Today's TTIV story is a guest post that is part bizarre behavior and part sociological oddity. It comes from "The Duke of Albany." He's not really a Duke, and he's not from Albany, but TTIV protects the identities of contributors with Shakespearean character names.
In 2015, the Duke shared a great story about the frightening Hicksville parking facility traffic director, who I nicknamed "Edgar Wrentilkoppe." This one's about a LIRR rider with grand delusions.
One morning, I got on a Brooklyn-bound Long Island Rail Road train at Deer Park. As is typical of non-Manhattan bound trains, it was quiet with ample seating. The silence was shattered though, as a "Chatty Cathy" contingent boarded my train car. They clustered together in the six-seater, facing each other, two rows away from me. There were three women and one man. To further the visualization, imagine the most stereotypical Lawn Guyland accents you've ever heard.
To top it off, they had a LOT to say.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Friday, January 01, 2016
Cheers to 2015 and Welcome 2016!
The other day, I received a series of emails from the Long Island Rail Road. A person was hit by a train near Hicksville. A grade crossing gate was broken somewhere. And there was no drinking allowed on the train for New Year's Eve.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Holiday Spirit And Potentially Bad Choices
My generally happy holiday mood and perhaps an insanity streak may have saved me from bodily harm. The setting of this story is the subway, my final ride of 2015 from my client's office to Penn Station. It was pouring rain, and people who typically take a Citi Bike (like me) or walk sought shelter on the train to get to their destinations.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Encroachment Should Come With Penalties
Webster's Dictionary states that personal space is "the physical area immediately surrounding someone, into which any encroachment feels threatening to or uncomfortable for them." Yes, encroachment in a confined space is a problem, and nowhere is it felt more than on a crowded Long Island Rail Road train.
In the NFL, encroachment is called when a defensive player enters the neutral zone, making contact with an opponent prior to the snap. There is no neutral zone luxury on the LIRR, and you certainly can't expect conductors to act as referees, so unchecked violations are a regular issue.
There are different levels of encroachment. Some egregious, and some minor. Let's look at a few.
In the NFL, encroachment is called when a defensive player enters the neutral zone, making contact with an opponent prior to the snap. There is no neutral zone luxury on the LIRR, and you certainly can't expect conductors to act as referees, so unchecked violations are a regular issue.
There are different levels of encroachment. Some egregious, and some minor. Let's look at a few.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thankful for your following, shared stories, and comments. Happy Thanksgiving from #TTIV !!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
The Wheel Of Blame
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| The MTA Wheel of Blame |
I assume the MTA Communications department office has a large, prize-style "Wheel of Blame" to determine delay messages. They spin the wheel, an item comes up, and click "send." Communication responsibility fulfilled. Is it accurate? Who cares?
Let's review the slots on the Wheel of Blame.
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
There's More To Life Than The Quiet Car
No matter though. Let's be visionaries for a moment and assume the program is a massive success. What if the MTA decided to build on that success and introduce different kinds of cars for different kinds of commuters?
