New York City Subways

Here is a list of things that have I have observed over the past two years of riding in the subway:

*The subway is not a bathroom. I have seen way too many people urinating on the tracks. Luckily I have never seen anyone defecate.

*When an alarm goes off (such as a fire alarm) no one seems to notice. What happens when there is actually an emergency? Will people still continue to ignore the lights and sirens of the alarm system that is set up for that very reason? I got to say, I ignored it also, but it was because no one else was reacting (reverse crowd mentality?)

*Cockroaches. Everywhere. Eew.

*When a train is delayed because of "an earlier incident" (which is usually someone jumping in front of the train, or getting sick on the train or having a baby on the train all of which are valid reasons to cause a delay in the train schedule) people get PISSED. They are late for work and these "incidents" have slowed them down and wreaked havoc on their daily commute. I understand a little bit. If you are going to commit suicide, don't do it in a way that inconveinces other people (this reasoning does not apply to the sick or pregnant who cannot control those "incidents") . ON the other hand-someone just died! Have a little respect.

*Dogs on the subway...weird.

*Some of the outfits that people come up with are pure entertainment in the morning. This morning was a fabulous display of a lack of fashion sense. Woman with dark blue shimmery top with grey athletic pants. She was carrying a blue pleather shimmery purse (it was a slightly different hue of blue so it looked weird). To complete the outfit she had light blue pleather shimmery boots (again, a different hue of blue). She got the idea of matching, but she went a little too far...in the wrong direction.

*Music. I have no problem with people listening to music. But people don't understand that no one else wants to hear their music. When you come on the subway, leave the boom-box at home.

*While we are on the subject of music, if you are good at the guitar or the violin or you even have your own mariachi band (those are the worst) don't bring them on the subway to perform and think I am going to give you money. I will not because it is annoying and disrupts my reading time. If you want to make a living as a mariachi band, audition to work at a Mexican restaurant. At least there it will be appreciated. The last thing I want to hear in the morning is songs in Spanish. I can't even understand them (it wouldn't matter if they were in English, it would still annoy me). Plus, as the announcements state "soliciting money is the subway is a crime and we ask you not to give in order to maintain a safe and orderly subway. Thank you for riding MTA New York City Transit".

*Subway poles are not meant for dancing. I understand that you are very flexible and can do cool acrobatics on them, but you could be seriously injured and you take space away from those who actually need to use the poles to hold on to.

*There have been so many movies/TV shows shot in the subway stations...why haven't I ever seen one?!

*The worst feeling is when you: swipe your card too fast, have to swipe it again at that same turn style, or swipe it and there is not enough on the card, but you don't realize it and move forward anyway. Not only is it annoying to be stopped by the bars, it kind of hurts your legs. This has happened to me many times and it is very frustrating.

This concludes my list of nusances and interesting experiences that I have observed in the New York City Subway systems.