Monthly Archives: July 2009

Train Tickets and Race Cards

Posted on July 31, 2009 by TJ

Conductor Bobby thinks he deserves a cold one with the president after a racial flare-up with a black Metro-North rider some time ago. He writes: I was collecting tickets on an early morning train when I came upon a bench/row … Continue reading →

Posted in Derailed, Metro North | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Commercialism Still Kicking Convenience’s Ass

Posted on July 30, 2009 by TJ

As I’d reported late last week, Grand Central continues to offer a directory of shops on the front of a kiosk as soon as you walk in through the main Park Avenue doors–not the Departures screen that had been there … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Board, Grand Central | 1 Comment

Bike-to-Workers Get Big Victory

Posted on July 30, 2009 by TJ

Cycling to work in Manhattan will get a lot easier, as New York’s City Council has passed a law that allows cyclists to cart their bikes on freight elevators at work, reports the NY Times bike blog Spokes. The law … Continue reading →

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Hawthorne Bike Rack Turns 2

Posted on July 29, 2009 by TJ

How did I miss this milestone? On July 13, 2007 the Hawthorne bike rack was installed after weeks of hectoring phone calls from me to the Mt. Pleasant Town Hall. This past July 13, Town Supervisor Robert Meehan presided over … Continue reading →

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MTA to Test Subway Spycams

Posted on July 29, 2009 by TJ

The Metropolitan Transit Authority will install surveillance cameras throughout an as-yet unidentified subway train later this year, reports the NY Times. The Authority hopes the cameras will deter crime, and may also help it avoid some lawsuits from those who … Continue reading →

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Butt Seriously, Folks

Posted on July 29, 2009 by TJ

Best book title on the downtown 6 at 9:10 this morning: Bright Lights, Big Asses, by Jen Lancaster. The reader was a woman of about 30, seated, teal polo shirt, brown ponytail, pleasant face, large engagement ring. And yes, a … Continue reading →

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Ridership Dip Means MNR Budget Shortfall

Posted on July 28, 2009 by TJ

With Metro-North ridership down 2.8% from the same point last year, the Journal News says the railroad is facing an unforeseen revenue shortage–on top of the $1.8 billion deficit it’s already staring at. Its core customers thinned due to commuters … Continue reading →

Posted in Journal News, New Haven Line | Leave a comment

On the Road Again

Posted on July 28, 2009 by TJ

I actually like my infrequent trips to Julio Bicycles in Chappaqua. The guys are super-friendly, their stellar rapport with their customers is immediately apparent, they know a ton about bikes, and they have a gorgeous flat panel TV; when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bike to Work, Chappaqua, Little G | Tagged | Leave a comment

Rethinking “Downtown” Hawthorne

Posted on July 27, 2009 by TJ

We were quite pleased to have a place to buy wine pop up within a mile of our house. We were also happy to see a new shop actually open up in tiny downtown Hawthorne, where stuff had been closing … Continue reading →

Posted in Hawthorne | 1 Comment

Commercialism Trumps Commuter Convenience

Posted on July 27, 2009 by TJ

Was it just a Friday test designed to sell cheesecake and Swatch watches to all the weekenders venturing from Grand Central to points north? I was hustling to GCT Friday, hoping to catch the 5:27, and cutting it close, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Central | 1 Comment