The Metro Subway
I’m not sure about other cities, but the subway in New York is so different from the one back home in Singapore. There’s an incredible "hooha" about it in the media all the time. Not surprising considering how many fire breakouts, power outages, delays, trains stalled, and changing of routes (which is the most confusing) that happen each week. And I’ve been "victimised" by it too. The main thing that gets to me is when the subway screws up when I’m trying to get to class, because at school they don’t let you in if you’re a minute late, but that in itself is another whole story.
The problem is MTA (Metro Transport Authority) is supposedly broke, even though they raised the subway fees just recently. The service is in excellent disrepair. The MTA blames the public though, for things like holding train doors. Well, it’s an ongoing debate. I’m not sure what will happen as these "events" continue but if you ever visit New York, be prepared.
April 9th, 2005 at 6:25 am
haha, sounds just like the London Tube system; it’s always delayed, out of service or derailed (seriously..). it’s very sad, i take the bus or walk if possible!
April 9th, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Ahhhh! This is an issue that gets me so mad, and makes me hop on my soapbox!
The MTA has raised fares twice in as many years. The first time, they mislead (LIED) the public about their financial status, and need for an increase. When their books were opened, it was found that they actually had a surplus. No rollback.
Then, less than a full year later, they pushed for another fare hike. Mayor Bloomberg insisted on public hearings throughout the city on the matter. But MTA executives, against the reasonable objections of the mayor, other politicians and citizens of NYC, turned a deaf ear and raised the fares anyway.
Almost immediately after the last fare hike, service has gotten increasingly worse. Now, the MTA is using this as ammo to justify asking for federal funds for the subway, as well as funding from the education department to transport kids to school on trains that ARE RUNNING ANYWAY!!!
Meanwhile, MTA big shots get a pay raise, and I have to give myself even extra time to get to work.
The problem is they have a monopoly on transportation in the city, and we often have no other choice to get anywhere. They just do what they want.
Rant over.
April 12th, 2005 at 6:13 pm
Thanks David and Cary for posting. Wow! I didn’t know the London subway or tube was that bad too. Thanks for the warning. And boy Cary! You should know right? You’ve been in NYC for much longer than I have. So that’s what’s really happening? Interesting!