NYC Subway Review

I wrote this a couple of years ago and recently came upon it. I think its worthy of pitchfork.

New York City Subway

2.5

The New York City subway will get you where you need to go; maybe not on time, but it’ll get you there.  This system has two car types.  The first seems to be going for a retro look with its yellow and orange seats and wood paneling.  It would almost achieve this too, if it weren’t for all those advertisements lining the top.  Though, these ads do have a way of getting in your head.  After a morning ride you’ll find yourself craving Budweiser and ESL classes all day long.  One good thing about this train type is that the seats are clearly defined; this aims to discourage passengers from taking up multiple spaces.  The other train type, with the long blue/gray benches, has a more modern look.  These trains do not have laid out seats, so optimum seating capacity is not ensured as in the aforementioned cars.  This, however, gives more middle space between benches and makes these trains more favorable for dance parties:

Then there are the panhandling performers and bums that frequent the trains.  They are so cliché that it just might be working.  The highlight of these vagabonds is the Suitcase Lady at the 125 St. station on the A line; she may just be the saving grace of this whole system.  While the NYC subway gets praise for being adventurous and endeavoring to provide progressive travel, it may be deserving of little more celebration than its contemporaries and it’s not quite on par with public transportation systems of days past.