Cell service and Wi-Fi! Oh my!

Yes. A crucial part of what would make the NYC subway experience better, from internet radio to browsing the web to checking e-mails and texts, most subway stations offer it now! Not only that, but if you are truly in danger and need to dial 911, the MTA has made that possible for security purposes. Today, I was looking at the new advertisements on the 4 train coming back from a friend's and I quickly ran home after my commute to search the worldwide web and check what subway stations offer this grand improvement. My first instinct was to go on Wikipedia, written by the people for the people.

To my dismay, the Wikipedia page had such little information on the topic that if I were a tourist or anyone alike I would definitely want to know more about cellphone service on the train. The short little paragraph had nothing specific or anything of value, just facts.

New York City Subway began to provide underground cellular phone with voice and data service, and free Wi-Fi to passengers in 2011 at six stations. The new network was installed and owned by Transit Wireless as part of company's $200 million investment. The company expanded the services to 30 more stations in 2013 and signed an agreement with all 4 major wireless network operators to allow their cellular phone customers to use its network. The MTA and Transit Wireless are splitting the fees received from those wireless carriers for the usage of the network. The Wi-Fi service, which operates using antennae,^[150] is operated by Boingo Wireless.^[151] Transit Wireless expects to provide service to the remaining 241 underground stations by 2017, including the four deep-level subway stations under construction. Work to install the antennas within the next 40 key stations in midtown Manhattan and Queens has already begun, and the antennas are expected to be in service by March 2014

But, what stations? Tell me more! What are the 4 major wireless operators? Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T?  As I continued my research, I found more concrete and detailed information on the subject and added in the changes to the Wikipedia site, so everyone who wanted to know, would know. I added some critical information, that is best for tourists, mainly naming stations that are populated with tourist attractions.

New York City Subway began to provide underground cellular phone with voice and data service, and free Wi-Fi to passengers in 2011 at six stations. The new network was installed and owned by Transit Wireless as part of company's $200 million investment. The company expanded the services to 30 more stations in 2013 and signed an agreement with all 4 major wireless network operators to allow their cellular phone customers to use its network. The MTA and Transit Wireless are splitting the fees received from those wireless carriers for the usage of the network. The Wi-Fi service, which operates using antennae,^[150] is operated by Boingo Wireless.^[151] Transit Wireless expects to provide service to the remaining 241 underground stations by 2017, including the four deep-level subway stations under construction. Work to install the antennas within the next 40 key stations in midtown Manhattan and Queens has already begun, and the antennas are expected to be in service by March 2014.^[152][104] The first six stations part of the initial build were 23rd Street and 8th Ave, 14th Street and 8th Avenue, 14th Street and 7th Avenue, 14th Street and 6th Avenue, Times Square and Columbus Circle. Commuters now have the opportunity to dial 911 in case of an emergency.

As a NYC subway rider, I approve of this message.

Congress will not intervene on any LIRR strike

Yikes! As I already mentioned here, the LIRR strike has become a hot topic , since my last post! With the upcoming LIRR potential strike less than two weeks away, the chairman of the MTA traveled to DC for a meeting with lawmakers to discuss Congress' role in the chance that workers walk off the job. But, legislative leaders said the railroad and the unions should not count on congressional backup. Representative Steve Israel, a Democrat from Long Island, said after a delegation meeting with the chairman, "This is a Republican majority that shut down the federal government for 16 days. What would lead anyone to believe that they would act to avoid a shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road?"

For Long Island commuters, the road is looking pretty bleak.

NYPD clearing out homeless people from subways, and assuming people are homeless when they aren't apparently.

I have seen some seriously disturbing videos of the unnecessary and aggressive behavior by NYPD towards people falling asleep on the train and homeless people. According to the Hope Annual Street NYC survey there were 1,800 people living in the train station in 2013, a whole 800 up from 2009. Now the NYPD are cracking down and searching for these people, they have sent a few officers to search each car every time a train pulls into a station, and take all the homeless people either to a hospital or a shelter, sounds pretty nice doesn't it? But, looks like they've taken it too far, with either assuming this man is homeless or doing some ridiculous racial profiling.

Let's take a look at two police officers beating and arresting a man for sleeping on the train.

More on man being beaten and arrested on train by the NYPD



The crime was listed as nodding off during a commute from coming home from work. As seen, the man continuously yells "For what? I didn't do shit." The incident occurred at the 57th Street stop in Manhattan in a fairly empty car. As the man continues to cry for help, backup arrives and sees that the man is resisting. So, the immediate reaction is to start hitting this man over the head with a baton? What? Is that even legal? After more officers arrive, an officer grabs the resisting man in a clinch and manages to yank him onto the ground. A woman standing by begins to record the scene and eventually asks the officers for their badge numbers.  Rudely, one of the officers tries to whisk away the recording device from her, to which she yells "don't put your fucking hands on me."

Please stand by for the closing doors.

Joyrides for a bus-obsessed man in Staten Island.

Nikolas Elias saw an MTA bus parked in Staten Island's St. George Ferry Terminal and figured 'hey, YOLO, so giving myself a ride back home."

Let's watch.



Elias, is a 20-year-old man, and his family and friends would describe him as "bus obsessed." So, him driving 1.6 miles from the Ferry Terminal to where he lives in Stapleton was no surprise to them. The MTA located the bus through "advanced MTA technology" (also known as a GPS).
Elias had claimed that he was just testing out his dream of being a bus driver and he had plans on returning the bus after he was finished. Apparently, this was not Elias' first attempt at trying to steal a bus, months before he saw another bus and tried the same stunt, but police had stopped him just in time. He is being held on $10,000 bail and being charged with grand larceny.

Taggers take over NYC trains.

I think it's silly that the Daily News refers to taggers as attackers. Sure, they are vandalizing the MTA property, but it's certainly doesn't constitute of "nine sneak attacks." I mean who is getting attacked really. I am not condoning their behavior. I just believe that the Daily News is being a little rash with their language. Here is said attack,

"MTA you are slacken," is what is said on the train car.

Sure, they are taking freedom of speech to a new level, but honestly MTA you are seriously slacking.

Goodbye MetroCards. Swipe ya later!

Let's save the environment, and not have to use disposable plastic cards to get on the train. By 2019, the MTA plans to create a new system for commuters, and it is still under wraps. But, rumors say that this new system will either involve a credit/debit card or smartphones.

This new upcoming change is said to save infrastructure costs and also increase convenience for commuters. Metrocards as most of us know are very easy to lose, bend, or damage. Another idea for a Metrocard replacement is a possible app for all regional commuting, no matter where. But, unfortunately not everyone has a smart phone, so that introduces a problem in the seemingly flawless system.


Here's a quick sneak peek into our possible future!

Even though it looks super efficient, the problem arises, would the MTA be invading our privacy? Is it too much to access?

Do women feel uncomfortable on the train?

So recently, I noticed something on my way home on the C train. Women can't even have a peek of cleavage without the fear of some sleazy man eyeing up her tits. Like, man I'm just trying to get to my destination, and if you are going to call me names for wearing clothing that makes me feel good, then go shut the front door. I think the problem gets infinitely worse at night and more specifically SUMMER NIGHTS. That's right when the short tight dresses come out on Friday and Saturday evenings, and my fellow females are inebriated. Now I'm not one for doing that sort of thing, but I will be out late at night observing these ladies and the pervert men who should be doing something constructive with their time, instead of turning the train into a nightclub, (you're not picking anyone up, no offense guys!)

People are really getting desperate out here.


So, I decided to ask two women that I met on the 4 train who prefer to remain anonymous some questions about their comfort level on the train.

Q1: Have you ever felt like someone of the opposite gender is watching you in a really uncomfortable manner?

A1: (chuckles) When I was 17, I was taking the A train to 145th street to see my boyfriend at the time, Timothy, if I remember correctly it was 10 pm and I decided to wear a form fitting red dress to surprise him. I was expecting some glances of attention, but nothing like I experienced. There a was a man on the opposite side of the car all the way at the end, and I noticed he was eyeing me since I got on at W.4th street. It was the most bizarre thing! Every few stops, I would notice him moving a little bit closer and closer to where I was sitting. Finally, I saw him sitting right across from me at 125th street, and I saw a flashing light and I realized that he was taking pictures of me. I was terrified. 

Q2: Do you carry any precautionary tools like mace to protect yourself when you take the train at night?

A2: Unfortunately, I cannot say that I have. But being as old as I am, and seeing what young women wear nowadays, I would strongly recommend it.

Q3: Do you think the MTA is doing enough to keep the trains safe at night?

A3: Supposedly in comparison to the 80's, we're supposed to be safer which I think is horse crap, because the so called precautions we are taking are not more effective, such as the back halves of trains were prohibited until 8 PM. Although, I am in favor of the commissioner's new idea about putting video cameras in the train.

So, women be conscious and aware of all your surroundings at night in every area.

Please stand by for the closing doors