Subway Flashers Beware (Part II?)
This time I'm talking about all those people that like to take pictures in the subway using a camera with a flash! You know who you are. Most people taking photographs are tourists. Some people are professional photographers and a few are locals just having a fun day/night out. The MTA has recently allowed picture taking and filming with some restrictions. One of them is the use of a flash.
Using a flash in the subway is strictly prohibited. Can anyone guess why? If you take a picture of a train coming into the station and you use a flash, think about what you just did to the train operator looking for the mark to stop the train at. The train operator will be temporarily blinded! This leads to a variety of possible problems, some of which would actually endanger peoples' lives. Unfortunately, this is much more common than some would think. I personally know many train operators who have been "flashed" many times in a single day. Most incidents occur on the weekend when the tourists are out in force.
These incidents go mostly unreported (unless something bad, like a missed stop, or passenger injury actually happens). The reason these incidents go unreported is that nothing will be done about it. Since the MTA allows the taking of photographs and video, it is assumed that anything goes by most people. There is no deterrent. The police do not give out fines to anyone taking pictures even if they use a flash.
Is there a solution? The real answer is no. There are some things the MTA can do. Posting easy to understand posters, with basic information about the use of flash in the subway at all entrances would be a start. The same posters could be blown up and adhered to the front of trains (the MTA already uses large stickers of American flags on the sides of trains). One final idea would be to put a large sticker with reflective material (like they have on NYCT safety vests) on the front of trains. This would force any photographs taken to be overexposed and unusable to the photographer. This would eliminate any professionals taking the photographs because they will know that the photographs would be useless. Tourists would eventually get the idea too.
It is unfortunate that the MTA does not try to address this situation at all. The only thing about this subject is buried on one of their website pages under rules of conduct. Having trouble finding it?
Here it is under section
1050.9, Restricted areas and activities, paragraph "c". There isn't even any mention of the use of flashbulbs.
The MTA should have never allowed picture taking in the first place. The old system would have been better if left in place
and enforced. Since the MTA has changed this rule to allow people to take photographs, then educating riders must be a priority. Leveling fines against "violators" would not work, so it is not done. I wouldn't want anyone getting a fine, especially a tourist. Can you imagine tourists traveling to New York, getting a fine for taking pictures and then going back home to tell everyone what experiences they had in New York? Reminding riders about the dangers of flashbulbs is the only method that makes sense. It is common sense to begin with. Remember the last time you went to see some acrobatic show like Cirque du Soleil? (Cirque du Soleil has some awesome shows. I haven't seen
Corteo yet but I have seen many others. You will not be disappointed! See them on
Randall's Island now.) They remind you at the start of every show "NO FLASHBULBS!" They do not want the performers to get hurt. Remember this the next time you are in the subway and want to take a picture of you and your friends.
Subway Flashers Beware! (Part I)
I'm talking about some recent flashers that exposed themselves and had their picture taken by quick thinking women with camera phones! There are some really stupid people that think getting some kind of sick satisfaction by exposing themselves is really fun. Unfortunately for them, there are plenty of cameras watching from every possible angle. There are new cameras being installed every day in nearly every station. There are lots of people with camera phones who are not afraid to use them. There is also a rumor that the next generation trains (coming very soon) will have cameras inside the cars! Big brother is really watching!
The best part is that police are keeping the photos taken of the subway perverts and plan on charging them later on when they do get caught. Police are confident these people will be caught because it is difficult for them to change their deviant behavior. In other words, they will do it again and again until they are finally caught. It's not the worst crime but it is just sad.
There is somewhat of a double standard however, that nobody cares to address. There have been women flashing themselves also. They are the women who like to bare their breasts to train operators and conductors. Most of these women decide to flash the train operators while standing on the platform where the train operator comes to a stop (at the mark where the train must stop). While the train is slowing to a stop, they attempt to distract the train operator and make them miss the mark. This creates an embarrassing situation for the train operator. Does he report it to cover himself for missing the mark by 10 or 20 feet (or more)? Or, does he not say anything and hope for the best? Most flashers go unreported. I personally don't know of anyone actually blowing a station stop completely. Almost all the guys enjoy the show. Is it a double standard? You decide.
Big Brother's Watching (Maybe)
The NYPD may have made a big mistake by reducing manned surveillance at certain key locations. There has been a police officer at entrances to under river tubes for years now. These locations had a live person guarding the tubes 24 hours per day. The police department decided to change their "routine" by removing personnel from these key locations for part of the day and have them "roam" around the system. While it is a good idea to have the police travel around the system, it is imperative to have some presence at under river tubes at all times.
This is not only to act as a deterrent to terrorists but to also act as a safety measure for all riders. A man was recently killed by a G train in an under river tube between the Greenpoint Ave and 21st Street/Van Alst stations. According to witnesses, the man simply wandered into the tube from the Greenpoint station and later hit by a northbound G train. Could this have been prevented? We may never know but an officer manning the post set up at that location would most likely have seen the man. That man would have had a chance.
A bigger concern is the fact that train operators can no longer rely on finding a police officer at these locations in an emergency. If there is an incident happening on a particular train, then there is a good chance that a train operator will be unable to find help there. For example, a southbound E train operating on the local track at 2:30 am has a fight break out and there are weapons (let's say a knife) involved. The train makes a station stop at 36 St. For years the crew on board knew they could go 1 more stop to Queens Plaza and find an officer manning his/her post there. But with the new NYPD policy, there is no longer any certainty of finding anyone there. This is only one example. This situation is much more common than anyone will admit and the public should know that help might be further away than before. Criminals should also note that police may no longer be visible in their usual locations but maybe they should look over their shoulder instead.
So where do I find out about Route Changes?
If you decided to check out Hopstop.com, then you know that they do not account for route changes in the subway due to construction, track repair, etc. Here is what you can do:
- Go to Hopstop.com and get your directions and print them.
- Then go to the MTA service advisories web page and click on whichever applies to you. Hopefully the MTA website will show current information.
- After you decipher the advisories that apply to you, make corrections on your printout and take them with you.
- Once you get to the subway, listen for announcements (if you can make out what anyone is saying). If you still can't hear what the station announcement is (over the station public address system) or you cannot hear the conductor's announcement, then ask a transit worker for information.
TIPS: Remember, transit workers get asked many questions all day. Be prepared to tell them which
stop you are going to (your final destination). Don't ask them how to get to a specific address!
Nice Subway Tool...Mostly Accurate
I checked out a new transit website called
HopStop.com. You can find out what train and/or bus to take to get to any specific location in New York City. You don't even have to be on the Internet to get directions. You can have directions sent to you via text message from your mobile device after you send a text message to them with the address you need to get to. You can also get directions by saying the address when you call up for directions. This works by using voice recognition technology (in case you were thinking you might get a live operator).
I would guess most New Yorkers won't be needing the service often because everyone that rides the transit system regularly already knows how to get to the same location (assuming you are going to work, school, etc., on a daily basis). It does sound like a darn good service for anyone trying to get to a location for the first time though. So, if you are a New Yorker that commutes to work every day the same way, you know where you're going. But, you can use this nifty website if you need to get to that new restaurant you've been reading about or meet someone for a date or, well, you get the picture. I'm sure the tourists would love this service too.
I haven't really tested this website that much and I haven't tried the mobile service yet either but I can already say that this website is shaping up to be a winner. The only problem I've already encountered is the accuracy during certain hours and days of the week. The system does not take into account the fact that there are copious amounts of construction and/or repairs late at night into the early morning and also during the entire weekends. If someone is looking for directions to a location during these times, they will most likely receive information that may lead them on a "wild goose chase." This is where Hopstop.com may lose valuable new users. I say valuable because this is a fairly new website (as far as I can tell) and anyone trying it out at the "wrong time" will find the directions useless or at worst, aggravating.
I have a whole load of ideas for Hopstop.com and I'm sure they could use my expertise on subway "detours", so maybe I'll send them an email...soon. I'm not looking for a job but I could do some consulting.
By the way, they also have beta versions for Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Check them out!
Local 100 Ratifies Contract. Why?
Isn't it amazing that the members of Local 100 voted to ratify the contract offer they had previously rejected? Why vote 'yes' on a re-vote if the answer was 'no' the first time?
Union leader Roger Toussaint got what
he wanted but I think the Local 100 membership was short-changed. Unfortunately, they did it to themselves on the second vote. Here are some points I want to make:
- They effectively gave up their right to vote by voting a second time on the same issue. Toussaint did not like the outcome of the first vote, so he had a second vote. Is he going to do this with every issue that comes up for a vote? What about the next election for union leadership? If he loses, will he insist on more re-votes, until he is declared the winner?
- The MTA is insisting that the re-vote results are meaningless and are pushing for arbitration. This was made clear before the re-vote actually took place. The Local 100 leadership is pressing for this contract to be accepted by the MTA anyway. Are they (both Local 100 and the MTA) not embarrassed in the least about how they handled this contract from before the strike to present day?
- The MTA's position to go to binding arbitration is merely a smoke and mirrors magic act. In reality they really want this contract. They know that if they go to binding arbitration that anything can happen. The last contracts that went to binding arbitration went the MTA's way. They know that their number is up on the next one. Their public position now is simply to save face. (Remember the politics and ego I wrote about in the last post?) Privately, they want this contract in a bad way.
If things do not change soon, expect the TWU International to step in. They have been battling with the current Local 100 leadership and would love to jump in and "save the day." They're probably thinking the same way on the re-vote as the 'no' voters. I heard one of them say, "Are we going to have yet another re-vote and go best 2 out of 3"?
TWU Local 100 heading for Tough Times
Well, it's been a long time coming but I just can't take it anymore. After reading the New York Times article about what transpired today concerning TWU Local 100 and Roger Toussaint, I feel the need to post some of my views.
Leave it to Roger Toussaint and his executive board cronies to run his union into the ground and into the poor house. Back in December, he decided to lead his membership down a path that had nowhere to go in the first place. Why did they go on strike? The comment was made that Local 100 members "do not work without a contract." So, the deadline was set and remember "a deadline is a deadline", according to Toussaint. Time eventually ran out and a few hours later, New York was subjected to a "selfish and illegal strike" by "thugs", as Mayor Bloomberg put it. Holiday cheers for everybody!
The strike was over just three days later on the notion that a contract was hammered out. It was sent to the membership for ratification and surprise, surprise was voted down by just 7 votes. Here is a short list of all the aggravating issues associated with this fiasco.
- Roger Toussaint and Local 100 did show they have the power to strike regardless of what any court has to say about it. Problem: Toussaint went on strike for the wrong reasons and settled for a terrible contract that got voted down anyway. Toussaint and the Union received their punishment (and so did New Yorkers for three days).
- Mayor Mike "Doom and Gloom" Bloomberg "led" New Yorkers for 3 days by walking and encouraging others to do the same. Is this guy kidding or what? It was more than just an inconvenience to some people.
And, how annoying was it to hear him repeat "selfish and illegal strike" over and over again? Hey Mike, Local 100 went on strike for people that are not employed there yet. New hires would have to shell out more money than current workers do for years. Doesn't sound selfish to me.
Another annoyance was the fact that the Mayor was calling the individual strikers "thugs." I don't remember any violence erupting. Why label them "thugs"?
I like how Mayor Bloomberg also stated incredulously "Why can't this union work without a contract like all the other city unions? Some of them work without a contract for years." I can't stop laughing at that comment because he said it while being completely serious, with a dumbfounded expression on his face. I hope I get to be a billionaire soon.
- Remember Gary Dellaverson and Peter Kalikow claiming "there is no more"? Gee, with a $1 billion surplus, you would think there might be. Interesting how there was a last minute vote by the MTA Board to pass their budget (in record time) just before the strike. Where did the money go? They "spent" it all just in time. This is what happens when the MTA goes unchecked. The MTA even admitted (after being exposed by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi) that they had (or have) two sets of books. Hey Peter, where's the beef?
Funny how they started scrambling when a strike seemed imminent. Dellaverson was at the podium at the hotel saying "we are here and ready to talk" after Toussaint and his leadership got up and left.
- I'm sure New Yorkers were really happy that they got to ride "for free" on certain days (just before the holidays) offered by the MTA. What a scam! For all you regular riders, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The MTA claimed this promotion cost them $50 million. Did New Yorkers really need this promotion? I'm sure New Yorkers (ALL NEW YORKERS - some of us drive) would not have objected to the MTA giving that money to their workers. It works out to about $1500.00 per worker. Oh, who am I kidding, we really prefer a strike and 3 days of misery. It's more fun! At least some of us saved a few dollars on a Metrocard promotion (and lost hundreds of dollars by not going to work or thousands if you own a business).
- Governor George Pataki stood by and watched for the most part. Why should he get involved? Local 100 never supported him once when he ran for Governor. There is one surprise in all this however. Anybody know what it is? It has to do with any future strikes by transit workers. All I can say is you better plan your vacation right around the end of the next contract (if one is ever ratified).
- Roger Toussaint's ridiculous effort to force a re-vote on his membership. The re-vote effectively takes the power of the vote away from the members if the second vote is a "Yes" vote. This basically means that Toussaint has even more power. If he doesn't like the results of a vote on any subject, then he can just order a re-vote until it goes his way. I wonder if any Local 100 members checked to see if a re-vote is even legal in their by-laws.
Anyway, here is the real reason everyone had to suffer through this mess: POLITICS. Politics and egos really hurt many people. Local 100 never endorsed Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg for any of their political endeavors. Local 100 has the bad habit of endorsing losing candidates for Governor and Mayor (and presidential candidates like Howard Dean. Remember him?). Peter Kalikow and some (or is it most? I'm not sure on this one, so don't hold me to percentages) on the MTA board were appointed by Pataki. Is it any wonder why they would take such a hard line on the Union? Roger Toussaint came across as a tough leader but in the end he'll be remembered for his ego and ruining Local 100 (and taking care of himself by giving himself a 10% raise recently).
Oh, there is so much more but in the end, who really cares. As long as there is train and bus service running, nobody cares (until there's another fare hike). The only people that do care now are the Local 100 members who now have less money and more headaches than they can handle.
Hearing Protection - Quick Follow Up
By the way, if you really want to save your hearing, you should be using hearing protection during other times too. I know I'm starting to sound like your mother but heed the advice. Here are some examples of where I wear my hearing protection:
- When I'm mowing the lawn,
- When I'm using a power saw, hammer, chainsaw, etc., or visiting a friend's construction site,
- When I go to an automotive sporting event (drag race, Nascar, etc.),
- When I go watch my friends target practice at a range,
- Oh, and when I ride the subway, bus, etc.
These are just a few examples. Do you see any parallels in your life? I carry earplugs wherever I go, just in case. Do you need to do the same? Maybe not but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. Earplugs are lightweight and take up almost no room in your pocket! You could just use your fingers to plug your ears but what happens if there is a sudden noise and you're having a sloppy sandwich? Do you really want to end up with mayonnaise in your ears? Oh, what the heck, it'll provide a better seal. Enjoy.
