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Mayor Bloomberg's Subway Commute - Not Like Yours
By
tien mao
Published Aug 1, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
tien mao
Published Aug 1, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Even before Mike Bloomberg became the Mayor of New York City, he said that he would take the subway to work. Since he's become mayor, Boomberg is often photographed and videotaped riding the subway like most city residents. It turns out there's a little bit of his commute that is somewhat out of step with the norm. The Times stalked Mayor Bloomberg over a five week period and saw his morning commute as such: he exits his townhouse, ducks into one of two Chevrolet Suburbans waiting for him, and is dropped off at the 59th Street and Lexington line - 22 blocks away from his apartment!
Some New Yorkers would love to have a subway stop within walking distance, but the Mayor and his two vehicles pass up the chance to stop at several stations on the way to 59th St. - including the 77th St. stop just 4 blocks from his townhouse. The reporters also observed that the Mayor's use of the subway has declined since he first took office. During their five weeks of following him, Bloomberg took the SUVs all the way to City Hall about twice a week.
The Times asked Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser about the commute, he said Bloomberg "walked to the subway when he first started as mayor, and he stopped doing it when cameras staked out his house every morning and walked with him." Asked how the Mayor's commute compares to the average commuter, Loeser said, "Who is the average Manhattan subway-goer? I don’t think it’s an answerable question. The mayor rides the subway like anyone else. Zips his card through, stands on the platform, and waits for a train to come." When The Times asked an MTA spokesman if it was common for Manhattan residents to be driven to the subway, he said, "Where would you drive from in Manhattan to a subway station? That would be pretty crazy."
According to Hop Stop, a 6:30 a.m. commute from the Bloomberg townhouse to City Hall would take 37 minutes if he walked to the 77th St. station, took the local to Grand Central and then took the express from there to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.
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