The NYC Transit Strike

The BIG story here in the NY Metro area for the last two days has been the Transit strike. All NYC buses and subways are not running which has caused chaos in the city for the last two days. The MTA who runs the trains and buses are morons in my opinion. They went on TV about two months ago boasting about a biliion dollar surplus, giving cheap holiday fares to commuters while the union contract for its workers was about to expire. I am not sure how smart it is to boast about a billion dollar surplus right before you have to negotiate a contract with the union that represents all 34,000 of your workers. Not too bright. Needless to say, the workers want a cut of this, and I don't blame them.


Mayor Bloomberg crosses the Brooklyn Bridge on foot with thousands of other commuters. 

The strike has been the toughest on those from Brooklyn and Queens. These folks rely on the bus and the subway as thier main method of transportation each day to cross the river into Manhattan. Sure the cabs are running, but there are all kinds of restrictions and the fares are outrageous. You also require a minimum of FOUR people to enter the city by car. If you don't have four in the car, the police turn you around. This is to avoid complete gridlock.

This got me thinking about ways to cross these bridges from Queens and Brooklyn.

1) Rollerblade. Why walk when you can skate? Wheels where you can coast every so often sure beats walking.

2) Scooter. The kids sure buzz around quick on these. Why not buzz to work on one?

3) Pogo Stick. Have everyone envious of your stick by hopping over the bridges.

4) Take a page out of Seinfeld and get a rickshaw with a couple of homeless dudes pulling you in. It's a win win for all involved.

5) Skateboard. Coasting sure beats walking.

There are so many ways to make money during this strike. Since you need four people in your car to cross the bridges, I should hang with 2 other friends at the foot of the bridge, hop in someones car who is driving solo, charge them $20 to cross and get them into the city. Then walk back across and keep doing this. I bet you'd make a small fortune.

Put up a Coffee/Hot Chocolate stand by the bridges. It's 12 degrees out this morning, this is liquid gold today.

Sell gloves, hats, and other winter gear.

All the politicians are on TV pissed off at the union for striking. I say "power to the people!!!!" It's good to see spirit still alive and well in this country. It's all too common for businesses to brag about profits while fucking their employees. I am glad this union had the balls to walk. Maybe next time the MTA will keep their mouths shut about a billion dollar surplus before a contract negotiation.