Subway Series: Why Must We Beg?
As most of my readers know from previous posts, I am a walking commuter. My subway experiences are few and far between these days – just the way I like it. It’s summer, so the NYC subways are [not un-]characteristically hot, crowded, and likely delayed. For some ungodly reason, this is the time the beggars feel is the prime opportunity to come out and play.
As I move forward with this short article, please keep in mind that I am not judging anyone’s economic status; my opinion is strictly an observation of humans gracing the public transportation of New York City.
Most of my subway riding in the past has been for “far away” workout classes, trekking to Trader Joe’s, or going to pregame at a friend’s apartment and attempting to save money before a night out. Anywhere I can’t walk to, I’ll usually just a) not go, or b) subject myself to an Uberpool and hopefully be able to sit in the front seat with the driver so I don’t have to talk to anyone. However, one lovely Tuesday afternoon, I had a doctor’s appointment in the middle of the work day, so my only real option was the subway- E train from 53rd St to World Trade, also known as a nightmare of local stops and twelve thousand people.
“11 stops,” NYCTransit App said. “It’ll be fine,” I said.
It was not fine.
As the train approached 34 Street-Penn Station, we were looking more like sardines than people; it had only been two stops since I got on. Could it get worse? Yes; the answer was yes. An elderly woman rolled an oversized wheelchair onto the subway car, running over the foot of a little girl and the shopping bag of another woman. One cried, one sighed. I looked away, just hoping she didn’t see it or maybe didn’t realize how large her wheelchair was. But as she wheeled around, I noticed her wheelchair was not only over-sized, the back read: “NYPD – CALL IF LOST/STOLEN 212-***-****”. To say the least, now I was a bit worried; who is this woman, and why is she on our train, wheeling around in a stolen wheelchair?
“Change here, right here in this cup. Come on all you, gimme some change!”
“Don’t any you have ears? I said I need some change!”
“Selfish ba****ds. Don’t give a damn bout nobody!”(Woman spits on floor of train.)
Let’s just say that she had very little success begging on this subway car. Do I get annoyed with the begging on the subway? Yes. But if someone is going to come on board, sing and dance and say please, I am much more likely to give them a smile and a dollar if I have one. Nasty attitudes, stolen wheelchairs, and insults don’t get you very far, at least with me.
To be honest, my biggest question for the subway beggars: it cost you $2.75 to get in here…why not stay outside, get some fresh air and talk to ten thousand more people on the street? You just wasted almost three dollars to stay in the subway with AT MOST 30 people per ride! Next time, I beg you to reconsider putting that $2.75 towards a greater cause.
Walking Rules! The End.