Subway Fare Is Fair Vs. Foreign Comparisons

When transit prices are compared on a global scale, New York commuters don’t seem like they’re being taken for too much of a ride. For example, a comparable distance ride in London costs $8.00, Toronto $2.23, Paris $2.33, Berlin $2.66 and Montreal $2.23. In Chicago, a ride goes for $2.25 whereas tripping in Los Angeles costs only $1.25. In general New Yorkers may be unhappy about rising transit fares but we know it’s unavoidable… to an extent. Let’s be assured and then reassured, that the MTA is doing all it can to eliminate financial waste, first! Officials must make prudent economic decisions for the future before going into the rider’s pockets again. Doubting that will happen, expect the next fare hike by 2011.

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Bus Riders Bust Buses

The first ever local bus Rider Report Card survey is over. 22,109 riders graded bus service in 18 categories based on their own experiences. The results are in, but I bet the big bosses at the MTA wish they weren’t. Citywide, bus service in New York City received a C-minus. What a shame we can’t require Transit officials to commute to work in the same conveyances other New Yorkers have no choice but to use.

Lipstick On A Pig

The MTA may sell corporate sponsorships of subway stations. This would generate cash for New York City Transit while granting station-naming rights to the company. It would also create mass confusion for mass transit riders. They’d be forced to relearn already familiar train stop names. Instead, why not offer exclusive advertising and special rates throughout select stations? That revenue could be used to improve that station. In the long run, changing a station’s name won’t make the subway look, smell or run any better. Money and effective management will. MTA-Mass Transit Authority-Must Try Again.

MTA Perv Posters To Be Posted

New York City's female commuters have been under attack, underground. 10% claim sexual abuse when using mass transit while an astounding 63% report being sexually harassed. Ever responsive to the immediate needs of transit riders, NYC Transit will put up signs to combat this indecency! These signs state that “sexual harassment” is a crime. Victims will be encouraged to report incidents whenever they occur. That's the MTA's response. Our subways shouldn’t be a Coney Island amusement park, "tunnel of love" for low-lives. I think more undercover cops and stiffer court sentences might reduce the problem. How about "lifetime bans" for convicted touchers from taking trains or buses with mandatory jail time if they're ever found on board? The MTA’s solution is a sad sign of our times. The poster-writing is on the wall.

No Seat-Of-The-Pants Driver

NYC Transit fired a driver who refused to wear pants or culottes at work. Tahita Jenkins, 35, claims she couldn’t wear them for religious reasons (Weren't job applicants told of a "dress code" prior to employment?). The MTA thinks it’s a matter of safety for drivers; male or female. Ms. Jenkins pastor from the Holy Ghost Headquarters Prayer Band Mission of New Beginning Deliverance Church wrote a note on her behalf. It confirmed her deep religious conviction and long-standing aversion to pants. Now, Ms. Jenkins is suing New York City for reinstatement. The case will be reviewed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Religious discrimination should never be tolerated in any form or forum. However, freedom of religion shouldn’t mean that employers must accommodate the religious principles of everybody’s religion. What would an employer do for example if two employees had religious principles which opposed one another? How can the employer defer to one without offending the other? Can't be done. There are times when an individual must decide if their religious beliefs prohibit them from working where a job's requirements are contrary to those beliefs. If that’s the case, and the regulations aren’t intentionally discriminatory, it might be best to pray for divine guidance ... to find a more suitable position elsewhere.

Subways Will Be Sub-Par For Some Time

NYC Transit President Howard Roberts Jr. spoke the train truth. It’s something all transit riders know but didn’t want to hear from an MTA official. Even with increased ridership in 2008 and two projected fare hikes over the next three years, there won’t be enough money to fix the subway’s maintenance and service problems. In fact, serious problems are very likely to get much worse. New York City has 468 train stations. Less than 25% are considered “acceptable” (probably a lot less than that) by MTA standards. Roberts claims his predecessors cut cleaning and maintenance services which exacerbated the problems. For example, we’re down to one cleaner patrolling five stations. Safety inspections are conducted every 72 hours instead of every 24 hours as before. The list of health and safety concerns stretches longer than an eight car train! The 3rd rail of the situation is this. The health and safety of riders is threatened every time they ride. Current thinking and approaches will probably never make a meaningful difference to correct these conditions. New people and new innovative ideas must be introduced NOW to fix the problems. Who can lead us from this gloomy and dangerous tunnel we’re in?

Transit Toilets Flushed

A recent check of 18 subway bathrooms in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens found most were locked, poorly stocked or inadequately maintained. Dov Hikind, a Brooklyn Assemblyman conducted the review. No comment yet from the MTA. Could any regular subway rider be surprised by the results? I’m not. Undoubtedly, the most surprised individual was one of Hikind’s inspectors. On his tour, he walked in on two men engaged in sexual activity! Maybe they were tourists from a third world country who were glad enough just to have indoor plumbing … whether it worked or not.

MTA Puts “Perv” Posters On Hold

A transit poster campaign to reduce deviant behavior against women in New York’s subways has been shelved. Fear that the words might encourage the acts is the reason. In other cities, signs are up including “Flash someone and you’ll be exposed.” and “Rub against me and I’ll expose you.” Rather than creative, eye-catching ads to deliver the message, maybe we’d be better served by more undercover cops, arrests, prosecutions and harsher sentences.

Big Apple Bus-Busters Are A Bust

There are times when getting stuck in a bus might be a good thing. That’s what Homeland Security and some officials here in New York City think anyway. What they're planning for is to reduce the threat of a hostile takeover of a bus by terrorists. They intend to combat terrorists with technology. Here’s how their device works. In the event of trouble, the bus driver hits a panic switch which alerts both the bus company and the device’s manufacturer in Pennsylvania. A device connected to the bus’s computer system automatically relays details about the bus’ location, speed and direction. The dispatcher notifies authorities. Then, they have the option to slow the bus to 5 miles per hour or to turn the engine off without the ability to restart it. Great idea, right? Many private bus companies have already received millions of dollars to install this new, high-tech gadget. Many have. However, NYC Transit is still testing GPS on 155 of their 4,500 bus fleet. They’ve yet to install any of these potentially disaster-saving devices. I guess Transit officials there aren’t too concerned about a terror attack in New York City. Perhaps they were out of town on a bus trip the morning of 9/11. Maybe they haven’t gotten the news headlines from that day yet. High-tech security in buses requires vision. Some had vision of sorts in the 1930's (see picture below). Some have it now. Others don't. Let’s speed things up, Transit guys!

Take The “C Trains” To Complain

Subway riders who took the time to complete their “New York City Transit Rider Report Cards” (maybe during a “slight delay” on their train ride) overwhelming graded the system with C’s and C-minuses. Schoolchildren know that while C-grades are passing, they should strive to do much better. Yet, NYC Transit President Howard Roberts said “if we can move from a C-minus to a C, then I will be satisfied… Moving from that baseline is the important thing.” Can you imagine if your child said the same thing at report card time??? Makes me wonder how someone (see above) would perform on that new TV game show on FOX – Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Yet, who’s really less intelligent? A government official for making that absurd remark … or New Yorkers for not punishing city bosses for poor performance.

Transit Rate Rise Is No Pre-Christmas Surprise

While we’re happy that the basic $2.00 transit fare will not be raised, it’s unfortunate that rates for multiple-ride programs will increase. Though prices will increase for some, service will remain the same for all ... without any significant improvement in service. While transit-goer advocacy groups strongly oppose the measure, it’s unlikely to prevent the December 19th increase. It’s hard to win a battle against the combined forces of the MTA, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer.

It’s hoped that the no-toll policy for Santa’s sled and reindeer will be maintained. But give it time. Political grinches are probably working on the legislation now to impose that kind of fee. With increased pressure every year on politicians to do away with Christmas altogether, it’s conceivable that they will look to increase city revenue by imposing a new "San-tax." Reindeer rider-ship need only drop by one to affect those who still hold the Christmas holiday deer … uhhh dear.

Fair Fare Fear

MTA Executive Director & CEO Elliot Sander and his staff are dedicated to controlling costs while coming up with ways to increase mass transit traffic. Their innovative solution for us? More fare hikes for commuters; beginning next year and currently planned at two year intervals thereafter to keep pace with inflation. We're so very fortunate to have their expert management skills working on our behalf.

I realize operating expenses steadily rise and fares must rise accordingly. I just find it hard to believe that every option to cut waste and make money with the transit system to defray costs has been examined. How did the transit system run so well for so many years with so little money by comparison (See below.)?

Officer, I’d like to report a mugging.

NYC Mass Transit Fare History (1904-Present)
1904 $0.05
1948 $0.10
1953 $0.15
1966 $0.20
1970 $0.30
1972 $0.35
1975 $0.50
1980 $0.60
1981 $0.75
1984 $0.90
1986 $1.00
1990 $1.15
1992 $1.25
1995 $1.50
2003 $2.00
2008 $2.25 (projected)