Bikes

Whenever you descend onto the subway platform ready to fight the mayhem, there is only one thought on a commuter's mind: How long do I need to wait until the next train arrives? How much longer do I have to stand on this stifling, stuffy platform before I hear that glorious distant rumble on my side of the tracks? (Some lines now have countdown clocks which help, but it's still a crapshoot on how accurate they are.)

We've all made that stressful run from the entrance of the station, down the stairs to the turnstile, fumbling for a MetroCard, hearing the train screech to a stop, hoping to make it to the platform before the doors close, a rush of satisfaction as you catch your breath, and sensing the disappointment for the commuters who can't run as fast and have to wait for the next train.

But twice last week, I leisurely strolled through the turnstile after work, walked down the stairs to the platform and saw every commuter's nightmare: A platform packed with people. Obviously a train hadn't been through in a while and it just got more and more frustrating as other trains barreled through in the other direction. I could see the faces of people on the passing train mocking us in their spacious half-empty cars. I knew that as soon as a train finally decided to arrive on our side, it would be so full that it would be the most unpleasant trip home.

Just to set the scene, it's now rush hour at the Times Square 42nd Street station, one of busiest, if not THE BUSIEST, station of all 468 stations in the system. Finally a train decides to grace us with its presence. The doors open and tons of people stream out of the train (some people try and push their way on before everyone is off, thinking the train may suddenly lurch forward leaving them behind, but that's another story...) and I hope that enough get off so we all can push our way on.

I notice some sort of bottleneck at one of the doors so I move to the next door, and as I get on, I see that someone has a bicycle on the train. It's held vertically on one wheel as the owner was trying to take up as little space as possible I suppose, but he was blocking the door so was actually doing more disservice to the flow of humanity.

OK. I understand that if you live really far away and you had a great bike ride and you're now ready to head home totally exhausted, but do you need to do it at rush hour? The MTA even has suggestions for bringing a bike on the train: "Bicycles are permitted on Subway trains at all times. However, we strongly recommend that cyclists avoid boarding crowded rush hour trains." And even a web page devoted to bike safety and courtesy: "Try not to use the subway during rush hour. Avoid rush-hour crowds. Bicycles can create dangerous situations when they prevent people from moving."

Once you drag your bike on a crowded train, everyone then has to do that awkward dance around your muddy tires and greasy chain as to not get dirty, and it's just unpleasant for everyone. So come on. You're already on two wheels. Do your body a favor and bike home, while doing our bodies a favor and stop taking up valuable commuter space.