{"id":244,"date":"2013-09-15T15:46:46","date_gmt":"2013-09-15T19:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wallyword.com\/?p=244"},"modified":"2013-09-15T15:46:46","modified_gmt":"2013-09-15T19:46:46","slug":"subway-serious-railing-on-the-hottest-ride-in-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wallyword.com\/?p=244","title":{"rendered":"Subway Serious – railing on the hottest ride in town"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Chambers_st_nyc_subway\"<\/a> \u00a0\"NY<\/a> \"subway<\/a><\/p>\n

With the good fortune of recently being hired by a well-known company to work at their corporate offices in NYC downtown, I’ve been re-introduced to a form of transportation used by thousands daily. The NYC Subway<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’ve commuted to NYC for most of my 30+ years in the workforce; this is the first time that it\u2019s been necessary for me to go downtown to work via the subway everyday.\u00a0 Oh sure, I’ve used the subway sporadically all my working life; quick hops to get to appointments, avoiding the rain when there aren’t cabs, lunch with friends, head to Yankee Stadium, etc.<\/p>\n

Still fresh in my mind are the fond memories of the underground life in the gory, er glory <\/strong><\/em>days of the early \u201880\u2019s before subway car air-conditioning. \u00a0Subway cars were covered in graffiti<\/strong><\/a>, relatively dirty, loud and the car windows were open all the time. In the summer, riding an express train was your only option for a \u201ccooler\u201d train as the hot air flew through the car at high speeds creating the illusion of a temperature drop. \u00a0Coupled with the heat was the unmistakable and highly fragrant presence of the \u201cresidents\u201d who roamed beyond the turnstiles.\u00a0 Often times, one would see people camped out on subway platform\u00a0benches and in corners, huddled in what I\u2019m sure wasn’t a swaddling cloth, but more like a mangy blanket reeking of a number of unessential scents. Of course this phenomenon was pre-Giuliani<\/strong><\/a> administration and then we woke up one morning and this crowd had vanished.<\/p>\n

Oh, and I remember using subway tokens, which have now been replaced by Metro Cards.<\/p>\n

\"subway<\/a>\"metrocard_199x125\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite the noise and darkness of the underworld, you still can\u2019t beat the subway in NYC for convenience. You can get most anywhere in town and the 5 boroughs for what is now $2.50. The system has improved greatly over the years. Most cars are air-conditioned and it\u2019s working pretty well a good percentage of the time. The maps are clearer, even visible electronically on the trains, and announcements have been introduced telling you about the upcoming station. \u00a0For people watchers, you get a view like no other into the diverse NYC population. It\u2019s also a helluva lot cleaner down there as compared to the old days.\u00a0 Interestingly, like the past, the subway is full of people still mumbling to themselves, but now it\u2019s due to the onset of iPods and Smartphones.<\/p>\n

The main thing that hasn’t changed is the temperature.\u00a0 In the summer months, that underground world is one big convection oven.\u00a0 Those of you from Phoenix, AZ reading this – no, it isn’t the legendary \u201cdry heat\u201d<\/strong> <\/a>of your climate. Also, I can assure you that those \u201cthings\u201d you see moving on the tracks are likely not geckos or gilas.\u00a0 Might be an alligator or two, though, but don\u2019t ask.<\/p>\n

Yep, at least in my opinion, the heat\u2019s still a big deal. So, if you\u2019re like most subway commuters whether living in NYC or commuting from Penn<\/strong><\/a> or Grand Central<\/strong><\/a> Stations, the plan is to spend as little time on that subway platform<\/em> as possible. \u00a0It’s a challenging goal, and there’s a real science to timing your entrance to fly through the turnstile trying to get on the train that is sitting in the station right now.\u00a0 Because the alternative is waiting for the next train which could mean a few minutes or 15+.\u00a0 If its 15+ you’re going to find yourself feeling like a chicken roasting in a self-basting bag! \u00a0In fact, if you wear a suit to work, it\u2019s pretty much guaranteed that post subway ride you\u2019ll be simmering in your own gravy by the time you arrive at work.\u00a0 Best plan is to find a dry cleaner near the office!<\/p>\n

As a public service to subway neophytes who need to navigate the system, I\u2019d like to offer out some things you may see in your travels and some tips:<\/p>\n