S - Shuttle Train
Hey everyone,
I know I can probably answer my own question after a bit of personal experience, but I never hurts to do a little pre-planning/research via some neighboorly advice, right? :-)
So, I'm moving into the Jewish Hospital on Prospect Place (Classon/Franklin), which I'm sure most of you know is about a half a block from the Park Pl. stop on the S (Shuttle) subway. Not my ideal tranist situation (I've never been a fan of 'connector' lines -- too slow), but hey, it's much better than nothing.
I wanted to find out if there was anything I should know about this line - if anyone has had bad experiences using it, what it's like riding it at night, etc. The relative safety of the S is particularly important to me, as I often venture home alone after 10pm on weekdays (will be connecting from the Q at Propect Park). Ideally, I would walk over from the 7th Ave. Q stop, but never alone that late - I think that's just asking for trouble - so the S seems like the only way to go.
I've already gotten a little background info that helped play into my decision to take my apt. in the first place - people I talked to in my buidling (mostly gilrs my age, early-mid 20s) told me they had no issues with the S in terms of service or walking from the stop alone at night. That's very comforting, but I wanted to get a more comprehensive perspective, so your input is very important.
Thanks a bunch!
I know I can probably answer my own question after a bit of personal experience, but I never hurts to do a little pre-planning/research via some neighboorly advice, right? :-)
So, I'm moving into the Jewish Hospital on Prospect Place (Classon/Franklin), which I'm sure most of you know is about a half a block from the Park Pl. stop on the S (Shuttle) subway. Not my ideal tranist situation (I've never been a fan of 'connector' lines -- too slow), but hey, it's much better than nothing.
I wanted to find out if there was anything I should know about this line - if anyone has had bad experiences using it, what it's like riding it at night, etc. The relative safety of the S is particularly important to me, as I often venture home alone after 10pm on weekdays (will be connecting from the Q at Propect Park). Ideally, I would walk over from the 7th Ave. Q stop, but never alone that late - I think that's just asking for trouble - so the S seems like the only way to go.
I've already gotten a little background info that helped play into my decision to take my apt. in the first place - people I talked to in my buidling (mostly gilrs my age, early-mid 20s) told me they had no issues with the S in terms of service or walking from the stop alone at night. That's very comforting, but I wanted to get a more comprehensive perspective, so your input is very important.
Thanks a bunch!
Comments
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Don't hate me if I'm wrong, but I think AmyG (selfindulgence.typepad.com) and Jose (leftfieldlengua.blogspot.com) live near/use this line?
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I think our little shuttle is fantastic! Very helpful especially on those mornings (all too frequent lately!) when either the Blue, Red, Green, or Orange lines have been inoperable: then you simply hop the shuttle, to or from Prospect Park, Franklin/Eastern, or Franklin/Fulton, and away you go! Same goes at night.
While I am a 20 something male, and cannot claim to have taken it too late at night, I have always felt it to be quite safe. Never empty, good diverse mix of people (age, race, sex, etc.), no one stands out for 'targetting'.
Without digging too deeply into the vagaries of your commute, is there no way you could take the C to Franklin, or the 2/3/4/5 to Franklin? Then at least you could choose to shuttle or not - but the Q to Prospect just seems unnecessary! -
You know I'd never thought about it...but commuting from the Franklin Stop via the 4,5 is totally doable for me. Makes much more sense than overshooting to Prospect Park on the Q (though I still stand by the Q as being the fatest train to get to Brooklyn). Thanks so much for your advice!
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It's definitely the most scenic ride on the MTA.
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Quazar5000, could you tell me a little about your new apt.? I had walked by the old Jewish Hospital when it was being renovated and was wondering what it would end up looking like/costing etc.
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I happen to live in the old hospital and have no problems with the shuttle. i'm a 23 y/o male and sometimes find it easier to walk up to Fulton or down to E. Parkway to catch the C or 2/3/4 trains, but you might not want to make that walk at night...although i do and haven't had any problems. the neighborhood is pretty safe (and getting safer) from what i've gathered so far. the building itself has had some issues in the past and people like me who have lived here since it opened in September have been dealing with our landlords more that we'd like to. I just hope you don't have any issues with heat or hot water because they really are nice apartments.
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I've lived a 1/4 block from the shuttle on Park Place for about 2 1/2 years and I've used it, oh, 10 times, mainly to head to Coney Island. If you're feeling unsafe late at night, take it. But it's slow, comes infrequently at night and you're much better suited to walking up Classon (a tad safer than Franklin). I am, however, a male in his mid-20s, so that plays a role, too.
On a side note, are they still jacking up the prices on the Jewish Hospital? The rents(I live on Park, b/w Classon and Franklin) are, like, $300-$600 more than the going rate for surrounding apartments. It's good to see the building being renovated, but the prices are skewering everything on the block.
Also, the people that built the hospital are the same as the ones who renovated the Taaffee factories (near De Kalb) into de facto Pratt dorms. Same light fixtures and everything. -
I'm 28 and live on the same block as JoshB, closer to Franklin though and practically across the street from the Shuttle. I use it to get to the Q, which I rarely ride. Some friends in my building ride the shuttle religiously. They get a little freaked by Franklin. I think that's over-reacting. Why live in Prospect Heights if you don't feel comfortable ambling about it.
I've had no problems in the neighborhood. Neither has my bride-to-be. Don't worry about the hinterlands of the PH; it's becoming safer everyday. Relax and join us in the ranks of Operation Snowflake.
But seriously, like Josh, I like to know what's up with the prices at the hospital? Are the apartments that nice? -
Subject: shuttle
unfortunately, there is good reason to be 'freaked' by the shuttle. i regularly take the subway from prospect park, but i will not take the shuttle. with unfortunate frequency, people get shot, slashed and stabbed on the shuttle. try a couple google 'news' searches - you'll find at least two incidents of violence in the last couple months that occurred on the franklin ave shuttle. -
can you give us the search terms you are using or links to these stories? I couldn't find anything.
Thanks -
Here's one incident as reported in the Daily News...
Teen shot by thugs
on shuttle
A Brooklyn teenager was shot on a subway early yesterday when a gang boarded the train and charged at him, police said.
The 16-year-old boy, identified by police sources as Jelani Eastmond, suffered a graze wound during the ambush on the Franklin Ave. shuttle at the Prospect Park station just after midnight.
Eastmond was riding the southbound train when it pulled into the station and a large group of thugs hopped aboard and confronted him.
Eastmond told cops he felt a sharp pain in his lower back, and realized he had been shot, police sources said.
When the train's doors opened, Eastmond ran above ground where he flagged down a police van on the street.
But the punks who shot him got away.
Eastmond, who may have known his attackers, was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was in stable condition.
The shuttle train connects the A and C lines at Franklin Ave. to the B and Q lines at Prospect Park. Shuttle service was suspended for two hours and 40 minutes, officials said. -
Wow so it seems like, overall, the Shuttle gets lukewarm ratings. I'm obviously not thrilled to hear about the shootings/stabbings/gang warfare. That might just be enough to put me in 'Plan B' mood - riding the Q to 7th Ave., hopping on my folding bike and pedaling like a bat-out-of-hell until I'm home (prob. about 5-10 minutes). Think I could safely accomplish this at night (around 11pm)? Or would someone have the balls to try and jump me?
Believe me Jose, I'd love to be able to relax in PH (and join Operation Snowflake...that was pretty funny :-) ), but I just want to be realistic about how I'm going to have to adapt my lifestyle for safety sake. Fact is, I'm used to ambling home late, alone...and not giving it another thought. Stupid? Definitely. Granted, this is in a safe suburb of Queens and I'm usually coming from my capoeira class (i.e. self defense) but that still doesn't make it right...maybe it's a good thing PH is forcing me to change my ways. BTW, if you don't take the Shuttle, what train do you use?
In response to the questions about the Jewish Hospital, yes the place seems pretty damn nice. I emphasize 'seems' as I haven't actually moved in yet (this Saturday) but my 3 roommates and I are thrilled with the place we got. Easily the best 4BR apt. we looked at (and we looked at many) - decent-sized rooms with a spacious kitchen and a HUGE basement for $2500/mo (little over $600 a piece). How does that compare with rent in other buildings on the block? Anybody know? I hope the managment issues have been erradicated by the time we move in...heat & hot water are a must! -
Those prices are abso-ludicrous. When we moved into our building more than two years ago, the tenants before us were paying $1200 for our good-sized three-bedroom.
Of course, the rent was jacked and we now pay $1650 for a three-bedroom. Between $1500-$1700 seems to be the going rate for three beds in this area. I'm sure $2,500 for a four-bed feels like a good deal compared to a lot of the other apartments, but not over on Classon/Franklin: the price structure is drastically out of scale. I fear we're going to see lots of trickle-down increases. -
Man, how I miss Queens. I moved to Prospect Heights for the low rents (I was paying 1250 for a 3 bdrm when I moved to the nabe), the proximity of so many amenities and many nearby friends. I love it now. But 2500 for a 4 bdrm? I know the place is huge, still... Quazar, you deserve a medal of honor from the commanders of Op. Snow. I must confess I wish I had a space as large but not for that price. (I'd pay 1800. 2Gs at the most.)
To answer your other question: I use the 2/3/4 at Franklin Ave. Rarely do I take the Q/B at Prospect Park or 7th Avenue. I don't even take the shuttle when coming home in the middle of the night. Maybe I'm stupid.
I wouldn't worry, though. -
i took the shuttle once about 4 yrs ago late at night (possibly coming home from the airport?). anyways, it was a scary ride for me. people were playing with the conductor, holding doors open at every stop for long periods and making the conductor come out on the platforms often. then suddenly 3 guys came into my car and grabbed someone and forcefully pulled him out of the train. i haven't taken it since. that was 4 years ago though.
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Subject: Isa
It was 1988. A 15 year old gothic Isa was on her way home to Sheepshead Bay at 1 am. Back then the D train was always fucked up and you had to transfer at Prospect Park and then again at Kings Highway. I accidently got on the shuttle train and was wisked away towards Botanical Gardens, when a gang of youths appeared and surrounded me chanting "Devil worshiper!" and crossing themselves. I just kind of sat there and tried to explain that I was an athiest. Soon a cop came and they stopped, then the cop started asking me why I worshipped the devil. It was an out of the frying pan moment. The moral of the story is that the shuttle, historically, is filled with good Christian folk so you should have no problems. -
I found the shuttle to be fairly safe and I am a 20 something petite female. And besides the ocassional cop, subway conductor, teenager, or dirty old man that attempt to hit on me I have no problems.
But, yesterday when I got off the shuttle and exited through the Prospect Place side, I noticed that someone is leaving cat/ dog food out on the side of the ramp. I mean its nice to feed stray animals and everything, but after a couple of hours outside pet food stinks. Can you imagine in the summer, with the sun beating down on the food how awfual the smell will be? Not to mention the amount of rats that will come for the food... -
jaha127 wrote: I found the shuttle to be fairly safe and I am a 20 something petite female. And besides the ocassional cop, subway conductor, teenager, or dirty old man that attempt to hit on me I have no problems.
The feeding is a part of the TNR efforts- there's a cat colony next to the station. If you're talking about food stinking, I assume that you're talking about wet food. The wet food is a temporary measure to boost their immune systems in preparation for the surgery- they're scheduled to be spayed/neutered in the next couple weeks. And no rats are going to be wandering in near the colony- that's one of the benefits to the TNR way- rodent control.
But, yesterday when I got off the shuttle and exited through the Prospect Place side, I noticed that someone is leaving cat/ dog food out on the side of the ramp. I mean its nice to feed stray animals and everything, but after a couple of hours outside pet food stinks. Can you imagine in the summer, with the sun beating down on the food how awfual the smell will be? Not to mention the amount of rats that will come for the food... -
My Grandfather died at that hospital - seriously
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Subject: shuttle & hospital...
quazar5000 wrote: if anyone has had bad experiences using it
ive been living here in the hood for 7 yrs now... im on prospect btwn franklin & bedford... when i moved here, the mta was still rehabing the shuttle... id either walk to the 2,3,4,5 or the C... since its opened, its been awesome... late-nights though, there's only one train and then it runs 20min apart, so if you miss it... well you'll have to wait...
back in 1970, my sister was born 3 mths premature... she was kept there in an incubator in a 2nd floor room... that room is in 699 Classon... 2nd floor window facing Classon & Prospect...
-mike -
Subject: Re: shuttle & hospital...
realtor guy wrote:
It is really nice to have- I feel like a bunch of people either don't know about it, or they simply overlook it, which is fine by me- I like being able to sit down every once in a while!
ive been living here in the hood for 7 yrs now... im on prospect btwn franklin & bedford... when i moved here, the mta was still rehabing the shuttle... id either walk to the 2,3,4,5 or the C... since its opened, its been awesome... -
The feeding is a part of the TNR efforts- there's a cat colony next to the station. .
What is TNR? -
Subject: Re: S - Shuttle Train
quazar5000 wrote:
Um, I think that walk is fine even very late at night. I live on St. Johns and Classon and often do that walk very late at night (i.e. early morning).
The relative safety of the S is particularly important to me, as I often venture home alone after 10pm on weekdays (will be connecting from the Q at Propect Park). Ideally, I would walk over from the 7th Ave. Q stop, but never alone that late - I think that's just asking for trouble - so the S seems like the only way to go. -
jaha127 wrote:
Trap Neuter Return is a method of controlling the stray and feral cat populations. Basically, you trap them, get 'em fixed so that their numbers don't continue to increase exponentially, and return them from where they were originally trapped. When you see a stray or feral with the very tip of the left ear missing, it's been neutered as a part of the program.
What is TNR?
The feeding is a part of the TNR efforts- there's a cat colony next to the station. . -
ohhhh... I never heard of it before. Well at least its humane...
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So I just used the shuttle for the first time a couple of days ago and think I might start using it for my work commute, but I didn't see anything in this thread about how frequently it runs, except for 20 minutes apart late at night. Does anyone have any info on how often it turns at other times -- weekdays, weekends, etc?
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D'oh! You know, I always think to look at bus schedules to get an idea of how often they run (certainly not to expect accurate times they'll arrive, of course) but I never think about doing it with trains! Thank you.
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i've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for the shuttle, except late night, when they only run one train at a time. (during the day, there are 2 going back and forth.)
i used to think i was just lazy for taking it from park to botanic gardens/franklin, but then i realized that every time i walked instead, it passed me. so i'm lazy AND efficient, thank you very much. -
I've walked by that building before and noticed it is owned by Alma Realty, just wanted to warn you if it isn't too late... I lived at another location they owned a few years ago over in Bed-Stuy, called taffee pl. lofts. Anyway, the basement (which was part of out apartment) flooded all the time-they never fixed it. If we harassed them enough some poor guy would come and mop it up, but that's the best we ever got in a whole year. it damaged some furniture and belongings, we learned not to even use that room. they promised to build walls before we moved in (never happened). All the fixturing was really poor quality, walls were thin and the management was crap. They give a load of run-around with any call and were never timely with responses. It took 6 months to get security deposit back (which I did, in full). It was a pretty rough year.
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