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Where To Get Your Commemorative Bloody MetroCards Today
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 7, 2013
Modified Feb 7, 2013
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 7, 2013
Modified Feb 7, 2013
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The MTA union is taking its public war with transit officials to the next level today by distributing a number of bloody "Metro(death)Cards" to straphangers in three Lower Manhattan subway stations. The union is in a long-running contract dispute with the MTA, and has objected to costly proposals to install laser sensors or safety gates on subway platforms to help prevent train deaths. In the wake of a spike in subway fatalities, TWU Local 100 leaders have urged engineers to slow trains down when entering stations, and now they've created the fake bloody MetroCards to drive their point home.
TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen will testify at a City Council hearing today on subway deaths (we'll have more on that later) and a spokesperson for the union says, "While the MTA is proposing numerous high-tech solutions that would cost billions of dollars and take decades to implement, transit workers have a quick, easy and no cost solution to many of the deaths on the tracks: reduce speeds coming into stations." For added effect, the union will also have a someone standing outside the hearing wearing a Grim Reaper costume.
Seven people have been killed by trains so far this year, and in 2012 55 people were killed on the tracks, up from 47 fatalities in 2011 but on par with the 55 deaths in 2007. One MTA insider tells us, "While we never want to minimize the loss of life, last year 55 customers were fatally struck by trains. We moved 1.64 billion people last year. You have a greater likelihood of being struck by lightning. In fact, considering we now transport approximately 700,000 people more a day than we did 10 years ago, the rate in which customers are struck has steadily declined over the past 10 years."
The City Council hearing today will examine what measures should or should not be taken to reduce the number of subway deaths and fatalities. Asked about the bloody MetroCard publicity stunt, MTA spokesman Adam Lispberg tells us:
The fact is that slowing down trains would create crowding conditions on trains and platforms and would actually create a more dangerous condition. We want to work with the TWU on an increased public education campaign (updated car cards in 100% of cars, paid media campaign, enhanced station announcements, safety flyers in stations, etc.) to remind customers to be aware of their surroundings and stay away from platform edges.
The bloody MetroCards will be distributed until 1 p.m. at the subway stations at City Hall (N/R), Park Place (2/3), and Brooklyn Bridge (4/5/6).
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subway deaths
TWU Local 100
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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