Rapid Transit (1949) Video (I wish the subway system was really Rapid Transit)

[Union Tpke]

 

This is a great video, showing how the subway should be.

Based off the video, the system looks a lot better operated with competant, thinking, breathing, humans, instead of computers. Just look at the employees who close the car doors making sure all the passengers are in. We need more employees not less. Lets put people back to work.

[MHV9218]

Really enjoyed this video. Tells you something about the era though...10 minutes of slow, specific video is not the way we'd get across a point as simple as "don't hold the doors" today. Great stuff to watch.

 

Is that the old Jerome station the passes hitting the tunnel?

[Union Tpke]

Really enjoyed this video. Tells you something about the era though...10 minutes of slow, specific video is not the way we'd get across a point as simple as "don't hold the doors" today. Great stuff to watch.

 

Is that the old Jerome station the passes hitting the tunnel?

could you tell me around what point?

[jon2305]

Great video!!! Unfortunately as we move along the 21st Century we as humans rely more on computers than hard working manual labor. It's a shame. I think this video truly shows me the art & rhythm of what rapid transit is.

[NewFlyer 230]

Great footage, this is in the era when we had hard working people who used their own brain to figure stuff out. Today we just have a bunch of lazy people who wait on everyone else to figure out their own problems and that is thanks to computers. These cellphones, computers and automated things spoiled us to the point that we can't function without them anymore.

[Union Tpke]

Great footage, this is in the era when we had hard working people who used their own brain to figure stuff out. Today we just have a bunch of lazy people who wait on everyone else to figure out their own problems and that is thanks to computers. These cellphones, computers and automated things spoiled us to the point that we can't function without them anymore.

Exactly. Thank You.

We don't need technology for everything. Of course it is useful, such as in FIND displays, but even those have limits. Such as in flexibility, such as service changes, and whatnot. T/Os and C/Os can do this.

[DetSMART45]

Great footage, this is in the era when we had hard working people who used their own brain to figure stuff out. Today we just have a bunch of lazy people who wait on everyone else to figure out their own problems and that is thanks to computers. These cellphones, computers and automated things spoiled us to the point that we can't function without them anymore.

Nah, the "work ethic" turned south back in late 1980s-early 90s.  It's just become more noticeable how dangerously low standards are today because of a more rapid advancement of technology.

Just recently there was an article how Google was placing blame for their driverless cars getting into accidents: HUMANS.

Sorta says it all.

[Xentor]

We certainly have to this very day very hard working competent, thinking, breathing, humans beings in the Transit Authority. 99% of Transit workers do fine job day by day, no one comes here to play around. What we have is hugely increased ridership since those days and a highly incompetent and archaic Authority whom day by day seems to care less about it's fantastic work force.

[LTA1992]

From what I gathered by watching the Board Meetings, the actual members on that board (or at least the most vocal ones) use the subways regularly and pose all the right questions to the TA. The largest issue here is that this system is under state control, which is a problem. People who do not use the subways, but are in control of it, will never care about this system at the end of the day. That's gonna catch up with us eventually.

[Union Tpke]

From what I gathered by watching the Board Meetings, the actual members on that board (or at least the most vocal ones) use the subways regularly and pose all the right questions to the TA. The largest issue here is that this system is under state control, which is a problem. People who do not use the subways, but are in control of it, will never care about this system at the end of the day. That's gonna catch up with us eventually.

That is why we need NYC, Suffolk, Nassau, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties to make our own state. We'd be called New York. Upstate could be called Empire, or Buffalo, or whatever.

[DetSMART45]

That is why we need NYC, Suffolk, Nassau, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties to make our own state. We'd be called New York. Upstate could be called Empire, or Buffalo, or whatever.

ROFL ....

 

Then you'd have the six counties complaining that too much of a percentage of their money goes to NYC, and you're back to square one.

 

Nassau already did this -- it's called NICE.

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

Not only that, bus if the Southern part of New York splits, the economy of the north would suffer tremendously. Bad idea overall.

[Union Tpke]

Not only that, bus if the Southern part of New York splits, the economy of the north would suffer tremendously. Bad idea overall.

people in upstate have proposed the same split recently

http://www.newamsterdamny.org

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

people in upstate have proposed the same split recently

http://www.newamsterdamny.org

Well then good luck trying to gain as much revenue as they do in tourism. Most tourist attracts are in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City. Besides Niagara Falls and the New York State Fair, there's not much of anything in Upstate New York of a "tourist trap", north of the Hudson Valley. That produces revenue, which is good for businesses, and the economy. New York City produces a considerable amount of such revenue. So what if lifestyles in New York State are different in the north and south. That's like saying Staten Island should not be part of the city due to it's difference compared to the other 4 boroughs. New York City alone houses more than 40% of the population in New York State. With long island, it apparently makes up almost 80% of the New York Population. That's without counting the Hudson Valley portion. While New York State under the new split would thrive, the New Amsterdam Region will possibly not be able to support itself at worst case scenario. You would probably have something like Pennsylvania and/or vermont taking over parts of this new state after a while.

[LTA1992]

Not only that, bus if the Southern part of New York splits, the economy of the north would suffer tremendously. Bad idea overall.

Bad for whom, exactly? Upstate? If we ax them then maybe the things we need to get done here would actually occur. 

[Union Tpke]

Bad for whom, exactly? Upstate? If we ax them then maybe the things we need to get done here would actually occur. 

That is the whole point.

[DetSMART45]

Bad for whom, exactly? Upstate? If we ax them then maybe the things we need to get done here would actually occur. 

Uhmm ... just no.

As I said, the "suburban" areas would start to complain because their tax dollars would be supporting NYC, and those areas consider themselves to be "different" or "separate" from the dirty, grungy City.  Also, NYC residents would bemoan the fact that some of their money goes to support the more "affluent" areas when it shouldn't.

It won't work.  Just take my word for it.

[bobtehpanda]

Uhmm ... just no.

As I said, the "suburban" areas would start to complain because their tax dollars would be supporting NYC, and those areas consider themselves to be "different" or "separate" from the dirty, grungy City.  Also, NYC residents would bemoan the fact that some of their money goes to support the more "affluent" areas when it shouldn't.

It won't work.  Just take my word for it.

 

The state literally handed no-strings-attached $1B to Buffalo and a few other cities upstate. Long Islanders (and by that, really just Nassau) may dislike the city, but they dislike Albany even more. Keeping the money within the metro area would be much better. (I know many people from around the suburbs, and only Nassau really has the anti-city bent.)

[TheNewYorkElevated]

Exactly. Thank You.

We don't need technology for everything. Of course it is useful, such as in FIND displays, but even those have limits. Such as in flexibility, such as service changes, and whatnot. T/Os and C/Os can do this.

I definitely agree with you on this. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for London though. Why? Well, they want completely driverless trains, and the transit unions there don't like the idea because it's dangerous for passenger operation.

[LTA1992]

That is the whole point.

That was more directed to the "Bad idea overall" part.

[DetSMART45]

The state literally handed no-strings-attached $1B to Buffalo and a few other cities upstate. Long Islanders (and by that, really just Nassau) may dislike the city, but they dislike Albany even more. Keeping the money within the metro area would be much better. (I know many people from around the suburbs, and only Nassau really has the anti-city bent.)

You think that's unique?  Hear that little story about Detroit going "bankrupt"?  And who was part of the cavalry riding in on the white horses for them?  Yep, the state of Michigan -- and you could hear the collective groan of, "Oh, really? AGAIN???" across the state.

Detroit lost over half of its population in 40 years, with the biggest (25%) between 2000 and 2010.  During bankruptcy, the water system was shutting people off for nonpayment, and it was learned that almost 50% of the residents (~300,000) "couldn't afford to pay".  So do you think those people are paying their property taxes to the city?  And if that's not happening, who's keeping the schools, public service/safety agencies, bus service, and other things paid for?  It sure as hell ain't the residents themselves, obviously -- it's through Michigan and Fed "grants" (out of the pockets of other taxpayers).  Then they fight tooth and nail to continue their control over things like the water system (which serves close to 2 million suburban customers who DO pay their bills) and Belle Isle Park -- when they can't even pay to keep them up anyways.

 

The NYC area will never get back, in an equitable way, what they contribute to the state.  It's a fact of life everywhere -- there are "donor" areas (largest urban/suburban areas) which pay toward the betterment of the rest of the state's residents.  And even if you created a southern New York fiefdom, do you think it would be any more equitable?  Peruse some of these counties' budgets and compare NYC's as well.  I can almost guarantee you that NYC would require the most money to enable it to be the driver of the economics of the region.  And while you consider the suburbs to be "friendly" to NYC now, once your new city-state happens, NYC can easily tell the others, "Without us, you'd be nowhere," and to a large extent they'd be right.  Those suburbs wouldn't be as friendly, I can assure you, especially if you have someone like who's running the show now, with the lots of nice "things the government can/should do for you" mentality.

 

BTW, the outstate residents probably say the same thing, except something like, "Why does our money support what goes on in NYC?  They should be able to pay their own way since they're so big."  It works both ways.

[bobtehpanda]

You think that's unique?  Hear that little story about Detroit going "bankrupt"?  And who was part of the cavalry riding in on the white horses for them?  Yep, the state of Michigan -- and you could hear the collective groan of, "Oh, really? AGAIN???" across the state.

Detroit lost over half of its population in 40 years, with the biggest (25%) between 2000 and 2010.  During bankruptcy, the water system was shutting people off for nonpayment, and it was learned that almost 50% of the residents (~300,000) "couldn't afford to pay".  So do you think those people are paying their property taxes to the city?  And if that's not happening, who's keeping the schools, public service/safety agencies, bus service, and other things paid for?  It sure as hell ain't the residents themselves, obviously -- it's through Michigan and Fed "grants" (out of the pockets of other taxpayers).  Then they fight tooth and nail to continue their control over things like the water system (which serves close to 2 million suburban customers who DO pay their bills) and Belle Isle Park -- when they can't even pay to keep them up anyways.

 

The NYC area will never get back, in an equitable way, what they contribute to the state.  It's a fact of life everywhere -- there are "donor" areas (largest urban/suburban areas) which pay toward the betterment of the rest of the state's residents.  And even if you created a southern New York fiefdom, do you think it would be any more equitable?  Peruse some of these counties' budgets and compare NYC's as well.  I can almost guarantee you that NYC would require the most money to enable it to be the driver of the economics of the region.  And while you consider the suburbs to be "friendly" to NYC now, once your new city-state happens, NYC can easily tell the others, "Without us, you'd be nowhere," and to a large extent they'd be right.  Those suburbs wouldn't be as friendly, I can assure you, especially if you have someone like who's running the show now, with the lots of nice "things the government can/should do for you" mentality.

 

BTW, the outstate residents probably say the same thing, except something like, "Why does our money support what goes on in NYC?  They should be able to pay their own way since they're so big."  It works both ways.

 

At least you can argue that money staying within the metro area benefits the regional economy; part of the reason New York is so successful is because it can draw workers from the Hudson Valley and the Island. It's a really big stretch to say that giving money to Plattsburgh or Buffalo or Syracuse really benefits the City, or vice versa. Long Island and Westchester both know this, which is why nearly all of their major transportation, development and government investment is focused around building on the links to the city.

 

The other issue is that shackling upstate to downstate also hurts upstate. New York City doesn't have home rule, so it and the suburbs use their muscle to push regulations that only really work for downstate, and end up making doing business in upstate too expensive. Look at the minimum wage increase talk; the current wage is too low for downstate, but too high for upstate as it is, and it's only going to get worse from there. It's not just minimum wage, either; everything from taxes to regulations to environmental laws is tilted in downstate's favor, so no one is happy.