Commuting strategies – Part 1, the Broadway line

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of their working life commuting in the tri-state area will tell you that there are certain strategies and methods used to make the experience less annoying. These strategies vary depending on what mode of transport one uses. Some of us have to use multiple modes of transport (in my case I often do the NYC subway-Staten Island Ferry-SI Railway combo when evening traffic looks ominous) so you need a plan for every step of the way. As a public service, I will offer you my tips and strategies for dealing with the journey that I have developed over 23 years (and counting) of commuting to and from Staten Island to the other boroughs.

Today’s lesson will be handling the Broadway Local (R, W lines) from midtown to Whitehall Street/South Ferry.

Know where the doors are: The biggest key to getting a good position on the train (or sometimes even a seat!) is getting on the train first. Proper platform position is your key here. Observe the train when it comes into the station. See where the doors line up with some landmark on the platform (a trash can, bench, crack in the concrete, pain scratched off the warning line at platform’s edge, etc.) Once you do that, you’re not done friend. Not by a long shot. The next step is to see how your “door spot” of choice lines up with the nearest exit. When the train comes, make sure you are standing on the side of the door FARTHEST from the nearest exit. Why? Exiting passengers are your friend – obviously they’ll all be streaming for that nearest exit and will act as blockers against the saps who have approached the doorway on that side. As the herd thins out you’ll slip in ahead of anyone on that side and pick your spot on board.

Picking your spot on board: When you board the train in midtown during the evening rush odds are you won’t get a seat even using the technique outlined above. Even if you see a large swath of seats you probably won't want to sit there because:

1. It's July or August and the air conditioning is broken and there's a ripe-smelling resident in that car or

2. There's a screaming child, babbling lunatic or loud panhandler holding court or

3. There's some kind of bodily fluid all over the seats/floor/pole/ceiling in that end of the car.

However, there are some things you can do to make sure you get a seat in a desirable area as soon as possible. There are two stations on the downtown-bound Broadway line where a whole mess of people connect to other forms of transportation: 34th street and 14th street. Getting a seat at 34th is a breeze if you execute the following:

Try to be in the front two or rear two cars. Most of the people in those cars are looking to get a jump ahead of everyone else down the crowded staircases to the LIRR and NJT.
Make sure you’re standing near those suburban commuter types.

Spot The Suburbanites. A trained eye knows to look for business suits, PDAs, Wall Street Journals or other trade publications. People who have those are heading for the ‘burbs and their seats will become available to you at 34th. Avoid bohemian-looking or blue collar types, they’re either going through to Brooklyn (if it’s the R) or getting off further downtown.

Should you screw this up and find yourself standing after 34th, never fear. Your second chance is coming at 14th street. Unfortunately, my method only works in the front of the train since that’s where the L train transfer entrance is.

As you approach 14th, look for hipster types. You know, ironic T-shirts, dubious facial hair, messenger bags, women with “indie-chick” glasses and angry short hair. In short, post-college-age kids who have just come in from Jersey or Indiana or wherever to Find Themselves In The Big City. These folks are bound for Williamsburg or other points east and will be hauling it for the L train as soon as the door opens. Once the hipsters exit, the seat is yours!

Still standing? Probably can’t help you. You could take shot at figuring out who the Village-dwelling types are and try to catch something at 8th or Prince or find an Asian family that might be jumping out at Canal. But by that point, you’re almost to the Ferry so just read your book or zone out at the ads and wonder what the hell ever became of Dr. Zizmor. Your next challenge lies ahead.

To be continued…..on the Ferry.