Understanding the city... is that possible?
Today I woke with a terrible hangover, and I had to go to work. It was pretty fun though, I think I am learning a lot. In the afternoon I went to see a nice 20s style bike I found on Craigslist quite cheap. I was at home, and I had to t to Greenpoint. It was such an adventure trying to get there.
The New York subway is so different than in other cities of the world. The different lines were made -and own- by private companies, and it wasn't until the 50' that the NYC government bought them. That's why it has this organic design, since the different lines were planned separately, whithout trying to find a unity. While other big cities the subway system is planned to establish connections all around the city. The NYC subway don't have many transfers. If you want to change the line, you'll have to get off the station, and walk until the nearest subway stop of the line you wanna take. For getting from my place to Greeenpoint, for example, I had to change 4 times the line, and walk on the street one or two times. It is just insane, a truly mistreat for the users, especially when these are new in the city. However, it is fascinating to see how there are other possible ways to plan the city. Without any doubt, the subway in NY -like the one in any other city- is just a reflection of the NY urbanity itself: organic, in motion... just insane.
