Remembering the subways on Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving, it’s always nice to recognize those things for which we are thankful. As an regular reader of this site knows, I am at all times thanksful for New York City’s subway system. But why?

Presented below are a few of the reasons why I’m thanking the MTA and New York City Transit today. Feel free to add you own.

I’m thankful for…

• 24-hour subway service. The ability to take the train at 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. makes this subway system great and is the prime reason why New York is the City that Never Sleeps.
• The MTA’s efforts at reaching out to the public. While I think we should question the recent changes to the fare increase proposals, I certainly appreciate the way the MTA is trying to engage its riders in discussing long-term planning.
• The Shuttle. The various shuttle trains in New York are the unsung heroes of our subway system. Whether they’re connecting Times Square to Grand Central or the C stop at Franklin Ave. to the 2 and the 3 further south on Franklin Ave. or the Q and the B at Prospect Park, these shuttles help integrate the system and make daunting walks or crosstown trips manageable. If only we had some more in northern Manhattan.
• The 18th St. stop on the West Side IRT. Because people along 7th Ave. couldn’t walk five blocks north to 23rd St. or four blocks south to 14th St. Gotta save those legs. (Hint: I’m being sarcastic with this one.)
• The view of the city from the Manhattan Bridge. Except for the brief glimpse of the Statue of Liberty from the F train on the cursed Culver Viaduct, nothing rivals that journey over Manhattan Bridge with Brooklyn to the east, the Manhattan skyline to the west, the East River snaking north and the harbor to the south. It’s sightseeing from a subway.
• The Transit Museum. If you’ve never been there, check it out. It’s a must-see for fans of the subway.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks. Remember: Trains are running on a Sunday schedule, and enjoy that turkey.