Public Transport MTA:Manspreading, Primping, Just keep your stuff to yourself on the Subway OK?

yeah, Dude! (although I thought 'dude' was Californian, what do I know I'm British

While the weather looks set to turn rather chilly, New Yorkers will probably be better off staying in, although it has to be said NYC is pretty good about still getting around with many feet of snow having fallen,- just read here- as opposed to London having just a few inches. (it can stop the whole city-no joke).


But you've probably heard by now that the Metropolitan transit Authority want travellers to be a bit more considerate of the passengers that may take up more room, either by spreading their legs, but also by putting on their make up...

In a city of so many and overcrowded subways it makes sense. It's always infuriating when you get on public transport and someone has given their bag a seat, their make up, or someone's spread their legs so wide they take up three seats- this is easier to do on the NYC subway than the London Underground, because the seats are injection moulded plastic, rather than the padded seats with arm seperators on the London Tube.

But some of the MTA language is hilarious, (in a British way, we laugh when we see outright rudeness, it's shock or something) bordering on what we in the UK might see as offensive "Poles are for your safety not for your latest routine" I mean they seriously dont mince their words.
They remind the women this is a "subway car not a restroom" and about that bag taking a seat, they are equally direct and abrasive "Keep your stuff to yourself". This is the New Yorker way, this city isn't run on it's politeness.
In stark contrast to the way Transport for London (TfL) asked Londoners in 2013 not to run and take their time in terms of "what wouldn't hurt you" read here.

What is the man in the red doing on the Clipping/Primping picture? The mind boggles.

So to remind NYC public transportation users to have consideration for others you can see posters like this emerging on the Subway, and London Underground users want London to do something similar. Isn't it a strange world when posters have to encourage you to behave and have some manners, I wish someone would tell my noisy neighbors, maybe I'll just make a poster.

more thoughts of the people and lifestyle in NYC

Okay so given that 'thoughts of the people of NYC' was never meant to be an exhaustive post/list, I thought it was high time I did a part two of this post!

It's been one of the most popular read posts on this blog, and 'Ella's' comment from that post, has inspired me to update my experience now that we've been here a almost year now! Time flies!

In a year, I've had some great 'people experiences' both making friends and chatting to strangers, I've detailed this in subsequent posts.
I love that everyone is from everywhere here, you never feel like you're foreign!
I still feel NYC is very different from anywhere else in the US, this city is intense and it changes you, as a move anywhere will I guess.
Working hours are long, and holiday allocation is short- two weeks, we get five in Europe.
There is no EU to protect working hours. Sometimes that's their own ambition (like in London, I know), sometimes it's expected, sometimes necessity warrants it, but it's kinda the norm, work/life balance can be ignored, or at least messed with sometimes- this can happen in any big city, I know, London is the same for some, it just feels much more intense here.

Eat out or order in/get delivery, don't cook-space is a commodity and kitchens are tiny- a sort of afterthought-in most apartments, shopping and cooking fresh food is difficult and more expensive. Great thing here is that the supermarket will deliver your food after you have shopped for it, for about $8! No more lugging 4 or 5 plastic bags on the bus home, and they even put it into bags for you.
Washing clothes, is usually in your own home in London, but in NYC you usually drop them off to the Launderette or such service or do them in the Laundry room in the basement of your building like I do.

Of course you know how apartments are really small in Manhattan from the shock in my earlier blog posts. Noise in Manhattan is ubiquitous, all hours of the day, even in Central park.

I learned that many people have a place outside Manhattan to retreat to, else they plan on being here for a while, to establish themselves, to take what they want and need from the vibrancy that exists in a city that never sleeps, then move elsewhere, like greater New York, to settle or have kids much like Monica and Chandler in Friends. (Sorry for being cheesy-It's the closest example I could think of!) again, London is, of course, the same for some. Space and house prices being at a premium, true city tradition.

So with such intensity, I guess it is natural that some people will feel the need to let off steam, or talk loud to draw attention, or loose some politeness to just get through their day. Paitence here is a commodity.
Even if you're not looking to live here, a native New Yorker offers some advice to would-be tourists via some firm dont's in her post!  She's very sweet really:)
 
That said, I have to say, you do get used to it, I'm determined to stay a kind, civil human being, but I am no longer averse to matching someones arrogance or rudeness.
It pays off, and people seem to accept and respect it and I no longer get as offended as I used to.
I've finally found my rhythm here, I feel lucky to have this experience. The subway and buses are great to get around, it's a great city, exciting with neighbourhoods with their own distinctive persona's, much like London does.
I do enjoy the mix of people, and accessibility of things and of course.. Central Park is somewhere I couldn't be without!

Hot, hot, hot with melting cables

Over heating on the tube/subway stations and water shortages and restrictions, are familiar in London.
Temperatures in NY today were  40degrees! (103F) - it gets hotter when you add the humidty into the mix.
It's so hot that electric cables are melting and the electric company have issued guidance on using less electricity, short showers and run the dishwasher only at night.

But more importantly they've advised people not to go outside into these temperatures unless you really need to - a 'Heat advisory' -I've only ever heard this about cold weather! Who knew..

New Yorker ways..

We finally have the keys and bought the basic furniture for our new home, and we move in officially on Friday :) happy days! We will move from the very noisy neighbourhood of the Lower East side, and up by the park in the Upper West!!
Though I will need to live without my creature comforts like a dishwasher (I guess I am spoiled) and even a washing machine in the house. I'm gonna have to go to the base of our building to get it done... feels a bit like a student. So instead of boring you with my week of waiting for furniture to arrive and buying mattresses and other such exciting events I thought I'd include some of the things I've noticed that are culturally different, sometimes traffic conscious, sometimes funny, sometimes fashion focused....

Crossing the street

London-
Wait on the pavement for the green man to show when it's time to cross.
Or leg it quickly with a decent gap in the traffic.
New York-
Walk into a road, where traffic is coming thick and fast, straight past you one option is to wait for the 'white man' signal (I've no idea what else to call it -we call it red and green man!) and cross safely.
Another is to stand in the road- literally the road- even if the flashing red hand is going-walk across anyway, and if there is a car coming then wave it away with your hand (as if this is going to stop a hunk of metal crashing into you) whilst finishing with a run- I saw someone do this- the shock stopped me from getting my camera out in time.

But it has to be said with the traffic rule of it being 'OK to turn right on a red', Car's will not always adhere to giving way to the pedestrians, so you need to kinda stand in their way- I saw a man get nudged by a van the other day..

Messages on the Tube/Subway
London-We have posters that say please mind the gap between the train and the platform or announce 'Mind the gap'
New York- Have a poster that says 'Stay stylish, stay aware.. no matter what your footwear is, step over the gap' such a fashion conscious city, not really warning you of getting mangeled between the train and the platform, but first order of the day is to 'stay stylish ;)'

Bars
London- You sit with you mates and have a few Beers enjoy the evening bantering with your group, get hammered, you go home.
New York- You might start sitting with your mates, then start chatting to the table next to you, then perhaps the whole bar (if right layout) and have a great laugh with total strangers. You'll also add a dollar to every drink you buy to 'tip' the barman to kinda do his job, but on the plus side he'll buy you drinks back if you're at the bar long enough, and that's a nice few free beers..you get hammered, you go home.

I'm sure I'll be adding to this! more pictures to follow..