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That Emergency Brake in the Train? Don't Use It
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 14, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 14, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The MTA never fails to amaze us. The Post reports that the agency is distributing literature explaining evacuation procedures - and one of the things you shouldn't do is pull the emergency brake. Yeah, the thing in the subway car that's right there for you to see - and pull! The MTA's reason for no emergency brake pulling? "Once the emergency-brake cord is pulled, the brakes have to be reset before the train can move again, which reduces the options for dealing with an emergency." So when are you supposed to pull the emergency brake? We looked at the MTA's website, which says:
Use the emergency brake cord only when the motion of the subway presents an imminent danger to life and limb. Otherwise, do not activate the emergency brake cord, especially in a tunnel. Once the emergency brake cord is pulled, the brakes have to be reset before the train can move again, which reduces the options for dealing with the emergency.
We don't feel like this information is always near the emergency brakes. However, we do know that many people never want the brake pulled, so maybe it all works out.
Photograph from seth holladay on Flickr
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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