What city has the best Subway system?

[madformac]

Originally Posted by amber

What do you mean? Don't people form lines where you live? We do here. Except then there are a few a**holes, and old asian women, who try to cut. I? Hate cuts with a passion. I usually bump people back over, or quickly and obviously block their way. One time I stuck my umbrella out. Hmmm, speaking of a**holes....

Erm....... No.

The London tube really is not about queuing, it's like going to war.

Well you need to get a ticket from (usually) an automated machine. After that, when you get through the barriers its every man and women for themselves and all hell can break loose. I've seen elderly ladies pushed over, carriages so packed I'm surprised ANYBODY could get in or out. God help you if you can't put on a short sprint of speed during rush hour. The thing I hate the most is when a woman tries to carry a pushchair up the steps and nobody offers help. The trouble is sometimes if you are too courtious you get left on the platform because the stationary times are so short (trains can stop at a station every 2 minutes on some lines)

If you ever get to London Amber you would shake your head at the absurdity of the transport system at times. It's amazing it works as well as it does. I'm just glad I don't have to use it everyday like Sharon.

[amber]

Originally Posted by madformac

Erm....... No.

The London tube really is not about queuing, it's like going to war.

Well you need to get a ticket from (usually) an automated machine. After that, when you get through the barriers its every man and women for themselves and all hell can break loose. I've seen elderly ladies pushed over, carriages so packed I'm surprised ANYBODY could get in or out. God help you if you can't put on a short sprint of speed during rush hour. The thing I hate the most is when a woman tries to carry a pushchair up the steps and nobody offers help. The trouble is sometimes if you are too courtious you get left on the platform because the stationary times are so short (trains can stop at a station every 2 minutes on some lines)

If you ever get to London Amber you would shake your head at the absurdity of the transport system at times. It's amazing it works as well as it does. I'm just glad I don't have to use it everyday like Sharon.

Oh.my.god. That is crazy. There's enough room for everyone at ours. The driver waits till everyone gets on. The only thing bad is during rush hour you may have to stand up for your trip, and you may be smooshed right against someone. But on the platforms there's no violence.
There goes my notion about the polite British....

[madformac]

Originally Posted by amber

Oh.my.god. That is crazy. There's enough room for everyone at ours. The driver waits till everyone gets on. The only thing bad is during rush hour you may have to stand up for your trip, and you may be smooshed right against someone. But on the platforms there's no violence.
There goes my notion about the polite British....

Drivers don't really wait for anybody. As long as nobody is trapped in a door they just take off. And they need to. There are so many trains on each track that you really need them in and out as quickly as possible. It can be very quiet or totally insane. Oxford Circus, Leicester Square and Victoria Station at rush hour is something you wouldn't forget. I could see you giving somebody hell if they pushed you.

It's a popular misconception that the British are polite. Not in my tube experience anyway. You would be amazed at the things that go on. There can be total anarchy when a train arrives. One good thing is there is a common spirit of all going into battle together. You can sometimes joke to a total stranger. Other times (which is more common) nobody talks on the tube and nobody looks at anybody else. It's weird. I'm from the north of England and the mentality is more open and friendly. The south is a little more miserable and cautious but more professional too. I think Londoners really showed the good points during last summers tube bombings. The next day most people were back on board (I was). I doubt that would happen in most cities and countries. The British WWII mentality of "they won't defeat us" rose to the surface again and I'm proud of that.

[DavidMn]

I've been to London twice and I absolutely love their system! It's a trip for sure.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

And dont you guys in L.A have a pretty good rail system now and hardly anyone rides it?

Pffft. Too little too late.

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by amber

What do you mean? Don't people form lines where you live? We do here.

that was one of the most shocking things for me when i moved from montreal to toronto. in montreal, people lined up for the buses - from the corner down the sidewalk, single file. when the line got too long, they'd form a second line, parallel to the first one. all very orderly.

toronto? people just stand wherever on the street corner, and when the streetcar arrives - watch out! every man, woman, and child for him or herself. i think the first time i saw it happen, i just stood there stunned.

oh. and streetcar drivers? wait for NO ONE. it keeps them efficient, but man, it bites when you're late for work.

[amber]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

that was one of the most shocking things for me when i moved from montreal to toronto. in montreal, people lined up for the buses - from the corner down the sidewalk, single file. when the line got too long, they'd form a second line, parallel to the first one. all very orderly.

toronto? people just stand wherever on the street corner, and when the streetcar arrives - watch out! every man, woman, and child for him or herself. i think the first time i saw it happen, i just stood there stunned.

oh. and streetcar drivers? wait for NO ONE. it keeps them efficient, but man, it bites when you're late for work.

How weird there was such a difference between the two places. I'm not sure we really form orderly lines for buses, but BART is different.
That does bite. The worst thing is when you rush to your stop, just to see the train/bus pulling away....

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by amber

Ugh. Ashby is the ugliest station.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Ugh. Ashby is the ugliest station.

No, embarcadero and all stops past civic center are the ugliest. Actually, Ashby is one of the nice ones.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by amber

No, embarcadero and all stops past civic center are the ugliest. Actually, Ashby is one of the nice ones.

hahaha. I knew you'd say that. The whole Richmond line (one the East side) sucks. Embarcadero is cool.

Best stop: Pleasanton and SFO.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Richard B

hahaha. I knew you'd say that. The whole Richmond line sucks. Embarcadero is cool.

Best stop: Pleasanton and SFO.

Are you high? Embarcadero is all grey and dour. It's like someplace Hitler would live.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by amber

Are you high? Embarcadero is all grey and dour. It's like someplace Hitler would live.

You knew Hitler?

Please. I like the asphalt towers and the nice breaks in them (for a underground station.) And no cheezy colored tile like they do on the Oakland/Berkeley underground stations.

Remember now, I grew up there and have been using BART since it began. Just my taste. Besides, I'll take the above ground stations anyday of course.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Richard B

You knew Hitler?

Please. I like the asphalt towers and the nice breaks in them (for a underground station.) And no cheezy colored tile like they do on the Oakland/Berkeley underground stations.

Remember now, I grew up there and have been using BART since it began. Just my taste. Besides, I'll take the above ground stations anyday of course.

Oh. Lame, it's all dark and undergroundy - it looks like a fricking prison! The Richmond line is all nice and tiley.
Figures a cap would like the grey prison motif.

I bet if we asked some impartial observers, my line would totally win! Take that!
And may I remind you that berkeley is red brick, which is hardly "cheesy tile". I agree, above grounds rule, unless it's supacold. Did you see my pics from MacArthur BART? Oh, wait, that's on myspace. I'll post, so you'll get homesick.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by amber

Oh. Lame, it's all dark and undergroundy - it looks like a fricking prison! The Richmond line is all nice and tiley.
Figures a cap would like the grey prison motif.

I bet if we asked some impartial observers, my line would totally win! Take that!

This isn't a competition, Cancer. Typical over-emotional reaction. Having problems finding beauty in non-traditional places? Again...typical Cancer.

[amber]

Here's my MacArthur pics: