Why does the NYC Subway suck?

Bernardo Montes de Oca
22.4.22

Some of you might know that New York City is an essential part of Slidebean’s history. We have our offices there, but it also put me through the test in my earliest days as a startup founder and the city changes you, for better or for worse. New York City has it all. As the cliché goes, it never sleeps, and I love that, being a night owl myself. From bars to meetups, you can find anything here, but part of what makes this city so unique actually runs underneath it. 

The New York City subway is a massive system of tunnels that carry millions of people daily. It’s the most extensive network in the western hemisphere, with 472 stations, and it is one of the oldest network, existing for more than 120 years. It runs 24/7, which is excellent for me! (Although, it did close once). From an engineering standpoint, it’s a fascinating feat. There’s no imagining this city without it. In fact, I don’t think it would have existed at all. 

As I picked up where I left off with my traveling before the pandemic, I rode it again. Immediately, I fell back into this love/hate relationship I have with it. I’m sure I’m not the only one. As we try to push the pandemic behind us, more and more people are using it every day. In fact, the numbers are well on their way to reaching pre-pandemic levels, and it’s back to its old ways. 

Ride it more than once, and chances are that you’ll run into the unpredictable, the hilarious, and sometimes (unfortunately) the dangerous. It’s a part of life in this city. That’s how it has been for years, even as the system has made strides to stay updated. So, a question kept surging in my head. Why does the NYC subway suck? Answering this question wasn’t easy. My research took me beyond the trains and stations. I dove into a history of politics, corruption, and downright hatred for public transportation. 

Plus, what I found out told me more about the city than I could’ve ever imagined. New York City built itself on top of this system and has relied on it for decades. There were tough times, and some were a bit better. These trains and turnstiles have survived a lot. By the looks of it, this system will try to continue to do so for decades, but can it?

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While the nation historically has struggled to raise capital outside its borders, many factors have contributed to Canada getting more attention in recent years. It’s not only the big names, such as Google and Intel but also an increase in a key aspect that the US has lost throughout the years.

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Thread of the Week

Why does the NY Subway system SUCK?

New York has a special place in my heart. It's where I've lived so many adventures, both good and bad. But, the subway? Not so much. The challenging thing to explain in this video is that there's no one reason why the NYC subway is in such a condition. 

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Bernardo Montes de Oca
Content creator in love with writing in all its forms, from scripts to short stories to investigative journalism, and about almost every topic imaginable.
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