MTA responds to my query about the digital overhead displays in Grand Central!

I am guessing someone at the MTA has a google alert set up because the morning after I posted about the how long it took for the clock times to be changed on the 7 platform in Grand Central, I received an email from the MTA!

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Digital Overhead Clocks

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Thomas Huber) - 02/04/2010 09:23 AM
February 4, 2010

Re: EM #091204-000087

Dear Ms. (Bitch Cakes):

This is in response to your e-mail correspondence of December 4th. You reported that 3 of the 4 clocks on the 7 platform near the elevator at Grand Central Station are out of order and the one that does work was never changed from daylight savings time.

Please accept our apology for this late response. A lack of compatible software and hardware prevented us from responding in a timelier manner.

The clocks are maintained by an outside company, CBS Outdoor. A request has been submitted to them for servicing repairs.

We take the concerns of our customers very seriously, and thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

John P. Hoban
Line General Manager
7 Line

Mr Hoban, I see how it is - First off, you're extending the olive branch - apologizing for the late reply. Thank you, I do appreciate the explanation, even though the timing is questionable and I think it was my blog that initiated the response. But I accept your apology nonetheless. In addition, I see you are letting me know that this particular issue is not the MTA's fault, so my apologies to you in that regard.

However, that being said, this matter - which I realize is quite trivial - is still not settled. I will continue to keep an eye on the clock situation on the 7 Train platform. I want to see how long it takes the outside company to address the 3 digital overhead displays that are not working at all.

In fact, what I didn't realize at the time I wrote to you is that they have not been working for longer than I realized. I first noticed and photographed them over a year ago!

I took this photo on January 14, 2009:

and on January 16, 2009:

and on January 23, 2009:

and on February 18, 2009:

Since I tend to be in a rush when I'm on the 7 platform, I didn't photograph the clocks with any regularity, but I did make a note of it every night when I walked in that direction. Here it is, last week, February 3, 2010 (Interestingly enough, it's a different one that works now! The one in the rear, on the left!):

And as of tonight, February 9, 2010...

.. 3 of the 4 displays are still not operational. Of course, now that the outside company has been notified, I will be extra vigilant in monitoring them. And if and when they ever do get fixed, I will photograph them for the blog. But until then, I'd like to say thank you to Mr Hoban for the response. Even if it took my bitchy blog to get it.

Question: How long does it take the MTA to change a clock?

You may recall that in summer 2008, I wrote to the MTA to tell them one of the digital clocks on the 7 Train platform in Grand Central had not been set. Within days, they fixed the time! Not only that, but they wrote back to me, thanking me in a non-form email!

It's been over a year since that happened and every morning that I pass that area, I look up at that display to check the time on my way to the escalator, and I think "It's because of ME that the time is working on that clock! Awesome!"

This was all fine... until Daylight Savings time ended on November 1st, 2009.

11/02, the Monday after the time change took effect, I noticed the clock just before my favorite clock had not been set an hour back as it should have. I knew I would be monitoring this situation -

11/13/09
Still wrong -

11/23/09
Still wrong-

Finally, on December 4th, over a month after the time should have been changed, I couldn't take it anymore. I wrote to the general service manager of the 7 line at the MTA:

Customer (Sheryl) - 12/04/2009 02:01 PM
Hi John,
I just wanted to bring to your attention that 3 of the 4 clocks at the escalator end of the 7 Train platform in Grand Central have not been working for quite some time now. In addition, the one that *does* work never had the daylight savings time change applied last month, so it is still an hour ahead.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Sheryl

I received this automated form letter response later that day:

Dear 7 Line customer:

Thank you for taking the time to write. Your comments are important to me and my team as we work together to improve your commute and meet the high standards you expect. Each letter or comment that we receive is treated like a “Rider Report Card” on our efforts. I want to assure you that your comments will be investigated, analyzed and changes will be made where possible. I will personally oversee implementation of changes that will make your ride safe and smooth. We welcome your comments, suggestions, concerns and compliments. Thank you for your continued input and support.

Sincerely,
John P. Hoban
7 Line General Manager

But then there was nothing. The clocks were not fixed and I never heard back from them. This letter didn't have the same quick turn around like the last letter which I wrote to the *previous* 7 Train general manager, Louis Brusati. I don't know who this new general manager, John P Hoban is, but I don't like him already... I continued to monitor the clocks...

12/09/09
The first sighting of a clock that was fixed!

12/16/09
The clock by the escalator (MY clock, the one that wouldn't even be activated if it weren't for me!) is still wrong:

12/29/09
The clock by the stairs in the middle of the platform is also wrong:

12/30/09
I notice the clock just before mine has the correct time-

But my clock, the one by the escalator, is still wrong:

Cut to 1/11/10
The clock I have been monitoring most closely, my clock - the one closest to the escalator - has finally been fixed!

Thanks MTA, for not responding to my email, not addressing the 3 clocks that aren't working at all (and still aren't working) and for taking TWO months to resolve this matter. It's obvious from your lack of communication and the length of time it took to fix the time on a clock that you are not capable of completing the simplest of tasks and despite what your automated letter states, you do NOT care what your riding public thinks. And considering it took you 2 months to change the time on a clock, I am more certain than ever that the Second Ave subway line will NOT be completed in my lifetime.

It's Ba-ack!

You may recall a post I put up last summer, where I had been documenting how a Metro Newspaper bin had been turned into a trash bin after they neglected to fill it with newspapers. In what I am assuming is *not* a coincidence, this very bin disappeared after my post. I will admit I felt a sense of loss when that happened. I really enjoyed keeping an eye on it every day to see how things progressed and that simple daily joy had been stolen from me.

Cut to 3 months later...

One night in late November, I was in need of a wardrobe adjustment, and wanted to do it out of public view. So before ascending the stairs to the Metro North platform, I ducked around the corner where I could discreetly make the adjustment. That is when I saw something I never, ever expected to see again-

The Metro Newspaper bin!

It hadn't been completely removed as I thought, it was just moved around the corner!

Here is what it has been up to:

11/23/09 - the night I found it. There was already a lot of stuff in it! (if you look at the left side of this shot, you can see the other bins in the distance. That's where this one used to be.)

Unsurprisingly, I decided to start monitoring this abandoned newspaper bin every workday since. Enjoy!

11/24/09:



11/30/09:



12/01/09:



12/02/09 (note the bottle of Muscle Milk in the upper right hand corner. It will be seen in every shot for the rest of the year - except one where it is covered by wood):



12/03/09:



12/04/09:



12/07/09, morning - note the wood ("morning wood"! haha! Oh, never mind...)



12/07/09, evening (wood was moved, but still there):



12/08/09 - someone removed the wood that was there the day before (I'm glad someone had a use for it!):



12/09/09:



12/10/09:



12/11/09:



12/14/09:



12/15/09:



12/16/09:



12/21/09 (first snowfall of the season in White Plains!):



12/22/09:



12/23/09:



12/24/09:



12/28/09:



12/29/09:

And the final shot of the year -

12/30/09:

to be continued...

Results of the Morning B62 Bus Experiment

As I mentioned earlier this month, the first portion of my morning commute has changed significantly. And not for the better. They eliminated my bus from the schedule, forcing me to take a later one than I used to.

As a result - my bus is more crowded, it takes longer to get to Queens, I arrive in GCT with little to no time to spare, I rarely have time to wash my hands and take my daily morning photo in the Grand Central bathroom, I don't get to visit my Starbucks boyfriend, and once, I even cut off a woman and her baby at the 7 Train turnstile.

It has not been fun or pleasant.

Since I'm methodical and love any excuse to use Excel, I've been tracking my times and finally have enough data to post.

This spreadsheet represents all the workdays since the schedule change where I had to catch the 7:40 to White Plains. The only exception is the January 18 entry - that was MLK Jr Day and on account of the holiday, there was no 7:40. I had to catch a train out at 7:46, which I just barely made.

For the most part, the bus has been arriving pretty consistently (it's expected to arrive @ 7:12 and it's been arriving between 7:09 and 7:12), which is a good thing. But I realize I've just been really lucky so far - anything can interfere with the arrival of the bus. And that's why I used to take the 7:04, to have enough wiggle room in case there was an issue. But the 7:04 was cut from the schedule, so that is no longer an option.

Although I've had mornings where I'm running through Grand Central to get to my track on time, I have not yet missed my 7:40 out. While I hate the feeling of being stressed out and rushing each morning, I am trying to accept the fact that I may on occasion miss this train. When that happens, I will just have to take the 7:50. That train still gets me to work on time, but it makes a lot more stops. I prefer the 7:40. But if I miss the 7:40 *and* the 7:50 (say, if there is a garbage truck on Green St or if the Pulaski drawbridge is up - either of which will add ten minutes to the bus ride), the next train to White Plains leaves at 8:17. That one not only makes me late to work but pisses me off because I add another 30 minutes to my already 1.75 hour commute and if I wanted to catch that one, I could have slept a half hour later.

My conclusions as a result of the data thus far:

• If I am off the bus in Long Island City by 7:22, I do not need to panic. Assuming the 7 Train is running without delay, I should make it to GCT with a few minutes to spare.
• If I arrive on the 7 Train platform in GCT by 7:30, I will have enough time to go to the bathroom when I get upstairs.
• If I miss the 7:40 for whatever reason, I will just deal with it and take the stupid 7:50 that I hate.
• The MTA sucks.

Ideally, the MTA will realize the error of their ways and return the 7:04 to the bus schedule. But I'm not holding my breath on that one...

Pigeons in the White Plains Train Station

I read a recent post on fellow Harlem Line Commuter, Emily's blog about pigeons being seen inside the waiting area at the White Plains Metro North train station. I had yet to witness this. Until Friday night...

I was sitting in the White Plains train station waiting area and using my netbook when I noticed this pigeon out of the corner of my eye. I took a photo:

And when he started to walk down the long corridor, acting like he knew exactly where he was going, I decided to follow him. It looked like he was headed straight for the door, so I thought I'd help usher him outside where he belonged. But it turned out that was not the case. He had other ideas. And a friend. See for yourself:

You can't tell, but at two points in the video, I backed up and opened a door to try to show them "outside" but they either were too stupid to notice or had no interest in leaving the train station. So I continued just following them around until they approached the top of the escalators at the end of the footage. That's the best part of the whole video.

I wonder if they just scurry around inside all winter and then leave on their own when it gets warm. Or is it someone's job to get them out of there at some point? I don't know, but I found it highly entertaining. Of course, if one of them had shit on me, I'd have a very different opinion. But since they didn't, they're ok with me!

Monday Evening's Commute only slightly better than Monday Morning's Commute

I blogged about how much Monday morning's commute sucked. And I was hoping the ride home would be less eventful. It was, but not by much.

For one thing, I forgot that Metro North trains back to Grand Central are *much* more crowded on the Monday eve of what most people count as a 3-day weekend. It's not a holiday my company recognizes, but apparently many other New Yorkers get that day off And I guess they all travel upstate. With their luggage. And their children. And on Monday evening, when I just want to have a peaceful ride home from work, I can't. Because they are all on my train. Going home. With their luggage. And their children.

It will come as no shock that I have no patience for these non-commuters. For the most part, they don't understand commuter etiquette, or, for that matter, general rules of public behavior. They let their children talk and shriek at ear piercing decibels, they crowd the aisles with their rolling luggage (that's what the overhead shelves are for) and they often put their feet *up* on the seats across from them. (You know how I feel about animals who put their feet up on the seats). I hate being on the train with these people.

I found a seat many cars back, away from as many families and children as I could and put in my iPod to attempt to drown them out. We eventually arrived in GCT.

But Grand Central is also much messier on days like this. Again, because it's filled with non-commuters. People who are not familiar with the layout, and who will suddenly just stop where they are to try to figure it out. Maneuvering through them to get to the subway is not as simple as it would be on a normal weeknight. It's mildly annoying, but I know to expect it.

I caught the 7 Train and made it to Queens where I waited for the B62. As I sat at the bus stop, I tweeted a haiku:

Sitting here in Queens*
Netbook battery is low.
B62's here!

I was thrilled to see the bus appear as I was writing it. Soon I would be home.

Not a minute after we pull away from the bus stop, I realize we are stopped on the Pulaski Bridge. Why? Oh of course! The drawbridge is up. This inspires another haiku:

The drawbridge is up?!
Stuck on the Pulaski Bridge-
For who knows how long.

Eventually we do start moving again, and I think about the awful morning commute and the not-much-better evening commute and write one final (and my favorite) of my three commuting haikus for the day:

Oh commuting gods
Why hath thou fucked me today?
Seriously, why?

I'd like to say it has gotten better, but it hasn't by much. Yesterday morning was another stress filled nightmare due to being behind a garbage truck on Green St. I *just* made the train again. But I haven't been able to photograph myself in the bathroom and I hate that feeling of being insanely rushed.

I'm still timing my morning commute and will post those numbers after the end of this week. I have a feeling I am going to stop killing myself each morning to catch the 7:40 and just take the 7:50. I hate that train. It makes a lot more stops, including Fordham, and I hate the Fordham people. But I may have no other choice because of this ridiculous new morning bus schedule...



*Bonus points if you read that line and immediately sang to yourself "...eating refried beans". You are a Ramones fan!

An Open Letter to everyone and everything that made this morning's commute suck

Where do I begin? This morning's commute was one of the worst in memory. First, on account of MLK Jr Day, MTA service was even more sporadic than usual, which did not help the situation.

This was my morning commute:

7:03 I left my apartment
7:06 I was at the bus stop. I take photos and wait.
7:19 Still no sign of the bus and I'm now concerned that I will miss the 7:46 to White Plains. In a desperate act, I descended the G Train stairs at Norman - only to see passengers coming up the stairs, which means I just missed the train. I went back up to Manhattan Ave.
7:21 The bus pulls in. I board the B62.

I had no reason to panic at this point. 25 minutes should be more than enough to get to Grand Central and catch my train.

It wasn't until we got to the Greenpoint Ave stop that I realized things were weird. My first issue is with you, Mr Bus Driver:

You picked up the passengers at Greenpoint Ave. Great. We started moving. But then you stopped again - not once, but TWICE - as you approached Kent St., for passengers running across the street to catch you. Isn't that illegal? You already picked up the passengers at the stop and we were moving. You were no longer in the designated stop. Yes, I have been on the other side of this situation and know how nice it is when the bus driver stops and waits, but I had no time for these shenanigans today!

But it got worse at India Street. Much worse. And this portion wasn't even your fault - The first woman to board apparently did not have a MetroCard with sufficient fare. I know this because I kept hearing the "bad" beep instead of the "good" beep. She used multiple cards or attempted the same card a dozen times with failing results. The thing is, if you don't have a working MetroCard, and you know this because you bring every one you can scrounge up in your apartment/on the street, WHY IN THE HELL DO YOU INSIST ON BEING THE FIRST TO BOARD THE DAMN BUS?! Out of consideration for your fellow passengers, it goes without say that you should board LAST! Let everyone else on, then board, hang out behind the white line while the bus is in motion and figure your shit out WHILE THE BUS IS MOVING! But not you, nope, you just HAD TO BE FIRST, didn't you?! After a minute or so, you finally gave up and threw some coins in the box, then sat down and allowed everyone else to board (How truly kind of you! You are most gracious!).

We finally start moving up Manhattan Ave and I see you walk back up to the front of the bus - I briefly fantasize about punching you in the back of the head as you pass by, but I remain calm - You approach the driver at Green Street, before he even made the turn. He stopped completely. Right there on Manhattan Ave. Dead stop. You had another exchange with him and deposited more coins. Are you finally done at this point? Can we fucking move already? The clock is ticking down. I waited for this bus for too long and now I have been on it for too long. I have a train to catch, so sit the hell down and I hope I never see you again!

The bus finally turns down Green St. And this is where Mr Bus Driver irked me again: We get to the stop on McGuinness Blvd and pick up a handful of passengers. Time to move on! Cross that Pulaski so I can get to the 7 Train, let's go! But no, you pull your chivalrous bus driver routine AGAIN and sit there for at least a full minute while a woman waits in the middle of the McGuinness speedway, attempting to cross 3 lanes of heavy traffic and get on board. Great- so SHE gets to board the bus and as a result I have to miss a train and wait a half an hour in Grand Central, after already waiting nearly 20 minutes for the bus? How is this fair??

She eventually crosses, enters with a valid MetroCard, and we start moving. Again. We finally get to the base of the Pulaski Bridge - just in time to catch the red light. Could you pull your "Mr Nice Bus Driver" act and let us out at the light? No, of course not. This is apparently the one time you want to play by the rules! So we sit through the light cycle and you let us out at the real stop around the corner, adding another minute and a half of stress to my life.

7:34 I am finally in Long Island City, running my ass off in 4 inch peep toe wedges (I love these shoes!) towards the 7 Train.
7:36 The 7 Train pulls away before I can swipe my MetroCard. I make my way to the front of the platform and wait.
7:39! The next 7 Train comes.
7:43!! I arrive in Grand Central, and push my way through the crowd to run up the 3 sets of escalators.
7:45!!! I am out of breath, but upstairs stopping for a millisecond to read the departure board looking for my track: Track 112. I am now running my ass off down the ramp, past Oyster Bar, and to my left, towards Track 112.
7:46!!!! I board the stupid train and the doors shut behind me before I even make my way to a seat.

I just made this train. Just made it! But with no time to take my daily photo OR wash my hands!!!

I hope the day gets better from here and the return trip isn't nearly as eventful.

And to all those of you who helped make this morning's commute suck - the MTA, the bus driver, the lady who didn't have a functional MetroCard, and even the alcoholic woman who reeked of vodka and sat in front of me on the bus, making me nauseous - thank you for giving me something to write about. Though in the future, I'd prefer not to have to go through that again.

Sincerely,
*Bitch Cakes*

Details in Grand Central Terminal: Drinking Fountains

There is so much beauty to behold in Grand Central Terminal if you take the time to look. Whenever I have anyone in from out of town, and they want to "see NY", it's one of the places I am anxious to show them. I think it's absolutely worth seeing if you make your way to NYC and the great thing is: it's free to enter and roam around!

Recently I read this article in the New York Times regarding the water fountains in Grand Central. I was aware of their existence. I have passed them hundreds (if not thousands) of times. But I never really stopped to take a look at them. As a result of reading the article, I had to examine them more carefully and take a few photos.

This one is opposite Track 31. I pass it every morning on my way to the Ladies' Room to take my (almost) daily photo -

That's the fountain where I spotted The Wild Haired Man from the 7 Train (who I haven't seen since capturing him on this particular morning):

This is the water fountain found on the opposite side of the stairs, by the Chase ATMs.

Note the oak leave and acorn detail - which are symbols of the Vanderbilt family. Someone told me that fact a while ago, but I never knew why. According to this blogger, it's because "oak leaves and acorns symbolize strength and longevity". Seems plausible enough...

If you did not read the NY Times article, I'd like to point out my 2 favorite parts:

1. These fountains have been a functional part of GCT since it's opening in 1913 (Is anyone as giddy for their 100 year anniversary as I am? Only 3 years away!)
2. These fountains are both (supposedly) cleaned daily(!) somewhere between 2am and 5am (the terminal is shut down during those hours)

Finally, if you're wondering, no, I will not be drinking from either of these fountains any time soon. But they sure are beautiful to look at.

Happy 100th Birthday to the Manhattan Bridge!

New Year's Eve was a big day for a beautiful bridge in NYC: The Manhattan Bridge turned 100 years old!

My friend Sherry made me aware of a celebration that was going to occur in her honor. And I had planned to go, but I ended up not going because of the snowy weather that day.

I'm sorry I missed it, and that this post is two weeks late, but I wanted to show off some of my favorite photos of the Manhattan Bridge. The blue and white combination of this bridge are unmistakable and stunning. Of course the bridge is also very useful, carrying cars, trucks, pedestrians, cyclists and even the subway. It connects lower Manhattan (Canal St/Lafayette) to DUMBO in Brooklyn. Being just slightly *north* of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, I don't think it gets the recognition it deserves, and it should be appreciated more.

On that note, I am going to show her off. All of these photos were taken by me - most while riding around, having bike adventures. Enjoy!

Note: That's a Grimaldi's pizza on the back of my bike. I waited in line one hour for that pizza. Yes, it was worth it!

These are from the Manhattan side of the Bridge:

as seen from a cruise on the East River (with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background):

I even have a photo I took once when driving my car over the bridge:

And this is a short video I took while cycling across the bridge:

Though I missed the celebration, I'm glad that *some* people did attend the New Year's Eve party, including my friends, Tim & Shana from Punk Rope. They can be seen on the Robert Reid blog post and video here.

Happy Belated Birthday, Manhattan Bridge! You are beautiful!!

Assemblyman Lentol weighs in on the B62 Debacle

As I blogged about on January 4th, the new B62 route and schedule went into effect. And my morning commute has been turned upside down as a result. The bus I relied on every morning is one that was eliminated from the schedule. Because of that, I would either need to leave my apartment 20 minutes earlier to catch the bus at 6:49am (read: wake up 20 minutes earlier) just to get to Grand Central where I would have to wait 30 minutes for a train to White Plains (obviously this is a huge waste of time and very inconvenient and I'm not doing it) or catch the next bus, which isn't expected until a long 23 minutes later, at 7:12. There used to be a bus between those two, a 7:04, which is the one I relied on.

I have been catching the 7:12, but this leaves absolutely no room for error. Assuming it arrives on time, I have been getting to GCT with mere minutes to spare before my train departs. This is not how I like to spend the beginning of my morning - completely stressed out and cutting people off as I exit the bus, as I cross the street, as I enter the turnstiles at Vernon Jackson, exiting the 7 Train, rushing down the platform and on the escalator in GCT. And so far the bus has been on time, but what if it isn't? That obviously will affect the time I get into GCT, possibly missing my train out.

The reason I used to take the 7:04 was because it gave me time to spare, so I didn't have to be a stressed out mess/asshole who cuts off women with babies at a turnstile. This 7:12 leaves absolutely no wiggle room. It means if our B62 gets stuck behind the garbage truck on Green St (which happened earlier this week - we sat there for ELEVEN minutes) or if the Pulaski drawbridge is up, I will miss that train and have to catch the next train, 30 minutes later, making me late to work.

My only other options are:

• Walking to the 7 (which would take about 30 minutes)
• Taking the G to the 7 (but I hate the G/7 outdoor/several block transfer and it puts me 2 stops further into Queens than I need)
• Riding my bike (but my work attire is not bike friendly, I carry 2 bags and I don't trust parking the Hello Kitty Cruiser on the street all day. Not to mention this is weather dependent)
• Or back to my original morning route: the B62 to the L to the 4 to Grand Central - something I never, ever want to do again. (Not only does this put me 30 blocks south of midtown, but the L train in the morning is a nightmare and that transfer at Union Square is not fun.)

The only other option I am considering is taking the B43 in the morning, getting off at Eagle and walking across the Pulaski Bridge. But I don't want to try that until the spring. And it means I will have to wear flats. I will also have to do a few trial runs to figure out what time I need to leave my apartment to get there on time.

I am not the only commuter who has been inconvenienced by this slashing of services and I'm glad we have Assemblyman Joe Lentol in our corner. He not only spoke with Jay Walder (the new head of the MTA) to tell him of his disappointment in what has happened with this and other routes, but he sent out this press release on the matter. (I highlighted the parts most relevant to the B62-)

Assemblyman Lentol voices objection and disappointment with MTA

In a recent letter to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Assemblyman Joe Lentol blasted their decision to go ahead with service cuts to the G train and B48, B24, B61 buses. The service changes have resulted in substantially less service for North Brooklyn commuters. "Previous subway and bus service have been substandard. The recent cuts have now made subway and bus service almost non-existent, which makes public transportation less reliable in a city where public transportation is necessary for so many people to get around," declared Assemblyman Lentol.

Should the so called Doomsday cuts go through G train commuters cannot travel further than 45th Road-Court House Square in Queens. B48 commuters will have no service on late nights and weekends. B24 commuters will now have no service on weekends. The much anticipated and hoped for split of the B61 bus line instead brought great disappointment when it was discovered that the MTA had cut the number of buses per hour in addition to cutting the line in two.

"What was the point of us all making sacrifices and contributing to the system if the MTA was going to make the cuts anyway?" asked Assemblyman Lentol. "The people of my district and this city rallied to save the transit system once already this year. The fact that the MTA is once again telling us to just go ahead and suffer through these kinds of crippling service cuts is quite simply unacceptable. I want to know where the money went and when things will start to improve,: said Assemblyman Lentol.

Assemblyman Lentol spoke personally last week with MTA Chairman Jay Walder about the B61 split. Assemblyman Lentol told Chairman Walder that he was extremely upset with the fact that number of buses per hour had been cut and what a profoundly awful effect this was having on his constituent's commutes. "The B62, which was created to relieve traffic congestion and improve service, runs less frequently than when it was just the B61 running.," said Assemblyman Lentol. "Commuters have already given the new B62 bus line a nickname they feel is appropriate: the 'B60screw,'" Lentol added. "So far I haven't found any reason to disagree with them. Assemblyman Lentol is also extremely disappointed with what he sees as yet another of lack of transparency at the MTA. "They did not disclose to us that the B62 would run less frequently here in Greenpoint than the B61 did prior to the split. If the MTA released that piece of information at the time they announced the B61 split, they certainly would not have received my support . I have been fighting to have service improved, not to have service cuts," said Assemblyman Lentol.

In the past, Assemblyman Lentol has continuously worked to bring attention to the transportation problems in his district. He has often met with and written to the MTA indicating an urgent need for the improvement of subway and bus services for North Brooklyn commuters. "When my constituents tell me that they would rather pay the money for a taxi than take a subway or bus, you know something is wrong with the way the system is working- or lack thereof," stresses Assemblyman Lentol. "North Brooklyn commuters are in urgent need of improved subway and bus service. It seems as if the MTA is drowning out our repeated requests for improved services. It is my hope that the MTA reconsiders these cuts and instead considers the needs of the people. I hope to meet with MTA officials soon to discuss how this can be done. However, if my district continues to be ignored, I will be forced to reconsider how I support the MTA in Albany," argues Assemblyman Lentol.

Thank you, Joe. I think I can speak for most North Brooklynites who rely on this route when I say that I hope your words do not fall on deaf ears.

And thank you, Amy, for forwarding this press release to me. Keep up the great work over there!

MTA Web Site Revamp

If you have ever visited the MTA's website, you know what a craptacular, unhelpful and confusing mess it was. Finding information on here is not fun or easy and the alerts are not in real time, making it basically useless. Does anyone even use it to plan a trip? Of course not. We know better. We use hopstop!

Not only is it ineffective, it's fugly:

But according to the New York Times, they are supposed to be unveiling a beautiful new website today!

"...on Wednesday, the more than a million riders who visit the page each month will be met with a cleaner, less cluttered production, the site’s first significant redesign since 2003."

However, just like everything else with our MTA, it's not on schedule! If you want to be frustrated and baffled, check out the horrendous current website while you still can. Me, I'll be monitoring it all day to see when it goes online. But I can't monitor it as obsessively as I'd like to...

For those of you who enjoy my Dad stories, I will briefly mention that the man is getting married today at City Hall in Manhattan. I hate weddings. (HATE! WEDDINGS!) But I am so excited to go to City Hall and see not only that building, but the newly redesigned wedding chapel. I hope it's not too cold out. I'd love to get some shots of the Brooklyn Bridge too. Later!

An open apology to the woman with the baby @ Vernon Jackson

To the woman with the baby at the Vernon Jackson turnstiles this morning,

Where do I begin? Obviously an apology is in order. I realize I did the rudest and by far most douchbaggy thing I've ever done this morning. I realized it even as I was doing it, and I'm truly sorry.

Because of the ridiculous new B62 bus schedule, I arrived in Long Island City at 7:24 this morning. (Note: I used to arrive IN GCT by 7:20) My train out of Grand Central departs at 7:40. That did not leave me much time to walk to the 7 Train (3 blocks), ride the 7 Train (4 minutes if there are no delays) and make my way up into Grand Central, to Track 24 (another 4-5 minute walk). I was *really* cutting it close this morning.

So when I ran down the stairs to enter the subway, MetroCard in hand, ready to swipe - and I saw the train had just pulled into the station - I truly had no time to spare. I had to get on that train.

But you were standing there, at one of the only 2 turnstiles, with a baby attached to the front of your body in one of those slings. I watched you attempt to swipe your Metro Card, but it kept getting denied. As I saw you slowly remove your MetroCard from the reader, I knew that was my opportunity and I squeezed myself between you/your baby and the MetroCard reader and swiped my card as I apologized to you. In fact, I may have even brushed against you slightly, we were that close. Believe me, I knew it was an asshole move. And I am sure plenty of other people saw me do it too, making it even worse.

I swear, I'm not an asshole. And I know what I did was rude and wrong, but I needed to catch that 7 Train. And it turned out it was a good thing I did, because that train ended up being held in Grand Central for a while due to a sick passenger (I know this because I saw the passenger in question and I saw the train sit there the entire time it took me to walk from the back of the platform to the front, and even when I got on the escalator, it still was sitting there), which meant if I had been on the train behind it, I would have been even further delayed and would surely have missed my 7:40. But I did not miss it. I am on that train right now.

So, lady with the baby, I am embarrassed and really sorry for what I did. I hope you can forgive me.

Sincerely,
Bitch Cakes

Note: Since it's related, I just want to give a big, warm and heartfelt FUCK YOU to the MTA for eliminating the bus I used to take from their morning schedule. I have no time to spare now and the first part of my morning commute is a stress filled nightmare.