Gridlock

After heavy rains in Manhattan, a number of subway lines are closed, limited, or flooded. In a city where public transportation so often functions like a well oiled machine, hiccups can derail the busy system. Whenever there’s rain or when work gets out, getting a taxi becomes impossible. So when there’s rain and limited subway flow, you can imagine the city gets busy above ground.

When I decided to head downtown, I thought I’d try the bus. Unfortunately so did everyone else. Adding to the gridlock streets, completely full busses only stopped when requested and even then only let a few passangers switch with crowd on the street. I eventually got on a bus only to ride in front of the white line in the doorway with 6 other people. I had to wondering about the engineering and testing of busses. Do they fill them so full that everyone is touching his or her neighbor?

I got off the bus after 20 blocks after feeling like walking would be faster when throngs of passing feet filled my view. I was neck and neck for a few blocks, until the traffic cleared and the dinosaur-wine drinking bus pulled ahead to a clear lead.

I overheard throughout the day that a number of people were hours and hours late getting to their destinations. In a Lush store near Union Square I overheard the manager talking to a worker from another store who couldn’t get in because the boss hadn’t shown up. At the “They Might Be Giants” show the frontman said it was a good thing his master plan included being two hours late today, so the delays didn’t cause him trouble.

All-in-all it was a hassle, but I really enjoyed my walk through the southern half of Manhattan island.