If you live in, or have ever visited, the Big Apple, you know subway culture is its own beast. The MTA keeps the city moving, right? It’s great not having a car (sometimes), but riding the subway can be a hassle more often than not. Your commute home can easily make your bad day worse. If you live in NYC, you know exactly what I mean. Here’s a list of 14 occurrences dreaded by NYC commuters.
1. Rush Hour
Let’s start with the most common experience faced by every New Yorker. The dreadful crowds — especially the rush hour crowds. New York City is crowded enough as it is, but between the hours of 4 p.m.–7 p.m., crowds swell to something that’s nearly unimaginable. It’s truly something you have to experience for yourself to appreciate the gravity of rush hour. In New York, someone's always trying to get somewhere, but unfortunately, we all move the most around the same time. New Yorkers avoid rush hour at all cost, but sometimes you have to just deal. Imagine you’re pressed for time and you’re met with a subway car that looks like this:
Photo: Move NY
This is a regular, pesky occurrence for NY commuters.
2. The Empty Subway Car
Photo: Matthew Rutledge/Flickr
To an inexperienced eye, an empty subway car is a treasure of sorts. What are the odds that of the millions of people who live in the city, this one car is completely empty? The odds are very slim actually. Space is probably the second most valued commodity in NYC, right after money. I’d bet my bottom dollar that if a subway car is empty, it’s a bad sign. Usually, an empty subway car indicates an extremely pungent odor that no one is willing to tolerate. Let’s not even discuss the sources of the foulness. You probably want to keep your lunch down.
3. SHOWTIME!
Photo: AP
First and foremost, there is an incredible amount of talent throughout the concrete jungle. I’ve been blown away by several performers over the years. Subway performers come in many varieties. There are singers, poets and musicians of all types. Most commonly, you’ll find subway dancers who refer to their “set” as Showtime. I’m not knocking anyone’s hustle, but I really just want to enjoy my ride in peace. Subway performers seem to interrupt at the most inopportune times. While many are exceptionally talented acrobatic dancers, I’ve seen dozens of variations and have grown numb to the experience. In fact, most commuters are unruffled by the dancers climbing the poles and their fancy footwork. Most people suffer in silence because there’s really nothing you can do about it. Oh, New York! Why do you hate me?
4. Salespeople
Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP
There’s always someone selling something on the subway. From the lady with the cart of churros, to the guy selling oils and incense on the A train, there’s always something to buy on the MTA. If you ride the trains long enough, you’ll come across the kids selling candy to “support their basketball team and stay off the streets.” No one really knows what happens to the proceeds, but as soon as you hear “Excuse me ladies and gentlemen…”, you know you’ve become a regular.
5. Dealing with Delays and Construction
Photo: Research on the Rails
It seems like the MTA can never get their sh*t together. Trains are forever shutdown or running with delays. Why can’t the MTA operate with dysfunction when I’m not pressed for time?! It seems like the trains give me a hard time when I have to be somewhere important, but run without a hitch when I’m creeping! The L, 2 and 3 lines are notorious for mechanical issues. And you can forget about asking an MTA worker for help. They’re just as confused as commuters. I guess in a city of nearly nine million people, transit issues are inevitable. But still…the MTA has got to do better.
6. Missing the Train by Half a Second
Photo: Mashable
It’s that time of the month again. Time to re-up on your rides, but you can hear the train coming and the next one doesn’t come for another 10 minutes! You run up to the MTA vending machine only to realize it’s out of order. FML! This also is a very common occurrence for New Yorkers. I’ve witnessed people run for the train like it’s the last ride of their lives. It’s most upsetting when you just missed it. The only thing left to do is complain to yourself about how much you hate the MTA, and wait for the next train. Maybe you’ll even buy a churro while you wait.
7. PDA
Photo: Lucas Jackson
New York is crowded enough without the obnoxious couple making out in a packed subway car. This may not bother everyone, but some couples seem to think that publicly grabbing their partner’s unmentionables is acceptable behavior. Look, get it how you live, but the train is a public space. Have some regard for those commuting with you. Affection is an important aspect of any relationship, but do you think you all could wait until you arrive at your destination? K. Thx. Bye.
8. When Rowdy Teenagers Board Your Train
Photo: Alex Campos via Facebook
UGH! After school hours are the absolute worst. Teenagers infiltrate the subway trains, demanding space and attention with their absurdly loud conversations and over-the-top antics. I empathize with them though because I was once a teenager, and my friends and I used to tear up any public space we were in. Kids will be kids, but geez! I just want to get home in peace. But that’s pretty much like asking pigs to fly in a city like New York.
9. Manspreading
Photo: @ScottPiro on Instagram
I’m not too sure if some men do this intentionally to avoid people from sitting too close to them, or if they spread their legs that far everywhere they go. Manspreading is perhaps one of the most douchbaggy things you can do as a commuter. As one person, you should take up one seat. That’s not the way some guys see it. Do us a favor sir, sit like a reasonable, considerate human being. Is that too much to ask?
10. Eating Commuters
Photo: NY Daily News
I can barely breathe comfortably on the train. I don’t see how people eat full-on meals during their commute. I mean, I’m not judging BUT, eating on the subway can’t be sanitary, and moreover, we don’t want to smell your sesame chicken and fried rice! Eating on the train can be an invasive experience for others, as riding quarters are considerably limited. It’s best for all parties to wait until you get to your stop to chow down. Don’t you want to wash your hands and eat comfortably in your own space? Yeah, that’s a much better idea!
11. When a Stranger Falls Asleep on You
Photo: Huffington Post
So…I get it. You’ve worked a full shift; you’re tired. The rocking motion of the train lulls you to sleep. But sir…ma’am…if you can’t sleep without disturbing my ride, you should probably stand up. I don’t know you like that to lend my shoulder to you as a pillow. You’d be surprised by how many strangers think it’s perfectly OK to rest their head on you while they catch a few preliminary Zs. I’ll try to give a polite nudge to signal that you’re invading my personal space, but you only get maybe two of those before I lose it.
Getting around in NYC can be one of the biggest annoyances as a resident, but with some grit and patience, you’ll be aight. New York is not a city for the meek. It’s a hustle. It’s a lifestyle. If you don’t agree with the city, it will reject you. So throw on some comfortable shoes, hit the pavement and make it to your destination.
Let’s hear from you. What grinds your gears about New York’s MTA?
