On Demand
Can You Hear Me Now?
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Paul Fleuranges, spokesman for the MTA, talks about the the MTA's deal to allow cellphone service in subway stations.
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Please, no cell phone service on the trains. Okay if you must, platforms only. I ride the bus daily. I am so tired of hearing everyone's telephone conversations...why is the person on the bus is always the one talking and never the one listening?
I would like to know why cell phone use in the subway is being approved in an era in which subway bombings have occurred abroad, and the bag inspection policy is completely ineffective and not even attempted anymore.
cellfones on subways BAD BAD idea.
can't they find anything better to waste money on?
I'm sure I wouldn't be alone in finding it incredibly annoying to have to listen to cell phone talkers in the subway station.
Why not limit the subway cell phone reception to emergencies only, capable of being switched on by authorities.
I for one would like to hear more vacuous bipeds using the "walkie-talkie" function on their phones for the entertainment of all passengers within the subway car:
"Yo dawg where you at?" BLOOP!
"I'm at work man" BLOOP!
"Aw **** what you crazy" BLOOP!
"Aight, check you later" BLOOP!
PLEASE NO!!!
City buses are INFESTED with rude cell-phoners. They talk loudly, use inappropriate language, refuse to turn of the system sounds when webbing or gaming, and are way too in-love with their ring tones—letting the "ring" play through several loops. If there is an important announcement from the driver, and you aren't in the seat behind the driver, forgedaboudit!
OK.
Dont forget 207th street A line (about 300 feet under ground
and the 168th Street A/aa IND line transfer to the #1 train
the subway signs say that over 1,900 folks saw something and said something, yet we've not be attacked since 9/11. does that mean cops have responded (on the taxpayer dime) to almost 2,000 false calls???
What about getting Heat in the station in winter, and AC in the summer like every other city. That would be a better comfort.
OOH, will you also put WI-FI access in?
That means that we would be able to even get FREE service for some people!!!
They should finance a "high end" subway line for those more glamorous subway riders, complete with wi-fi, padded seats, short waits and complementary beverages served while on board.
That way, the swell people won't be bothered with having to look at all those dirty poor people during their commute.
you're not asking the right question....why doesn't the mta install a REAL public address system...w/ personnel who know what they are doing??!!......instead of falling back on saying "let customers handle emergencies on their own'
Having experienced cellphone service on trains in the tunnels on the DC metro, the technology is not good enough to create annoying constant conversation all over the place. the signals come and go, having a conversation is impossible. Having service in the tunnels is handy, though, in that you can send and receive text messages (which are silent!).
All the first people who got cell phones got them "in case of an emergency." Now everybody has a damn cell phone plastered to his/her ear all damn day long. Even twelve year olds. You can bet if there is service on the subway platforms, everybody will be yapping on the phone constantly down there, too. Look, on an elevated line, this minute the train gets outside, the phones come out.
There is a lot wrong with the subways, but one of the things I actually enjoyed was that I din't have to listen to other people's phone conversations down there.
There is no actual need for cell phone use in the stations. Total waste of money.
There is a real need for working audio systems. I can always hear the "if you see something, say something" recorded messages, but when an MTA employee speaks "live" to convey important information about train delays, etc. I can RARELY understand him or her. Everyone who rides trains regularly knows this. Money would be much better spent on working, effective speakers OR signs.
The guest mentioned that the cell phone technology is such that you no longer have to scream into the cell phone to be heard, but that doesn't make any sense on the subway.
It's so loud anyway that you have to scream just to talk to the person next to you!
No Cellphones on the Subway!
If the MTA feels that people will have to use 'etiquette' in using their cell phones why does Paul think they will do this when people have never learned the 'etiquette' of waiting until people get off a train until they try to get on a train?
I had to sit next to someone talking to her therapist once on a packed Chinatown bus, and after an hour of talking about how her rich boyfriend couldn't get it up, she says "sorry about that". I turned and looked at her as I was trying to read a book, and said, " I can't wait until cell phones work on the subway "
Follow the money. The big incompetent MTA and the corrupt Transit Union need more sources of income no matter how much the system gets more annoying than it already is.
I agree with Jamie. Wouldn't AC in the summer be a higher priority???
OH yeah, the only time I got a break in the hour-long therapy session split in two phone calls was in the Lincoln Tunnel when her phone didn't work. Thank you tunnel.
Let's take care of what is most important. The trains running in a timely manner and the condition of the subway stations.
I've lived close to the Smith and 9th Street stop on the F for 3 years. The bridge over the canal is wrapped in tar paper so we can't see the rust and decay while the roof on the station leaks so much you need an umbrella while you stand under it in the rain. There was a 7 million dollar renovation planned for this stop that was canceled.
What happened when the NYC comptroller came out a few years ago and said that the MTA "HID HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN 2002 BUDGET,
FARE INCREASE BASED ON MISLEADING INFORMATION
Two Financial Plans: One Public, One Secret"? The rates have been raised 3 times since I've been here and I've seen no improvements. Only decline. I use to love riding the subway. Now it is so undependable that I'm just frustrated and feel like I'm being robbed every time the rates are raised and service is not improved.
What is Paul Fleuranges going to do to improve service? As for cell phones on the platform...I'll talk to my friends in person when I get to my destination in a timely manner.
Please, no cell phones in the subway! I'd rather have these announcement boards on every station that tell you when the next train will arrive. At least that's useful, but we truly don't have to talk on the phone ALL THE TIME! What about reading a book on the train?
I'd like to hear some classical music being played in the subways.
Please no cellphone access or AC. People are annoying enough and the trains are freezing enough already as they are.
Tim is right--
The cellphone idea is essentially a way to avoid the cost of an actual emergency communication system.
It "outsources" the communication (and the liability) to the riders out of the MTA's hands.
Now we can use "I guess I didn't get your call, I was in the subway"! I agree with most here, service on the platforms will be good for safety, but on the flip side in the tunnels will make the cars pure torture.
God, I remember ages ago when the cars AC never worked!
there already IS cellphone capability on the train, as soon as it gets outdoors and becomes elevated. And it isn't that bad as there seems to be, even among the barbarians living outside the little island, a little stigma attached to standing there so close and yelling.
but yes, spending $$ to extend this underground is a ridiculous waste. One more "computer person" non-solution. the money's much better spent on fixing the water/flooding issue.
This plan sounds perfect for text messaging from the platform when the train is delayed, something I frequently wish I could do. Or, if you need to contact someone when you're on the train, write the text message between stops and send it when you pull up to a station. Of course, fewer train delays would reduce the need for texting to explain why you're late. Mobile phones aren't just for talking!
In the event of an emergency the cell in a subway station would probably be overloaded with hundreds of people trying to make calls. I agree that this is just a way for the MTA to push the burden of emergency management onto its riders. Also, do you really want everyone on their phone in an emergency when they should be listening for announcements (not that anyone can understand the announcements).
Invest in a clear sounding PA system, signage at each station letting you know when the next train is arriving and more safety measures for track workers.
Giving terrorists a way to blow-up subway cars by remote sounds like a brilliant idea.
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