I used to go visit NYC once a year, for a week or so, when I was in my mid- to late-20s. I was fortunate enough to have friends there who’d put me up/put up with me. In recent years, the family and I will go twice a year or so, for a long weekend; we stay in NJ to save money.
The one time I ever felt like I was in danger in NYC, was riding the 7 out to Flushing Meadows Park to see the New York Panorama. Some guy got on somewhere on the elevated part. He was really agitated, hitting the seats and poles as he stalked up and down the car, muttering obscenities about a woman. I kept waiting for him to hit another passenger, or me, and wondering what the hell I was going to do. The few other people on the car sat still and did their best to ignore him, while he continued to stalk up and down the car, hitting whatever was in reach, swearing at someone who wasn’t there. Finally he opened the door at the other end of the car, went into the next car, came back into our car, went into the next car, and that was it. The rest of the ride to Shea Stadium-Willets Point (which it still was back then) was relatively tranquil. That was back in November, 1998 which I just realized is almost 20 years ago…
No rosey eyed nostalgia for New York here. I get my daily dose. I’ve been married to a guy from da Bronx for 30 years. We visited a while back in the heat of the summer, and I could not escape smell on the streets - sour milk and rotting garbage.
Despite the occasional crazy like yours I was usually OK on the subway when I lived there but it was worse for women. At least once a year a young woman would come up to me on the train at night and ask if she could sit by me until her stop or if I’d mind escorting her out of the station because some creep or nutcase was stalking her or harassing her. I was always happy to oblige and the creeps always backed off. The worst part was that these women felt their only recourse was to go to another male stranger for help and protection.
Feh. Now if the dick did this dick move during rush hour it would be a true dick move. Off hours, it’s not much of one. I say that as a regular rider of the NYC subway.
What I really don’t like are all the tourists in Grand Central Terminal – you know, some of us are actually there commuting and don’t enjoy dodging gawkers – and all the assault packing soldiers there.
Best part is at the very end where he asks the woman to shut the door in a very annoyed tone, as if he can’t believe the oblivious self-involvement of some of the people you come across on the subway.
