Mid-Morning Strike Update
Posted by Glenn on December 20, 2005 - 11:12am in The Oil Drum: Local
This morning, hundreds of thousands of New Yorker commuted to work by walking, biking, carpooling and even in-line skating. I took a walk up to 96th street and 2nd Ave to see the border in Manhattan that requires four people to be in a vehicle to enter. On the north side of the border, manned by police, cars and trucks were in an enormous traffic jam. South of the border was a placid almost Sunday morning like feel to the streets. When I got down to the 59th street bridge though traffic can come to standstill and bikers were weaving between the cars. Many people waited at bus stops for livery cars or cabs that seemed few and far inbetween.
I decided to walk to work in the cold weather because I was worried about not having a light on my return trip tonight in the dark (today is one of the shortest days of the year). Most people in my office took the strike in strive and made their way to work with a smile. Others are working from home or taking the day off to do local shopping for Christmas.
Some of the best coverage of the Transit Strike can be found at the four daily papers in New York: The NY Times has some pretty cool slide shows. The NY Post, NY Daily News and Newsday also have some good local writers that have a lot to say about the strike.
I also recommend Gothamist which has a contest on the "Most inconvenient Commute".
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Aside from the freezing cold, I have to say, it was a pleasure. 1st Ave had very light traffic, and seeing other cyclists buoyed my spirits. One thing I forgot: Manhattan is not flat. The 50s going uptown definitely a climb.
Hopefully the bike shop by my work is open today and I'll pick up a light for the ride home. If not, I'll take off early while there's still daylight.
Why can't bikers get this protection all year long?
(I was there in the last strike.)
This is a MOCK OIL SHOCK.
Think about it. All those buses are powered by oil.
Now they are no longer available (temporarily).
"Civilization" as we New Yorkers (or ex-NY'ers) know it has collapsed.
We are instantly thrown backwards in time to those quaint old days when those without a horse had to "walk". Walk in the cold bluster. Walk without the heater being turned on. Walk home at the end of the day after a long struggle at work. The reality is biting and ugly.
Luckily this is only a MOCK (OIL) SHOCK. Not yet the real and everlasting one.