Transit Strike Ending

Or so the media is saying. The union and the MTA have agreed on something, which needs to be rubber-stamped by the union's exectuve council. Odds are the rush hour today will still suck, and that tomorrow's commute could be a mess (albeit it a mess on the subways instead of on the LIRR). And last minute Christmas shoppers will be able to get to the stores.

Which all begs the question of why the two sides couldn't just keep talking instead of costing the city millions of dollars in NYPD overtime, tax revenue unearned by businesses, and money lost to LIRR and taxi fares that could have been used elsewhere. Shame on both sides for not doing this right.

EDIT; The Museum's COO just announced that they are serving lunch today to mark the end of strike, and that everyone who came in during the strike gets three extra vacation days. Nice.

A Walker in the City (with apologies to Alfred Kazin)

I'm probably nuts for seeing it this way, but the transit strike had some good moments for me, moments that connect to my new modes of travel for three days...

- I got exercise. Lots of exercise. Part of me is even tempted to walk once a week from here to the subway once the weather is warmer. But not until my aching legs stop aching. FWIW, I managed to cut my time walking from home to the train station to 22 minutes one time, and cut my time walking from the Museum to Penn Station to 50 minutes. NYC is as walkable a city as it's ever been.

- I gained new appreciation for those whose careers require them to walk all day. As much as I walked, the cops who were on their feet all day helping to keep order this week walked more. And think about the infantryman in Iraq. walking in hostile lands with full gear, often in the heat of the desert.

- I rode the LIRR. Compared to the subways, it's a delight. Quiet, clean cars. Padded seats. And 20 minutes from Forest Hills to Penn Station. Honestly, I well really well-paid, I would happily take the railroad instead of the subway.

- I was in midtown Manhattan right before Christmas. Which means I got to see Rockefeller Center and the windows at Lord & Taylor, if briefly. I love the holiday season in this town, and I think it's not December if I don't get to see such sights.

- I also got to see the next HQ of the NY Times, under construction across the street from the Port Authority bus station. The Times will eventually be a block from Times Square, but will have a nice building. And this being the Times, they hired photographer Annie Lebovitz to document the early stages of the construction, photos that are covering the scaffolding now.

- I walked through Central Park twice. Central Park in winter is austere and still beautiful. And it's always nice to see Wollman Rink covered in ice skaters.

- And I got to see the sun rising over Queens and the south end of Flushing Meadows Park as I entered Forest Hills this morning. There is something dramatic about seeing a sunrise, especially on the day when its rise is as late and low as it gets, but about to become stronger again.

Of course, none of this means I won't be happy to have the buses and subways back tomorrow. But it's good to try something else for a bit. Provided that you are wearing the right shoes. :)