Public transport showdown
Shit! I’ve got seven minutes until midnight to get my crappy first draft in for the day.
Today’s lightening quick post is about public transportation, specifically comparing the trains and subways of my two homes, Sydney and New York.
Sydney
Pros: I mean, do you see the above photo?! Clean! Spacious! Not crowded! Very well air-conditioned! Double-deckered! Reversible seats (most cars)!
Cons: Fare based on distance (boo). Tap on tap off, which sucks if you forget to tap on because then you pay the max fare ($18 AUD!). Not 24/7 (ugh). Infrequent (compared to New York). High probability of getting on the wrong train to the wrong direction because multiple lines share the same platform (easy way to lose time). Doesn’t really get you everywhere.
New York
Pros: 24/7 (huge!)! Only $2.90 USD for any distance. Massive network that is quite expansive across all five boroughs. Easier naming nomenclature to remember.
Cons: Sardine-level crowded. Not many seats. Hard seats. Rats and mice scrambling on the tracks and in the stations. Only occasionally air-conditioned (applies to both subways and stations).
Winner: New York, hands down — convenience is everything. The fact that you can get anywhere at anytime for only $2.90? Phenomenal. Plus you see the most interesting people and things, wild randomness that makes New York, New York.
Random guy on the subway holding raw ground meat wrapped in deli paper while casually scrolling through his phone. What is New York.