The MTA never looked so calm and relaxing
p>I just found this movie on my morning stroll through the internet and thought it would be perfect for the blog.
Like many New Yorkers, I grew up on the train. I took it every weekday, to and from school, and once I was old enough, to hang out in Manhattan every weekend. Ever since I started riding my bike, my yearly number of metrocard swipes has dropped from a quadruple digit to a double digit number, and since I’m now only forced onto the train during rain or snow, I’m usually a bit grumpy about it. But despite all of its problems, you have to be thankful for it because there is no other mass transit system that will take you as far, for as cheap as the New York City MTA will. Not to mention the fact that I don’t think anywhere else in the world has a system that runs all night long. (Full disclosure; my dad is a retired subway motorman)
Sub City New York from sarah klein on Vimeo.
7 responses so far
Its a great film, especially because of the way in which the “sub city” seems so clean, so romantic… I have agree that the pleasures if getting around the City by bike makes for grumpy moments when, by necessity, we have to take the subway. Still, we love our subway. Its the real deal.
Great background music and angles in this video! Thank you for posting. However, I have never rode a bike in Manhattan. How is it? It look terrifying! Also, are you one of the many bike riders who ignores traffic lights? Just wondering (lol), because I see it all the time by Baruch.
*looks
I agree with you that the subway system in NYC is convenient and offers a great deal of values to New Yorkers. However, the system is getting worse every year. Many stations and trains are poorly maintained. And they keep increasing the fare while reducing services. The root of the problem, I think, is the absence of an incentive system for the MTA managers. They make the same amount of money regardless their performances. There is no incentive for them to do well.
Owen, I really have to agree with you on the fact that no other mass transit system will take us as far as the MTA does. I hate the MTA as much as the next guy, but when I finally get out of the station from my delayed subway, I try to think that my day’s not too bad. Who am I to complain about my slow-moving subway when other people are having worse days than I am? I try to stay optimistic about the MTA because if I don’t, I might go berserk from all the incompetence. Also, in regards to how cheap the MTA is, we really do get what we pay for. If you really wanted to get somewhere quickly, we should consider the more expensive alternatives of the LIRR or even car service.
The MTA is a love hate relationship for every New Yorker. However, I will say that in my case there is more love. I live in many different cities in Europe before coming to NY and I assure everyone that there is no better mass transit than ours. You can come back half-drunk from a party at 4 in the morning and get safe home for $2…it is true that it might take you an hour, but you will get there.
In many capitals of the world the subway just stops at 1am. So lets compare before complaining.
About the video, it is a witty take on our daily “visual lives”. To go form one neighborhood to another with the train is like a micro-trip. I love it especially when I go from mid-town to a ethnically reach area; you pass from the aseptic world of business to colors and flavors from around the world.
The same experience is amplified when you get out of the airport in NY, you just feel you have reached another planet (yours).
I’m not going to lie, this video made me tear up a bit for personal reasons, especially those shots of Grand Central Station. I definitely have to say, even though I hate the MTA for always being lethargic when I’m in the biggest rush, I always look forward to the subway ride just because I know that I can sleep on the train like a baby. I think it’s a really “New York” thing to do to sleep so peacefully on a train where so much craziness can happen around you.