didn't read the article, but they have this in Chicago.

They have this in Tokyo, too.

Umm...you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

There's been a website that listed serious delays for a while, probably buried somewhere deep in www.mta.info.

twobux: Umm...you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

Because there are delays and then there are delays?

Still beats driving.

the dog ate my homework

/wtf?

I liked the New York subway. I once saw two guys play Risk on a subway car.

twobux: Umm...you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

Because you expect the odd 15 min delay. The 4-hour delay, on the other hand, defies planning. Yes, I've had a 4 hour delay before.

"Please excuse me for being late, I had explosive diarrhea from entering a subway restroom" - Kenny McCormack

Metra has this in Chicago.

Riding the NYC subways when they are crowded is a really farked up experience.

I wouldn't recommend it.

well, yes.

I unfortunately live and work in NYC. The worst train stalling i've ever enjoyed was during rush hour. The train just stalled and the lights turned off (which as you can imagine was fun because the subway was full of random, paranoid commuters... but I had a seat so I was happier than the standing folk). Then an automated voice told us that there was "traffic ahead of us."

40 minutes later, the train began to move again. Apparently what I've experienced is nothing, because I've heard about people being stuck in the tunnels for over an hour. I bring my Nintendo DS with me for commuting so it's not as bad as it is for some people who have nothing to occupy them- sitting in the dark.

I think ALL transit authorities should have this, but it should be instantaneous. ie: if your bus gets there late, the damned bus driver should be writing the note. (or if taking subway, lrt, etc.. when you disembark, you should be able to get something printed out) Most bosses aren't gonna wait two farkin weeks for a note explaining why you were late.

dopekitty74: I think ALL transit authorities should have this, but it should be instantaneous. ie: if your bus gets there late, the damned bus driver should be writing the note. (or if taking subway, lrt, etc.. when you disembark, you should be able to get something printed out) Most bosses aren't gonna wait two farkin weeks for a note explaining why you were late.

This. Pre-print them even, so the driver just fills in date, time, and checks a bus for why.

Te delays wouldn't be so bad except when you get stuck with the subway performers who constantly get on your train and start playing their godawful music. The 7 train is really bad for this.

The NYC subway is pretty reliable. Sometimes it gets funky and we all have to eat the time lost.

But overall I would chalenge anyone to say it made them more than a few moments late for work.

/40 year strap hanger

Okay Norcal people, has BART ever gotten this bad that people could use excuse notes or is it generally on time during business days?

/Bay Area represent

hint hint, washington metro. If you keep raising prices while making service crappier, this is the least you can do.

twobux: you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

Idiot or troll, folks? My vote is that twobux is an idiot, but I'm willing to hear the other side of the argument here.

I am sorry I was late to the thread, I have a note from the MTA explaining everything...

ChubbyTiger: twobux: Umm...you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

Because you expect the odd 15 min delay. The 4-hour delay, on the other hand, defies planning. Yes, I've had a 4 hour delay before.

That system-wide freakout August last year was epic. I was supposed to have jury duty that day. I just turned back as soon as saw what was going on the train platform. I told the city that I moved and haven't heard from them since. My friend was delayed a few hours to work, too.

ChubbyTiger: Because you expect the odd 15 min delay. The 4-hour delay, on the other hand, defies planning. Yes, I've had a 4 hour delay before.

A four-hour delay where you're stuck in the train will make it onto the news. Your boss will believe you when you say why you're late.

If you're not stuck on the train, get your tubby ass up and walk to an alternative form of transportation if one isn't being provided for you. Sitting in the train for four hours acting like it's the only form of public transportation that can get you to work doesn't make for a good excuse - wherever a train can get you, buses or cabs can too.

/never lived in New York, but I've lived in two other cities of similar population
//one had very modern public transport, the other was barely out of the stone age - I had no problems making my way around in either

I suppose it depends on the job, but clock-watching bosses and co-workers can eat a bag of dicks. Fifteen minutes isn't really a problem unless it's chronic - the trains aren't always late.

You mean like last week when the whole LIRR got stopped because 2 trains hit each other (low speed, no injuries) at Jamaica? The delay was an hour and a half, when my normal ride is 50 minutes.

You just have to accept stuff like this happens once in a while. Usually I'm not the only one stuck so it's not a big problem at work.

Wow - after reading the about the delays I take it back. I've never experienced longer than a 15 minute delay. I guess I really am lucky.

The 4/5 can lick my nuts daily.


/please 2nd ave subway. complete yourself sooooon

I've been stuck on the green line in Boston more times than I can count, so I'm really getting a kick...

Of the major Western cities, NYC has - hands down - the worst tube system.

Byno: I've been stuck on the green line in Boston more times than I can count, so I'm really getting a kick...

Of the major Western cities, NYC has - hands down - the worst tube system.

I'd like to see you get home to the burbs in Boston at 3am on a Sunday.

/exchange any western city with Boston and you got why we rock.
//can't compare American systems to the Europeans.
///They've been doing it longer, and devote more money to it

I believe that the Tokyo subway does this as well.

woodyerik: I'd like to see you get home to the burbs in Boston at 3am on a Sunday.

/exchange any western city with Boston and you got why we rock.
//can't compare American systems to the Europeans.
///They've been doing it longer, and devote more money to it

Ah yes, but Boston is not a major American city.

I love NY, but the subway is not one of the reasons why. Try getting from downtown to the Upper East Side. Period. If you don't live close to the 4, enjoy the walk.

As for 3 AM, as someone who's tried going from 125th to midtown at 2AM, only to find the nearest A station open around 110, there's give and take everywhere.

/Love both NYC and Boston
//Both have crap tubes
///Boston's is worse

Ah yes, but Boston is not a major American Western city.

Doh! Preview = my friend

the entire transit system in Vancouver really needs something like this!!!

gweilo8888: ChubbyTiger: Because you expect the odd 15 min delay. The 4-hour delay, on the other hand, defies planning. Yes, I've had a 4 hour delay before.

A four-hour delay where you're stuck in the train will make it onto the news. Your boss will believe you when you say why you're late.

If you're not stuck on the train, get your tubby ass up and walk to an alternative form of transportation if one isn't being provided for you.

I've been stuck over 4 hours in Boston before and it never made the news. Thousands of commuters were stranded in East Boston (which is separated from downtown by water; trains and cars/cabs are your only options), and there ZERO mention of it on even MBTA.com. The only evidence I could provide to my teachers was a picture I got from someone else on a Boston livejournal community. Article about it published a few weeks after. I sure wished the MBTA issued these kinds of notes.

It's best not to assume anything, especially public transit, especially in a city as big as New York.

michaeld5: Still beats driving.

Having lived in both NYC and Cincinnati, and had my fare share of commuting in traffic and on the subway, I prefer sitting in something like the picture you posted much, much more than trying to squeeze into an uptown 6 train at 5:30.

At least in my car it didn't smell like BO and I was able to wiggle around a bit.

Bomb Head Mohammed: Idiot or troll, folks? My vote is that twobux is an idiot, but I'm willing to hear the other side of the argument here.

1. I'm not an idiot (although my wife may tell you differently) nor am I a troll.
2. All you have to do is go on the 'net and it'll show the delay, not to mention that the news sites there will be covering the beejeebuz out of it.
3. The quotes are next to the post date and time - use it.
4. On 2nd thought, don't use it. Don't use your computer. You may, however, call Plaxico and use his gun.

Byno: Try getting from downtown to the Upper East Side. Period. If you don't live close to the 4, enjoy the walk.

You sound fat. I lived b/w 1st and East End and never had any problems making the walk, drunk or not, 3am or not.

dopekitty74: I think ALL transit authorities should have this, but it should be instantaneous. ie: if your bus gets there late, the damned bus driver should be writing the note. (or if taking subway, lrt, etc.. when you disembark, you should be able to get something printed out) Most bosses aren't gonna wait two farkin weeks for a note explaining why you were late.

In Tokyo the notes are pre-printed, as you leave the station you just grab one from a station guy ripping it off a big pad.

Way back in my high school days occasionally the trains would be on strike (this was back when it was JNR) and so our school would cancel classes.

Vast majority of the time in my experience, the trains are on time (and they came once every few minutes during rush hour, the loop line is like once every 90 seconds or something crazy like that, it's at max capacity) but occasionally there are technical problems, and occasionally it's some nutter jumping in front of a train, which will cause a small delay. Still, those aren't too much of an issue unless it's some huge problem that delays stuff for 30+ mins.

Then the platforms get overcrowded.

/happy I can walk to work now

twobux: Umm...you live in NYC. Subway delays happen. Leave earlier. How complicated is this?

I can plan for the occasional 10-15 minute delay. I can't plan for the guy who decided to jump in front of my train making me late for work.

/true story

ThatGuyGreg: Byno: Try getting from downtown to the Upper East Side. Period. If you don't live close to the 4, enjoy the walk.

You sound fat. I lived b/w 1st and East End and never had any problems making the walk, drunk or not, 3am or not.

I am fat as shiat. It's still no fun to walk from the FDR to 86th.

/6'2"
//180

Byno: It's still no fun to walk from the FDR to 86th.

Then take the bus that runs crosstown on 86 and get off at Lex - the free transfer to the subway means even if you don't have a monthly pass, it doesn't cost you any more.

/UES living
//you did it wrong

twobux: 2. All you have to do is go on the 'net and it'll show the delay, not to mention that the news sites there will be covering the beejeebuz out of it.

Please read my post. It didn't happen in New York, but you can never assume with these types of things.

ThatGuyGreg: Byno: It's still no fun to walk from the FDR to 86th.

Then take the bus that runs crosstown on 86 and get off at Lex - the free transfer to the subway means even if you don't have a monthly pass, it doesn't cost you any more.

/UES living
//you did it wrong

You did it very wrong.

I live on 2nd and make it each morning to Lex. I didn't move to York because of the walk. Mostly because i'm lazy in the AM and don't want to leave any earlier.

I was wondering if they do this any where. Here in SF, MUNI sucks the big one. I give myself 70 minutes to go 4 miles and that doesn't always get me to school or work on time. I can't imagine being in HS or Middle School and having to deal with MUNI and teachers. But, maybe the teachers in SF are more lenient than back in the suburban, car-driving, Nazi-like school system I left back in FL.

I leave early all the time.

I don't get all the hate on the NYC subway system. It's pretty effective; delays usually aren't too bad (thought they are occasionally horrendous); it's better than any other public transit in the US that I've traveled on.

I'm not incredibly familiar with Chicago's system, but the public transit in NYC is one of the reasons I'll be waiting a while to leave this city. I hated the BART. The T has rush hour commute waits that are as long as, if not longer, than NYC's 3am waits.

The NYC transit is like Democracy--worst of its kind, except for all others ever made.

itazurakko: They have this in Tokyo, too.

I thought that the train crew would commit suicide if there's a delay.

bburgis: Te delays wouldn't be so bad except when you get stuck with the subway performers who constantly get on your train and start playing their godawful music. The 7 train is really bad for this.

Yea, especially the dudes who start hammering away at buckets, calling it "music". I'm tempted to give them a fiver to move on to the next car, but I doubt it'll work. They also hit on the high school girls and screw up trying to say "thank you" in other languages.

It's only going to get worse in Manhattan since high rise condos are going up faster than we're building/fixing subway lines to accommodate them. By the time the 2nd Ave. Subway is done(MAYBE by 2015, 2020 is more accurate), the Lexington Ave line will have exploded. They need to stop apartment construction NOW.

Took the kids to the Natural History Museum today. It's always amusing to hear the people at 81st keep asking when the B was coming. The twelve year old finally said to the group next to us, "The B train doesn't run on the weekends."

offers excuse notes



Is Juan Epstein in charge of the NYC transit division now?

MikeXpop: I've been stuck over 4 hours in Boston before and it never made the news. Thousands of commuters were stranded in East Boston (which is separated from downtown by water; trains and cars/cabs are your only options), and there ZERO mention of it on even MBTA.com.

Sorry, but I simply don't believe you. If you were stranded in the train with the doors closed, unable to get off during or immediately before / after business hours, it made the news. Maybe you didn't find it, but it will have been reported on because even if it happened to only one train it will have affected many hundreds or thousands of people directly or indirectly. I've been in Boston myself when there was similar flooding some 10-12 years ago and there was very extensive coverage of it.

Now, if you mean that your train was stuck in the station for four hours and you could get off it the whole time - well that just goes back to my point. Get your tubby ass outside and find a cab. You can still get to work, and have no excuse for being four hours late. 30 minutes, an hour tops to walk a reasonable distance away and find a cab. That's all you need, and all the credit your boss should give you.

MTA..."Unavoidably" delayed.