New York Subways - Have You Ridden On Them?

Discussion in 'Other Reminiscences' started by Lon Tanner, Jun 30, 2020.

  1. Lon Tanner

    Lon Tanner Supreme Member
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    Living across the way from NYC as a kid in New Jersey it was lots of fun to ride the subway from one borough to another. Years later living and working in California I made many business trips to the city and would have occasion to use the subway system again, but it was not fun like when I was a kid.
     
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  2. Lois Winters

    Lois Winters Veteran Member
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    Had to every day when I lived and worked in NY. Taxis are too expensive and having a car over there was a nuisance with alternate side parking. Left the car at my parent's house in NJ and used it on my days off.
     
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  3. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have never even been to NYC. :gasp: Never had any desire to.

    I think the only subway I've ever ridden is the Washington DC Metro. Houston has a metro rail system but not underground; the water table is too high and the elevation too low.
     
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  4. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Not in a few years, but I have.
     
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  5. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    I must have. Back in the early 70's. Went with a friend who had a car. It was Sunday. We parked somewhere near Wall Street. It was like a ghost town. Then I remember walking up some steps into China Town. Wall to wall people busy shopping. It was like entering a whole different world. But I don't remember the actual subway ride.

    Went on a D.C. subway from an airport in 1986. Got off at the Pentagon. It was the most confusing building, and way overcrowded with temporary cubicles set up for offices.

    Both times I was with someone who knew where they were going so I didn't pay attention to how we got anywhere. :(
     
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  6. Tex Dennis

    Tex Dennis Veteran Member
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    Never rode one been to NY 2 times hope I never return, just to many rude people, NJ was close 2nd
     
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  7. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I've been to NYC with work and a couple of times for pleasure with relatives who live in Jersey. I don't recall being on the subway.

    I've ridden the system in DC many times (I lived there from the 60s, so witnessed the debates and the construction), but being so new it lacks the "ambience" of the NYC system.
     
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  8. Lois Winters

    Lois Winters Veteran Member
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    42194681_2206007556308753_8921761428826750976_n.jpg
     
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  9. Peter Renfro

    Peter Renfro Veteran Member
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    Never. I have been to NYC, I think, three times. Once just passing through on my way home from NC. I went to Times Square for New Years eve 1976,crazy time, and then a couple years later for the St.Patricks Day Parade.
     
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  10. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
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    Never rode the subway. Went there as a kid, went there to participate in parade during bicentennial. Met Johnny in Central Park then.
     
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  11. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I have never been to New York (probably never will be), and have never ridden any kind of subway, except for the ones that rush you across an airport to a different terminal. I don’t think that I miss that experience very much.

    I have ridden on the Seattle Monorail, back when it was a new and different thing to do. It was a long time ago, and my kids were all little , and loved the ride.
    Here is a picture from back in the 60’s when it was still pretty new.

    33842A14-1E2F-4435-A2DC-AEAC728DDB29.jpeg
     
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  12. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Have never been to NYC and seriously don't think I'd ever want to go. But, did use Amtrak for a week to go to a new job. Found out that even in rain, my motorcycle got me to the job faster and on time.
     
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  13. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    The only monorail I've ridden was at Walt Disney World many years ago. It went through the lobby of our hotel.

     
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  14. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    I’ve ridden the L in Chicago, Marta in Atlanta and yes, the subway in New York City and do forgive me, the New York experience was way beyond my tolerance for crowds and way way beyond my tolerance for rude people.
     
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  15. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    That's funny, I've been to Atlanta a few times and have ridden the MARTA. I was (and still am) astounded at how the slow southern friendliness of those I chatted with on that subway became the Darwinian "winner takes all" driving I encountered on their roads...specifically "The Perimeter," which encircled the city. 90 MPH was the minimum speed, and 3 car lengths seemed to be the maximum following distance. To this day, I still don't understand how "Bless your heart" became "Get the &#@! outta my way!!!" on that road.

    I read that the police stopped pulling people over on that highway because to do so endangered everyone's life.
     
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