The Subway blogs: Fortune and misfortune on the new york city subway

Another day, another subway ride in New York City. It seems that living in New York City sentences one to long rides on the jam packed subway, there is no getting around it. If you live in New York City, you have to take the subway--- that is unless, of course you are (1) bed ridden, or (2) insanely wealthy and can afford the luxury and lost time of a private driver and hours in traffic. Since I belong to neither of these groups, I trudge to the subway most mornings, coffee in one hand, the other frantically searching pockets, then handbag for my metrocard. Most mornings I find it, some mornings its left in the jacket worn the previous day, and I have to join the long line for the ticket machine, buy a ticket, and call my boss to say I will be late. This morning I am lucky, the metrocard is right where I left it in my handbag, one swipe and I am on my way to the L train.

The Problem with the Broadway Junction

The L train is not so bad. All the trains on the route are upgraded to new digital ones, and they are mostly clean; but more importantly they are always empty when I board. I take my seat, and anxiously anticipate getting off at the Broadway Junction stop.

Broadway Junction will give the calmest , coolest person a nervous breakdown. With one flight of stairs as the sole connection between the platform and the station, this major connection point is always crowded and loud. I exit the train as soon as it stops, and run to the stairs. Problem is everyone else is running, and halfway there it is already packed, and I am just carried along in an endless sea of humanity. Someone steps on my toes, then I get pushed out of my lane to the left side of the stairs, where a little girl and her mom are about to step unto the steps. I quickly apologize, get a dirty look from the mom, and continue on. At the top of the stairs, traffic moves very slowly: some commuters switch lanes to transfer to the J train, others want to get to the newspaper stand, yet others (myself included) want to get to the escalators that go to the exit and to the A train.It is a maddening day, and I haven't even boarded that certified madhouse, the A train yet.

The Madhouse called the A train

The A train runs from the Rockaways in Queens to the highest part of Manhattan--- 207 street. It is a long journey that makes express stops at the majors commute points like Brooklyn Bridge, Penn Station and forty second (42nd) street Port Authority, in Manhattan. This accounts for its popularity, and therefore its reputation as most packed train. This morning is no exception, and when it comes there is hardly space for one more person in the car that stops infront of me. But New Yorkers, being the greatest improvisers on earth, find space to fit at least ten people.

The Subway and Swine flu go hand in hand (well I think so)

Needless to say,the A train was packed from head to head, waist to waist. Oh well there goes my attempts to ward of the swine flu. Under these condition, it will be a miracle if one New Yorker escapes the swine Flu this season. As If to taunt me, and force my internal fears into reality, the person behind me starts sneezing. Unbelievable, I think. Why won't sick people stay home? If only I could turn around, I would give him my sternest look. Then He would know exactly what I think about that. The sneezing starts again, and I groan. At this rate, I will have swine flu, by this evening. Oh if I could just kick that person off train.

The train stops again, and I get some more room to move away. Finally I am able to turn around and show the sneezer what I really think of him, or her infecting the whole train with whatever virus the sneezes carry. I turn around to face a big, heavy man with what seems like a permanent scowl, and big bushy eyebrows. I better not say anything, I thought, and gave him my sweetest smile. He must have interpreted my smile as a sign for him to carry on with his sneezing, because he immediately started to sneeze again, this time in my face as I am now facing him. My day officially spoilt, I step closer to the doors of the train. Oh well, another day, another ride on the subway.