It looks like NYC's Congestion Pricing Program is already changing people's behavior and making the city a better place for everyone. But gosh these men are real babies about taking public transportation.
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There have been many headlines that have scared people. Hearing about someone being burned alive or pushed under and crushed by a subway car is deeply disturbing. Is the subway statistically safer? Absolutely, but we are emotional beings, not statistical models.
Good on these folks for making the change. Pretending that the points they raise is just them being precious car-brain people isn't good. If these guys face issues taking the train, others will too, especially women, disabled people, lgbt folks, older people, and everyone else we hope gets on board
I can't get too worked up over this, to be honest. They're making the behavior change we hope to see, especially the first guy. I think people are allowed to criticize public transportation as riders. Lord knows I did when I regularly rode the commuter rail.
Yes! The second person saying they need to wake up a half hour earlier is easy to sympathize with. That's unfortunate and we gain nothing by telling them they're wrong.
Hopefully they see all the benefits of congestion pricing one day. I think most will, even those who were impacted.
Yup. I get up at 5:15 every day. If I had to get up at 4:45 instead it would be a change! It's not the end of the world but it's something to adapt to.
Agreed! It can be easy to forget that not everyone understands the things we do and if I had to wake up earlier for something I didn't get, I'd be mad too!
But whoever in charge should do it anyway. I'd get with the program.
Of course, it's not unsafe, but these guys are unfortunately reacting to media coverage that portrays it as more dangerous than it is. But they're riding and that's what's important.
Someone tell them that when it gets nice out, you can also ride a bike to work as an alternative. It'll make you feel like a kid again, and trust me, after your body gets used to it, you'll feel great! 🚲
I don't think so! People need to move around the city somehow; obviously more safety is better than less, but since the subway is already beating all its competitors, I don't think of it as a huge problem. I'd love to see education efforts aimed at getting people to see the subway as already safe.
i don't think we disagree. but the paris metro, the beijing, nanjing, and shanghai subways, and even the london tube seem more efficient, cleaner, cheaper, and (i daresay even) safer.
is this a cultural thing, a political thing, an economic thing, or what?
There's a lot that goes into it. Part of what's frustrating is the lack of metrics here--do we mean just crime? Encountering people who are mentally ill or homeless? Just rude behavior or rowdy teens? Different people are referring to all of these, and they have different implications.
I don't understand how the one guy has become a regular subway rider but is still buying into the anarchy on the subway crap, but he does correctly identify that NYPD does jack shit to help keep it safe.
The way the reporter speaks about people changing their habits to avoid the tolls, it is as if that wasn't the EXACT INTENDED AND EXPECTED OUTCOME. Good grief.
Meanwhile, other nations are doing science that shows underground train systems expose people who use them to high levels of cancer causing pollutants.
I have never been on the new york subway, but I get told all of these stories of depravity and weird stuff and I'm like "Of Course they make you pay to see something that cool. Let's Go!"
I was on the UWS today and traffic levels felt like a holiday. It was quiet near Lincoln Center! Columbus Ave. was like #openstreets. Totally peaceful and livable. A great place to stroll and shop.
During my visits to NYC I loved the subways. But it would be dishonest to say that it always felt safe. If you are pushing for more people to take the train, then you better improve the experience.
If the fee was to just allow rich people to have a better drive they have their priorities wrong
I’m all for improving the experience, but it’s just a simple, easily verifiable fact that the subway is much, much safer than any other form of transportation. People from outside of NYC get fed a lot of lies about how unsafe the city is, and I’m not sure what the MTA can do about that.
As these guys are newer riders it definitely seems like it's more a vibes thing, which I have to think is driven by media coverage. But hey, at least they're riding! And hopefully their perceptions change.
I don’t normally have interactions with people who are confined in the same space as me while they yell at me and my niece while constantly staring at us with a crazed look to them.
I felt unsafe because who knew what he would do.
But if you are used to that maybe you have a different reaction
Dude I have jackass's in Ram trucks come within inches of killing me every time I ride my bike to get groceries. I think you can deal with a little crazy eye while we all wait for better mental health care & housing for homeless.
Although I think the environmental benefits are great, I think you’re being cavalier about the concerns. The added time is a valid concern as is the safety. A woman was burned to death and another pushed onto the track in front of a train just in the last few weeks. Several unstable passengers.
Yes, people face risks in everything they do, but we offer seatbelts to reduce the chance of serious injury in cars. Is it too much to ask that there be a greater police presence to reduce criminal mischief? Shut up and do as you are told only breeds resistance. I want it to work too BTW.
Certainly both can happen, and are needed. In the case of police, just the visual presence is sufficient to severely reduce these types of random acts. In a week of traveling the subway continuously between Christmas and NYD I don’t recall seeing a single one save Grand Central Station.
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In any event, more people riding the train should help with any crime issues tbh and make it feel less scary!
Yes.
Was everything fine?
Also yes.
Hopefully they see all the benefits of congestion pricing one day. I think most will, even those who were impacted.
But whoever in charge should do it anyway. I'd get with the program.
one of many sources: https://gothamist.com/news/feeling-anxious-about-riding-the-nyc-subway-heres-a-guide-for-staying-safe-underground
I think we were discussing the contents of the video as a whole, or at least I was.
you're a hero
the ny subway is a shock after using mass transit in europe and asia
https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/everyone-into-the-grinder
but is "safer than driving" setting the standard a bit low?
is this a cultural thing, a political thing, an economic thing, or what?
If the fee was to just allow rich people to have a better drive they have their priorities wrong
sometimes it smells bad.
sometimes it's dirty.
sometimes it's late.
but i have yet to see "unsafe"
I felt unsafe because who knew what he would do.
But if you are used to that maybe you have a different reaction
probably, but if so it was a long time ago.
People have an odd feeling of control in their car, that somehow feels safer, but it's not.
Riding trains has something akin to the fears of flying. Weird!