ENCORE: New York Subway... 100 Years

I posted this long, loving look at the New York subway back in February and now, with The Smoking Nun's new template, I offer an encore look, with the bigger, bolder, brighter images. This is a goodie.

According to MTA, ridership on the New York subway was up by a whopping 24 million rides in 2010 over the year before, totaling 1.60 passengers. The tally is one of the highest since 1950...

For all the whining—mine included—about fare hikes, overcrowding and slow or no service, it's still the best way to travel in NYC, if not the world.

Here's a historic look back over the past 100 years of New York's venerable New York subway system... from the 1920s to the 2010s. (P.S. This was a whopper to put together; I spent more than five hours collecting webbie photos from every conceivable locale.)

MetroMitt: Dumbass Products You Never Realized You Needed

I honestly thought this was an April Fool's joke, because seldom have I seen an idea as utterly asinine as the MetroMitt, one of those products you never realized you needed until you read how dangerous life can be without it.

According to MetroMitt.com, manhandling a New York subway pole is likely to invade your delicate system with countless deadly diseases, including: * Hepatitis A: causes jaundice and diarrhea * Staphylococcus: zits and boils * Pseudomonas: infects wounds * Streptococci: sore throats * Shigella: more diarrhea.

How's this for a panic attack? The webbie states, "Human hands are among the most common ways for bacteria and viruses to be spread. With over 5 million people riding the New York City subway system on an average weekday, bacteria and viruses can be transferred by holding poles, touching seats and grabbing doors. MetroMitt is a free, disposable hand mitt benefiting riders conscious about personal hygiene."

Further grossout statistics: a typical human hand carries about 150 bacterial species, bacteria reproduces every 20 minutes even after using hand sanitizer, and according to the NYC Subway Shmutz '09 survey, 50% of subway cars across all lines are considered dirty.

Surprise: You can purchase ads to stamp on MetroMitts. Now I believe I see the real dirt here. It's called opportunistic fear.

Subway Snuggle: Love Along The 1/9

Sweetness... Friday night, two couples embracing simultaneously, waiting for the 1/9 downtown train at Christopher Street. Mercy... the heart of gay New York, and they're both straight!

Subway: Wide Load!

The return of the full-bodied afro. Love it, girl! Thursday eve on the 6 downtown train (in case you want to stalk her yourself).

Amid Massive Increases, MTA Chops Service... Oh Well, Fuck You

On Dec. 30, the New York subway made the most radical increase in its history, upping a 30-day unlimited card from $89 to $104, a 17% increase, while a weekly pass escalated from $29 to $37. Single rides roared from $2.25 to $2.50.

Thank you, MTA, for not only fucking New Yorkers in the face of corrupt overtime policies and pensions that conjure the 1950s... but cutting service to the point that today, I waited 25 minutes for a goddamn train to arrive—which of course, meant that by the time it pulled into the station, there were approximately 500,000 paying constituents crowding into the train. What a lovely experience. Come on, if you're going to raise fares, at least let the trains run with some consistency. Grrrr!