Train(ed) Fools

It was a few weeks back when I started noticing the MTA signs posted in the subways alerting us that riding "on" the train is dangerous. The photo used on the poster shows a man holding onto the outside of the train just outside the doors. I always chuckled at this poster because in a decade of riding the subways I have never seen anyone attempt this maneuver.

Just last week as I was riding the L home I heard an announcement over the loud speaker as we were leaving a stop. The recorded voice advised me that riding on the outside of any train car is prohibited and dangerous. My thoughts went immediately to the poster I had seen a few weeks earlier conveying the same message. I couldn't believe that the problem wase serious enough that they needed to communicate the ill behavior using two different media vehicles, posters and audio. But then again, I'm just s straphanger not a highly trained MTA statistics wiz.

So who are these people and what are they thinking? I decided to hunt down some of the perps and ask for their last thought before riding "on" the train.

"Damn, I just missed the train. Let me jump on the side and hang on so I am not late for work." -- Joe Christo, Astoria
"Shit the doors closed. It's just one stop, I'll just ride here on the window sill." -- Brena Robinson, Manhattan
"Ohh, no AC in this car. I'll go back outside and hang onto the roof so the breeze will keep me cool." -- Martin Lewinski, Brighton Beach

FINAL WORD: Stop spending money creating messages and posters to tell us not to ride on the outside of the god damn train. Switch to an insurance carrier that will cover you for the stupidity of foolish riders so you don't have a lawsuit everytime a crazy rides between cars and gets tossed. And put another Fuckin' conductor on the god damn L train with the money you saved.