The internet was all abuzz last year when MTA announced its plans to bring cell service and wifi underground–and many New Yorkers were less than thrilled. This week, it looks like updates are starting to make the rounds, and I for one am looking forward to the change.
Our friends over at Brokelyn have alerted us to a snazzy map of the 30 stations that will be getting cell service by December, and no doubt apprehension over obnoxiously loud conversations will follow. Inevitably, we will see some less-than-considerate behavior once full service kicks in, but think about it this way: when you finally do let your kids get on the subway by themselves–and that day will come–wouldn’t you feel a little better that they’re not entering an unreachable blackhole for a good twenty minutes? Or if you’re running late on the commute, wouldn’t you like being able to send a text to check in? There’s something to be said about how ubiquitous technology has become in our lives, but I’d imagine that for most parents, the more lines of communication they have to their kids the better.
I’ve spent considerable time in cities like Boston and Taipei where trains get great reception–and not just at the platforms like there will be here–and I’ve never been greatly bothered by annoying calls. (Frankly, I’m more offended by things like watching an elderly woman offering her seat to a pregnant lady because no one else would.) At the end of the day, if being connected underground will encourage more families to take advantage of our public transportation, I can’t see this as a bad move.
–Christine Wei
Associate Editor
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