell phone as the train spends three minutes crossing the Manhattan Bridge? You know who I’m talking about; it’s the person shouting seemingly to themselves as they rush to make a call that could wait until [...]