From Subway to SoundTransit

So for the last three and a half years or so, I've sat on the orange and yellow seats, grabbed on the long metal bars, and watched people saunter through, playing flute music, jangling coins in cups and hats,  drooling on the floor, making-out incessantly...you get the picture: the New York subway system.

I have had a love/hate relationship with it for sure.

Love Relationship Includes:

I could get basically anywhere I wanted, any time (even after midnight), and it would take me there.

I could plug my ipod in, tune myself out to the world, and nobody would care or notice (as most people in NYC realize, almost everyone else is doing the same thing, unless they are with a group of people). No matter what is going on--even if someone is shouting at everyone and causing a scene, most of us are frozen in our seats, listening to our various playlists, as if nothing is even happening. A typical New York experience.

I didn't have to drive. I find that the subway or train is so much easier and less stressful for me. Some of my favorite songs on my ipod have been discovered and played over and over again while riding the subway, as well as many books read.

People-watching was always a very entertaining experience. There usually was never a dull moment on the subway.

Hate relationship Includes:

The sitting-way-too-close-to-that-person-you-don't-know part. Yes that happens frequently in NYC, especially during rush hour. Being squeezed up against someone's arm, while your back is against someone's stomach, with nothing to hold onto, as you jolt forward every time the subway stops. Good times, good times.

One Last Observation:

After riding the subway dozens of times, one really gets used to knowing the exact inflections of the automated subway voices. (Lauren, I hope you are reading this!)

"This is a Manhattan-bound N express train. The next stop is...Times Square 42nd Street."

Then the man's voice:

"Stand clear of the closing doors please."

Then the short chime of C-sharp, A plays, following the closing of doors, unless someone tries to pry them open.  Although I swear some of the carts were D-sharp B, but maybe that's just me. Yes, my dorky brain thinks about the pitches of the chimes, only because they've been engrained in my head for years.

And thank you Lauren for providing me this link. Those of you riding the NYC subway are I'm sure familiar with all of these inflections given by this subway guy's voice, whose name is Charles Pellet for those who were actually interested:

So now, I'm switched to new means of transportation: SoundTransit. This includes the Light Rail (which basically gets me where I need to go), the bus system as well as the ferries from time to time.

Love Relationship Includes:

No associations of dread. Any station I stop at, I never fear I will run into someone and feel awkward, mainly because I'm still getting to know people!

The light rail only makes a limited number of stops, but is much cleaner, and so far I've always been able to get a seat.

The bus drivers are very friendly, and they get me to where I need to go.

The ferries are wonderful. If I compare them to Metro North Trains in NYC, I definitely love these so much better! Being on the water is very relaxing. The view of the shiny buildings in Seattle, as we depart on the sea toward an island, is just wonderful. It's so roomy, plus there is a nice cafeteria, and you can even stand outside on the front deck if the weather is nice enough. I quite like this method of transportation for sure.

Hate Relationship Includes:

No subway. It's not as easy to say, where's the nearest subway or cab? Especially if one needs to get home at a late hour.

The light rail closes after midnight.

The people-watching, so far, is not nearly as entertaining. I haven't been serenaded yet by flutes, drums, marimbas, barberhop quartets, you name it. However, that doesn't mean it won't happen!

One Last Observation:

Now, as for lightrail sounds, the closing doors have announcements, but quite different, as it is strictly a woman announcing at all times. First an F tone chimes, and then she says "Now entering...International District, China Town Station...doors to my right."(1:50 in the video below). I like how they tell you  in advance which side you will be exiting from. The chimes before the door closes are all the way up to an E, then C tone, but basically the same rhythm and volume. (See 0:10 of the way-too-long video excerpt):

So, you can see my comparisons now. Either I've utterly wasted your time, or you've thoroughly enjoyed my strange fascination with the sights and sounds of two different public transportation systems. All I know is, it's nice to have something to get around in, without dealing with the crazy traffic in a car!