stand away from the closing doors
you know
all about
the wifi
the waiting
where to stand
but
do you know
about the doors?
every subway car has 3 double doors
you can hear
the conductors
over the pa system
as they instruct:
stand away from the closing door
or
use all available doors to exit
some subway cars
seem
to have
door issues
doors
that must
be
opened/closed
over and over and over
before
they are all closed
and
we can get on our way
occasionally
the door issues
are
so
enormous
everyone must exit the train
so it can be returned to the yard for repair
when the happens
the crowds on the platform
are huge
and
when the next train arrives
already
carrying
a lot of people
those waiting
push in
its like sardines
ever see
those photos
of
the tokyo subways
the men on the platform
helping
shove
push
jam
people into the cars?
its like that
the other morning
there was a 3 minute wait
for the subway
the last car
where i always ride
was crowded
it was barely 7 a.m.
we got to 72nd street
the doors
opened
people exited
the doors closed
the doors opened
the doors closed
the doors opened
the doors closed
a lot
of
us
were
paying
attention
new yorkers
know
the sounds
the subtle clues
something
was
wrong
sure enough
the conductor informed us
there were problems with the doors
our patience was asked
then
an express pulled in across the platform
people leapt to their feet
stood at the doors
which
did
not
open
did not open
the express
waited
a second or two
then
it closed its doors
left the station
we remained
trapped
inside the cars
doors closed
in a non moving train
there was grumbling
there was a lot of watch checking
then
everyone settled back down
waiting
it seemed to take forever
but
it was just another minute
before
the conductor
announced
due to difficulties with the doors
loud groans
we'll be going express to times square
relief
we weren't being turned out
onto
the platform
to wait
for another local or express
i think
that by then
locals
were backing up
along the route
getting us
to times square
express
would make up
the lost time
and
get the trains back on schedule
no really
there is a schedule
go ahead laugh
but there is
