Laika

This might be the key sentence in all of your oddly confrontational posts. You have an admirable familiarity with half of the issue, i.e.; the ADA, but you have very little apparent familiarity with the MTA or NYC generally. Maybe you'd like to dial it down a notch and listen to what folks who actually ride the subway have to say, e.g. there are constant and ongoing cuts to station personel which has in fact resulted in fewer attended stations and greater automation.

The subway is badly underfunded by all levels of government, and barely works for most people with all of their faculties intact. That it does not accomodate all who wish to use it may be illegal, but it doesn't make full compliance (in this case, a dubious goal at best, imo) any more affordable or practical. Whether it's right or wrong, the ADA is one of the absolute worst examples of un- or under-funded Federal mandates in recent memory.

vincenzosi

Point 1 and 2 mean nothing, because they didn't. If they hadn't built the subway at all we wouldn't be having this conversation at all. If if if if if if. Wonderful. If if if if if if if. Well, you know what? If means nothing here.

As for the war, why is everything with you a zero sum game? If New York decided tomorrow to not send more out of the state in tax money than it takes back, guess what would happen? I'd like to know what number represents "most" and see that as a percentage of what New York provides in tax revenue to the rest of the country.

Exactly.

3. Is it possible for the city to assist the MTA? Since you don't live here and obviously aren't very informed on New York City, let me school you. The city is operating on almost a 1:1 as far as expenditures and revenues. Listen in on the budget process every year. Maybe we should play your zero sum game with the city budget: How about deciding about putting extra computers in schools or funding subway expansion? I mean, it is a zero sum game right?

And you still didn't answer my previous question. As you derided the SUV's and houses, what kind of car do you drive, house do you live in, and bike do you ride? I live in an apartment, have a company paid for car, and ride two bikes the total of which are $1000. Why don't you explain to me your crass consumerism at the expense of a poor wheelchair bound person who can't get on a subway?

Or is it just SUV owners with big homes?

We have a guy from the midwest telling a guy from the Northeast how the subway runs.

Stick to the ADA. Leave the city to the folks who live here, mmmkay?

iceratt

What does all this sniping do for the cause of bike commuting and other nonautomobile modes of transportation? There are certainly problems. We should be brainstorming to find sollutions, then work together to advocate for change. I imagine that NY bicyclists need to let MTA know that their new systym doesn't work. How about hundreds of $10 bikes that riders try to get through the turnstyles, but that "accidently" get stuck? Or plaster flyers in the underground that say" MTA is jepordizing your safety to save a Buck" or "Zero attendants=lower safety" followed by "Lower safety=lower ridership".

Ebbtide

Dnvrfox is trying trying to help you but all you want to do is argue and attack. If you are that concerned about local issues why post your petty inconveniences on an international web site?

Regards,

ehenz

vincenzosi

Because there are quite a few people on this "international forum" who live in New York City, and this issue happens to affect all of us. If you aren't interested in our "petty" issues, then I suggest you tell whoever is forcing you to read about our "petty" issues to stop making you. That way, you won't have to tolerate too much of this pettiness.

Warmest regards,
Vincenzosi

Konakazi

I like how everybody just glosses over that actual MTA information that I posted about their facilities and how they have decided to work with the ADA.

Obviously, from referencing that information, it's not a lack of involvement from the ADA that is the problem.

I think it's fair for someone to point out a problem in our city without getting attacked.

Why is it that every time someone comes up with a legitimate concern about biking in New York City that someone from outside New York City comes storming in, acting indignant and self-righteous?

Great question.

vincenzosi

Because everyone seems to be under the impression that cycling in New York City is like cycling in Last Chance New Mexico...

Cops all love us...

The roads are paved and bike lanes clearly marked and observed...

Cars signal before they turn into you...

Greenways are beautiful, paved, and well maintained...

City Buses have racks in the front and wait for you to attach your bike...

Unless you've ridden here you have no idea. Most people think just because they've ridden, it's the same thing as riding here.

That's where 99.9% of the confusion comes from. I'd love to see some of the Detroit CM people (who call it a nice calm leisurely affair) ride a NY CM ride and see what others have reported goes on with the police.

They drop dead on the spot.

And that's just one example.

Bockman

So no more Token Sucking?

Dave

vincenzosi

That's just frickin' nasty... I hate touching some of those turnstyles... Putting my mouth on them... Oy...

Anthony King

Sorry about that, NYC riders.
Is there no way to get a bike through?
Popping off the front wheel?
It looks like a tight fit.
What about a few spotters and a small actetylene torch?
It seems like a slot could be made in the bars that a bike could get through, but that a person could not, bikes are so skinny and you'd just need horizontal gaps for the pedals and handle bars. Have the new turnstiles already been fabricated? installed?
Who has the power to change some of the plans, or is it a forgone conclusion? (great band) If it isn't a done deal, get on whatever agency makes the decisions and find the individual(s) most repsonsible. Is the MTA a state, city or private entity?
Is Transportaion Alternatives doing anything about this?

vincenzosi

It won't fit. I'm a big guy and those turnstiles are a tight fit for me alone when I have my messenger bag on. They're already installed in stations where there is no booth attendant.

TA has been fighting the MTA on all of these closures, but the problem with the MTA is that it's a poorly run organization that wastes enormous amounts of money, and at the same time holds public hearings that are for nothing excpet to give people a place to yell. The decisions are reached long before the hearings.

Their general attitude is F You, live with it.

slvoid

As I see it, most of NYC "needs" the MTA to get around. But they're a privately run organization (I think) so they've got us by the balls.
I've been taking the subway for the past 3 days cause my bike's in the shop (finally got it back, yay!) and it's disgusting.
Fat asses left and right. Two days ago I was sitting in my seat in a row designed for 3 people with me on the left and this ****** on the right, some other ****** sits down in the half a seat of space left and almost squeezed me out. I ended up getting uncomfortable enough that I got up. Someone else sat down and ended up sitting on one cheek. A quick glance revealed almost 75% of the people there were so overweight that they couldn't fit into a standard slot for a seat that just 15 years ago would've sat 90% of the people.
Then there's all the crowds, people pressed up against you like sardines. And you wonder how the flu spreads so fast here.
Then there are the filthy poles.
And screaming children.
And the loud banging and screeching of the train.
And the annoying high school kids.
And the homeless.
And the numerous delays.
And lack of ventilation. 200 people jammed in there like sardines with winter coats on when it's 85 degrees inside the train with no windows open and the damn thing's stuck in a tunnel for 10 minutes.
Then there's the paranoia. I swear if a terrorist set fire to a few subway trains in the first and last cars of a train with 10 cars and 250 people in each car, they can make 9/11 look like a joke. All the doors are locked, the windows only open like 2 inches.

Granted it's not the best system in the world but the mta works, though not reliably (murphy's law), I still take it sometimes. Most times though, I'm glad I'm on my bike.

vincenzosi

And after all that it's the only 24 hour subway in the world.

It's a game of give and take, I tell ya

slvoid

Here's what the subway used to look like in the 80's.
Look at the last pic on page 4...
https://www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/Fr...RJSJ42A&DT=ALB



Here are the new ones we just got:

vincenzosi

Funny thing is most of those new ones on the 4,5, & 6 still look like that. A feat in itself if you ask me...

Konakazi

Hey man, that guy interrupted my best high score on Ms. Pac Man! I can't let that stand!!!

ch0mb0

couldn't have said it better (or could I? we'll never know)

..but I'm trying hard to not rely on the mta. Sometimes it takes a lot of motivation to get on that bike and ride first thing in the morning, but I'm always thankful later. I really need to get a 2nd ride assembled before the bad weather hits.