Update--iPod Map Guy in Trouble
An update on a post left a few months ago by
red line. Red line told us about a website that offers FREE subway maps to download onto your iPod photo. It seems that the MTA has filed a
cease and desist order against the
website. It appears that the NYC Transit map is copyrighted. Apparently no one is allowed to find their way around without express written consent of the MTA. Now this seems a little strange since the subway map is FREE and is available just about everywhere and anywhere (including on the
mta.info web page.) The website is attempting to raise the $500 required for a 1-year license, but since it gives the maps away for free it is having a hard time raising the money.
The MTA is very protective of its licenses and copyrights. A neat little bagel shop opened up on Smith and 9th Streets in Brooklyn a few months ago. The shop, F Line Bagels, is located underneath the F train line in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. The
bagel shop is set up like a subway station with tiled walls and old subway station signs. The MTA
threatened to sue them as well. However, after a local campaign in support of the shop, and the fact that the owners alerted the MTA that they had purchased the subway memorabilia from the MTA website and at MTA auctions, the MTA seemed to back down a bit.
Watch out--New Subway Rules
FROM THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY...the MTA announced new rules for the subway and also to enforce some old existing rules. These are rules that effect the every day rider, not just perps and skels. Some of them make all the sense in the world; some of them are pretty stupid.
$25 fine--"the non-alcoholic beverage rule." riders cannot have beverages on the subway trains (however, they decided not to extend the ban to the subway platform.)
$75 fine--passengers cannot pass between cars in the train. Law enforcement will have the discretion to not ticket riders who are fleeing threatening passengers.
$50 fine--for putting feet on bus, subway, or platform seats. This includes putting baggage on a seat in a crowded bus or subway.
Discuss.
Some People Just Don't Get It...
FROM O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...on a recent trip from Chicago to New York I saw something that caught my eye. Remember right after 9/11 when the newly formed TSA wouldn't allow old ladies to carry knitting needles and nail clippers into the airport? The TSA and DHS have been able to evaluate their search criteria and have streamlined the list of prohibited items, which is a plus. Cigarette lighters are forbidden but chopsticks are not. We still have to take off our shoes though (???). After I successfully made it through security--and was putting my shoes back on--I noticed a TSA employee (complete with latex gloves) going through a little travel bag inspecting each piece inside of it. The passenger, who looked annoyed, was bringing a 100-piece manicure, pedicure, hairstyling, acupuncture, surgical kit onto the airplane. The TSA employee was inspecting each piece (and I saw him look at at least 9 pairs of scissors) and putting them back into the bag. I am not sure which surprised me more--the fact that this idiot was trying to bring this kit of 100 sharp objects on the plane (enough to distribute to the entire cabin to use to overtake the plane from the crew) or that the TSA was allowing him to bring these ON the plane!!!
Maybe our security has become too lax?
Metro v. Subway
submitted by a very special reader...
click here
"Random" bag searches
FROM THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY...I experienced my first two random bag search checkpoints the other day. The first was at my home station during the morning commute. At first I found it odd that the police would be checking bags in my beloved little quiet neighborhood, but then I realized, if I was a terrorist I would go to a nice, quiet, small station to begin my journey of terror. Anyways, I did not get stopped.
Later that evening I was entering the train entrance at the Canal Street station when I realized I was walking into another random bag checkpoint. I was on the way to an inter-bureau softball game and I was chosen to carry the equipment bag. The bag was about 4.5 feet long and two feet wide. It weighed about 40 pounds. It was huge!!! As I walked into the station I knew I was going to be stopped. But, nope, I walked right in. I must not have been the requisite numbered person carrying very large baseball equipment bags into the subway...or I just didn't meet the profile, oops did I say profile.
