how to get to manhattan if there is a strike????

anonymous

Sooo.....if this transit strike goest through how is everyone planning on getting to work in the city? Anyone know of a private bus service? Anyone have to be in mid-town by 7:00 am????? Thoughts? Suggestions? Help?

jose

There's always the LIRR at Atlantic Ave. Check for the schedule at mta.info.

Alas, I'd like to think I'd call my office and say, "If you paid me more, I'd be able to take a cab in." That would be super duper.

emily

I think the obvious thing to try is to take the LIRR from Atlantic Ave. to Penn Station. I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure it goes there. It'll be crowded as all get out, but maybe not at 6:30 AM or whenever you'd be leaving.

ETA: Or is the LIRR part of the same union? In that case, I've got nothing.

alafairnadia

EmilyM wrote: I think the obvious thing to try is to take the LIRR from Atlantic Ave. to Penn Station. I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure it goes there. It'll be crowded as all get out, but maybe not at 6:30 AM or whenever you'd be leaving.

ETA: Or is the LIRR part of the same union? In that case, I've got nothing.

this makes me want to cry. a coworker who has a car was offering to come pick me up but then we realized we'd need 4 people in the car, not just the two of us. not sure either of us is willing to compromise. let's discuss at festivus.

joncane

EmilyM wrote: I think the obvious thing to try is to take the LIRR from Atlantic Ave. to Penn Station. I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure it goes there. It'll be crowded as all get out, but maybe not at 6:30 AM or whenever you'd be leaving.

ETA: Or is the LIRR part of the same union? In that case, I've got nothing.

LIRR does not go directly from Atlantic to Penn Station. You'd have to go to Jamaica and then come back into Manhattan.

jose

The LIRR is not part of the same union as the NYCT transit workers, but LIRR and MetroNorth employees (members of the ATU) walked off the job for 24 hours during the 1980 strike. This could mean anything.

It'd be wonderful if I could spend the day at home with my wife, who I rarely see these days. She's so freakin' busy.

emily

So basically, we're fucked.

I know at least four coworkers whom I often run into on the Q platform. If only any of us owned a car or felt like sitting in traffic for 5 hours to get to work.

I'm hoping that my company either arranges something or lets us stay home. Let's just say that my work is pretty non-essential. I'd rather take a couple of personal/vacation days and see if things sort themselves out. I'm taking the second half of the week off anyway to head home for Xmas.

stacey

If if must go to work during the strike (I work in the financial district) I will be taking the Watertaxi at the foot of Old Fulton Street. I think when we had the blackout or post-9/11 they were offering water taxis that went from Old Fulton Street to downtown and midtown and I think there was some sort of boat from Sunset Park to downtown and midtown (this one had a parking facility). If its not too cold I will walk the bridge

candicissima

Okay, I've been living in a hole. When is the strike supposed to start?

stacey

Candicissima wrote: Okay, I've been living in a hole. When is the strike supposed to start?

There is a 50/50 chance of a strike on Friday

alafairnadia

Subject: Re: if there is a strike

unfilled car wrote: If there is a strike, I would prefer to not go to work. But, if I have to go, I have a car that I will be reluctantly driving to Midtown to be at work by 10. I have one co-worker who lives in the neighborhood that would go with me and room for 2 more people (need 4 to cross bridges?). Lets keep this thread and if there is a strike, anyone whose work place and time coincide with mine is welcome to share a ride.

yeah, you'll need 4 to cross a bridge. I wonder if they'll let me work from home, though.
I don't need this kind of stress.

qtrain

Subject: Re: how to get to manhattan if there is a strike????

Manhattan worker wrote: Sooo.....if this transit strike goest through how is everyone planning on getting to work in the city?

Telecommute. Failing that, brisk walk for an hour.

emily

Subject: Re: how to get to manhattan if there is a strike????

qtrain wrote: Telecommute. Failing that, brisk walk for an hour.

I should be so lucky--I love walking. Unfortunately, I work way the hell uptown. I'm not sure how long it would take to walk--depends on how many other people are squishing onto the bridge--but in the 2003 blackout it took me about 4 hours. I'll call in sick before I walk eight miles to work.

candicissima

Darn. I'm sure regretting not extending my vacation to Friday right now... :?

alafairnadia

we could gather all of the stray cats in the nabe and make a sleigh. that'd be faster than walking, I'm sure.

pete_c

If you're concerned you should be asking your employer/manager/boss/etc NOW about your office policy -- reminding them that you live halfway out in Brooklyn and it will be basically impossible to maintain your normal office hours.

That said, I'll be telecommuting. More important than finding buses or vans will be finding open free wifi (Sepia, Heights Coffee, front of my house).

8thandprez

i work for the city, which has told its employees:

[list=]No telecommutingNo late arrivalsNo early departures[/list]

Gotta love the city... if they'd just give me webmail and could forward my calls to my cell, I'd be just as productive and wouldn't have to walk down Flatbush for an hour.

anonymous

http://www.breezerbikes.com/
+
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ski+clothes&btnG=Google+Search
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Cheap, warm commute.

No reason not to make it into work. In fact, when the strikers come back, why not save yourself $76 of hassles and just bike it? Land around here is flat, so 5 - 8 miles on a bike is surprisingly easy...

stuart

Bike it wrote: No reason not to make it into work. In fact, when the strikers come back, why not save yourself $76 of hassles and just bike it? Land around here is flat, so 5 - 8 miles on a bike is surprisingly easy...

Actually, it's pretty much all downhill from Prospect Heights to the bridge, then a bit uphill to get on the bridge (but then down again).

jamesondean

8thandPrez wrote: i work for the city, which has told its employees:

[list=]No telecommutingNo late arrivalsNo early departures[/list]

Gotta love the city... if they'd just give me webmail and could forward my calls to my cell, I'd be just as productive and wouldn't have to walk down Flatbush for an hour.

You're the victim of a negotiating tactic. That sucks.

anonymous

Stuart wrote: [quote=Bike it]No reason not to make it into work. In fact, when the strikers come back, why not save yourself $76 of hassles and just bike it? Land around here is flat, so 5 - 8 miles on a bike is surprisingly easy...

Actually, it's pretty much all downhill from Prospect Heights to the bridge, then a bit uphill to get on the bridge (but then down again).

Yeah. Takes less than 5 minutes to cut down Sterling to Vanderbilt to Atlantic Center. Less than 15 to get to downtown Manhattan. About 30 minutes to midtown. These times are almost comparable to the time it takes to wait in the station and to take the subway to those same points...

alafairnadia

Bike it wrote: [quote=Stuart][quote=Bike it]No reason not to make it into work. In fact, when the strikers come back, why not save yourself $76 of hassles and just bike it? Land around here is flat, so 5 - 8 miles on a bike is surprisingly easy...

Actually, it's pretty much all downhill from Prospect Heights to the bridge, then a bit uphill to get on the bridge (but then down again).

Yeah. Takes less than 5 minutes to cut down Sterling to Vanderbilt to Atlantic Center. Less than 15 to get to downtown Manhattan. About 30 minutes to midtown. These times are almost comparable to the time it takes to wait in the station and to take the subway to those same points...

yeah. if it weren't for the whole risking death thing (I haven't ridden a bike in like 15 years), the whole cold/winter/snow thing, and the whole business/professional attire thing, I'd be right there with you, biking my way to midtown. as it stands, I'm safer walking.

qtrain

alafairnadia wrote: yeah. if it weren't for the whole risking death thing (I haven't ridden a bike in like 15 years)

Brooklyn Bicycle Crash Map, 1995-2001, in case someone wants to check to see how dangerous their route of choice is

queen_of_pies

yes, bike it, my friends. I could use the company. My commute is the only time I'm not cold this time of year.

muteflute

biking is really easy, surprisingly. and you'll have lots of company, I think, because it's become more popular and will be one of the only ways to get into the city with any speed.

I find that biking up Bedford Ave into Williamsburg and then taking the WBURG bridge over is better going in. Coming home, I go over the manhattan bridge and then down past the Navy Yard. Had no problems, except for when I was stupid. But I won't talk about that.

medusa

I think I'm pretty much screwed. I drive or subway from Bklyn to the Bronx. There's no easy way to bike and, besides, I come home at 10:30 pm.

I fear that I'll be sitting in traffic for hours.

I have some unhappy memories of the 1980 transit strike.

whyfi

You could all do what I did...

I quit today!!! Woo hoo!!!

emily

nybt wrote: You could all do what I did...

I quit today!!! Woo hoo!!!

Sweet! Good plan, too.

*ponders*

whyfi

EmilyM wrote: [quote=nybt]You could all do what I did...

I quit today!!! Woo hoo!!!

Sweet! Good plan, too.

*ponders*

Well, it wasn't exactly done with the threat of a strike in mind, but the timing works well!

bewitched

nybt wrote: [quote=EmilyM][quote=nybt]You could all do what I did...

I quit today!!! Woo hoo!!!

Sweet! Good plan, too.

*ponders*

Well, it wasn't exactly done with the threat of a strike in mind, but the timing works well!
CONGRATULATIONS!

carnivore

Medusa wrote: I think I'm pretty much screwed. I drive or subway from Bklyn to the Bronx. There's no easy way to bike and, besides, I come home at 10:30 pm.

I fear that I'll be sitting in traffic for hours.

I have some unhappy memories of the 1980 transit strike.

You cold go through Queens to the Bronx instead of Manhattan.