Dude, Where's My Train Car?

Some serious Monday mayhem on the metro today. For those interested in the details, I am not in the least shocked by the photos and stories posted today at UNSUCKDCMETRO. When there's a one-track cluster already in progress as rush hour begins and then trains start off-loading on already crowded platforms... well, it is almost more shocking that there weren't resulting casualties.

And I don't say this lightly, because honestly, people go crazy when their commutes are wreaked with such havoc. We're talking look for the purple banana crazy. The shoving and general lack of consideration for others makes my top five most offensive commuter etiquette issues list. It's painful for all of us, nobody was hoping to be (more than 40 minutes!) late to where they were going, most people feel the demands of a work schedule increasing as the delays get longer. But fighting and shoving and general douche-y behavior does not make the process better. It makes it worse.

For example, it is very frustrating to be waiting for a train car, only to have to shuffle forward to an already crowded open door and be surpassed by swarms of other just arriving commuters getting the edge on your patience by claiming a spot that, by violating the non-existent laws of metro timing should have been yours. So then you decide that when the next car arrives, you are NOT. BUDGING. FOR. ANYONE. Which is when things get ridiculous.

Yes, people who cut in line in the normal course of life suck and should not be rewarded with timeliness and seating. However, as is more often the case on the metro, it is the train causing the problem, not the other commuters. Or, maybe it's the track. Or the conductors. Or really WMATA in general. The point is, it's not your fellow commuters (I realize this statement should have a long list of caveats... but generally) and taking out your frustrations with the metro on your fellow commuters doesn't help. It just means that you're focusing on the wrong problem and that doesn't help any of us get to work faster.

So tone down the drama and rudeness, step to the side, back up if necessary, and let people on and off the train to the best of your ability, because in the end, we're all going to be late and complaining about the metro -- we don't need to be complaining about each other too.

XOXO - Manic Monday

March Metro Madness

This month has been packed with travel NOT involving the metro (hooray!), but leaves little time for posting. I will be catching up soon I'm sure as Spring fever is in the air. The Cherry Blossom Festival begins next weekend, and while St. Pat's was a bit disappointing, I suspect I'll see plenty of characters as the wool jackets, rain coats and other cold weather cover ups are left behind. My first glimpse was earlier in the week when this fellow got a very annoying song stuck in my head for the day...

{he wasn't technically in head-to-toe red spandex, but he was wearing red pants

and had that signature hair which I recall as a bit more unruly than shown here.}

Something very patriotic about the Greatest American Hero commuting via metro. And, here's a bit of '80s TV trivia you may not have known (thanks Wikipedia) -- the main character's name was originally Ralph Hinkley, but after the assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr. on March 30, 1981 (only 12 days after the pilot episode aired), the character's last name was changed to "Hanley" and for the rest of the 1st season, he was either "Ralph" or "Mister H."

Look for more useless information this month and let me know what Spring fever does for your commute!

xoxo -- on a wing and a prayer

CTA v. WMATA Throwdown

I always say hands down that the CTA kicks Metro's ass. So I decided to do a side-by-side to see how easily I could substantiate my claims -- not because anyone would question my judgment of course! Turns out there is a lot more that I attribute to the "intangibles" that ultimately make up my decision, and perhaps I am romanticizing the CTA just a bit...

Ultimately, it gets down to reliability for me. I'm also annoyed by what I perceive to be unfair stereotypes on both sides of the public transportation coin. Moving out to the DC area, people (many of whom do not actually regularly take public transport) rave about the Metro. "It's so clean!" I say whatever, it's still public transportation and in general, the public can be kinda gross. So it doesn't usually smell like a toilet -- big whoop. On the flip side, the "L" gets a pretty bad rap for cleanliness. In general I will concede it seems to smell worse. But otherwise, it's the same kind of well-travelled germfest as the Metro. And you're allowed to drink coffee whenever you want! (Not that it seems as appealing when things smell like a toilet...)

The rider tools and mobile access updates seem more accurate and reliable from the CTA site. However, part of my issue with WMATA's site may just be that there is almost always a delay! So, even when it's accurate, it's not really accurate. Highly frustrating.

I know when I was riding the CTA daily I was not this enamored, clearly absence has had a "grow fonder" impact. But overall, the reliability, affordability and speed (and working escalators!!) have me voting CTA as the winner this round. Even the characters I see on the Metro don't push it over the edge! Maybe when Super Grover is joined by Oscar, Big Bird and the Count, I'll do a re-match.

Travel to/from airport during weekday

*unless available through wmata.com or chicagotransit.com; observations are based on personal experience.

xoxo -- not Bobby Flay

The Falafel Album

This musical gem was brought to my attention by a dear friend, fellow metro rider and the fabulous food and wine blogger that I believe may be helping drive better trade agreements with Colombia. Thanks Sindhu!

Of course I am particularly fond of this special track, and the video makes it simply priceless. Click on the link below to enjoy it too!

Metro Song

Turns out this is only one of the tracks from "The Falafel Album" by (Go)Remy! According to his website he's from VA, "Remy grew up on the rough streets of McLean" -- so it's no wonder he nails the metro's issues so perfectly. This is a solid gold hit if I've ever heard one. Now I'll have my eye out for him around Fairfax County filming his next big hit...

xoxo -- y'all never rode on the metro?