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OptionalCookie t1_j6fuadp wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in TIFU Choosing an empty car on a crowded subway by visit_magrathea

I believe it. I live in the same city, and I operate those trains.

We have a serious homeless and mental illness problem.

A homeless man stood in front of my A train at W 4 telling me was going to kill himself if people didn't give him money and someone on the platform told him to hurry up.

I had released the brakes and I was getting ready to take power when he hopped down like this was just something to do.

Held us up for an hour.

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visit_magrathea OP t1_j6fvxju wrote

Shit. That’s pretty nuts. Does this kind of thing get worse in the winter? I feel like I see more when it’s cold and people are trying to get out of it.

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OptionalCookie t1_j6fyddm wrote

It's insane in the winter esp on the E line. The E doesn't go above ground.

When I was a conductor... In 2019, it was a bad winter so my operating position was full of just homeless people. The smell was vicious. I have Vicks in my bag for this reason.

Left Parsons (Jamaica center) and got world trade... No one left the train.

In the morning (I worked the midnights), you had the regular riding crowd running from car to car from either the smell or looking for a seat.

When I went to operator in 2020... Many people lost their homes or were thrown out during covid... So I'd get to Far Rockaway and see whole train cars still full and just full of families. Parents with their kids... Etc. It was distressing. ☹️

It's still pretty bad today, thankfully no families so I hope they are ok, but a lot of single men with addiction issues.

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