[NYC Subway] I need your help on a cause I'm interested in.

[benorbeen]

As some of you may know, I was using a cane for the summer because I had torn cartilage in my knee.

I was suddenly thrust into an NYC reality with which I hadn't been familiar--the plight of the handicapped on NYC's subways.

I had too many experiences of people's not taking note that I was someone who needed a seat, and while I simply could have asked, the feeling is that if you're seen to need a chair, that seer should do something about it before your having to ask.

I've wanted to write to the MTA a plea to have train conductors every few stops or every once and awhile (how often exactly, I haven't decided) to announce something "Please give up your seat for the handicapped, disabled, and elderly." The reminder heard by just one person is enough to alleviate pain and reduce the potential for further injury of those who have difficulty standing on the subway.

I was thinking this morning maybe announcing it just after leaving every express station for local trains, and after leaving every-other express station for express trains. At least using that as a guideline for the announcement.

While certainly some will argue that the announcement will just be another sound to tune out after hearing it often, I disagree. I think if just one person hears it and responds, or if a disabled person perks up her seeking a seat when hearing it forcing others to take note, then the announcement has worked.

It's simple to me, and allows for much safer travel. The reserved handicapped seating is not enough. A campaign is what needed--esp. since no one always boards on the handicapped-seating side of the train.

I'm interested to hear your feedback and if you have any additional ideas before I write the MTA.

Thanks!
Ben

 

[Drifter Luke]

There are signs everywhere and there are stickers on the seats themselves. I see most people giving up seats to kids, elderly, pregnant ladies and the disabled.

There are some people who just aren't going to do it--they are called assclowns. And assclowns won't start because of an announcement.

This is a good cause, I'm not trying to belittle that, but people know what the right thing is to do. Some just don't do it.

 

[dkois]

One time, Alia and I were on a very crowded A train sitting together on one of those three-person benches. The third spot on the bench was the only available seat on the entire car.

A very pregnant woman and her husband/boyfriend/apparent babydaddy entered the train. As we watched in disbelief, the husband pushed right past his pregnant cohort to take the last seat.

I offered my seat to the pregnant woman, who of course took it, sitting right next to her husband. And thus was I played.

I tried to get back at him by standing with my ass unnecessarily close to his face for the rest of the ride. Oh, how I wished I had eaten something horrible the day before.

xoxo
Dan

 

[Cpt. USA]

Originally posted by Drifter Luke
There are some people who just aren't going to do it--they are called assclowns

I always wondered what those folks were called.

 

[Drifter Luke]

They are called assclowns. That's what it says on the New York Visitors Website at least.

 

[benorbeen]

I know there are signs, but an announcement would make much more of a difference, I feel. The difference that a sign makes is education, but the difference that an announcement can make is in-the-moment. And that's what counts more so--planting the suggestion in your mind to look to see if there are people with canes, people who are old, etc. I don't always look, sometimes I'm tuned out. If an announcement came over the speaker, I might unzone and take note better of my surroundings.

Thanks for the feedback, though. We here will likely all agree that we should get up for the handicapped, but not everyone does it, and the numbers are sometimes ghastly--a whole 7-train car not giving up their 6am seats when I'm the only one standing. It's kinda depressing, actually.

But I'm no longer using a cane, thank goodness!

 

[benorbeen]

Let me add that probably the announcement wouldn't be necessary at night or on the weekends. Maybe just rush hours or daytime hours or when a train is obviously overcrowded.

 

[duster]

one time i was on the train and this huge woman, taking up 2 seats herself, took up a third seat with her PIZZA BOX. Shortly afterwards, a whiny and effeminate mexican man confronted her continously with "Did your pizza buy a token?". Whereupon, she growled and screamed, "I'll kill you!!!!" before finally moving it. but even after that, the guy still wanted to sit next to her. all the while, she's mumbling all sorts of spells and incantations. how can you want a seat next to someone that's threatened to kill you?

i don't remember much after that cause my dry-cleaning had just been egged by some local hoodlums and it was hard to focus.