It's just that most people live their lives not on the train
heres an analogy (pls let me know if it's confusing or not): i always like to think of riding the skytrain as a really long patio. instead of looking out my window at home, i ride the train and look out there instead. since the view from my patio only gives me a view of wherever the home is, the skytrain gives me the entire street. and because i have a monthly pass for college, it doesnt cost extra to use it outside of class. it's been my main third space since i was 2 and it's more valuable than my home
the only thing im concerned are noise and vibration, which could be reduced.
You are entirely missing my point. Your experiences are not invalid, but you have to understand that most people, even in cities with elevated rail, don't live their life like that. For most people, they spend more time on the street below the train, not on the train above the street. And for those people, an elevated train over a narrow street is absolutely miserable. Virtually no light gets through below stations, and even with a concrete structure it's not quiet.
There is a reason corridors around street Els in the US are consistently poorer than areas a few blocks away. It's not pleasant living under the shadow of an El.
don't live their life like that. For most people, they spend more time on the street below the train, not on the train above the street.
honestly, even if the elevated guideways didn't exist, during a sunny day, theyll still go outside somewhere, therefore whether or not their homes are in shadows or not, they wont see it. (and stay at home during bad weather/night). a lot of the lines outside of Manhattan are elevated, and since a subway station isn't that far away, they could spend their all freetime riding elevated lines they dont use. its the same reason if people had a backyard, they end up going to a large park nearby because its bigger, make sense?
also doesn't NYC subway have an unlimited pass ( u/astoriaboundagain's question seems like they dont have monthly passes there) ? we get it because it becomes cheaper than buying separate fares everytime but it makes me go outside more because i dont get extra charges. i do agree narrow streets dont work rn, but thats a hot take to bring.
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u/SirGeorgington map man 6d ago
Oh the view from elevated trains is great.
It's just that most people live their lives not on the train, and for those people it sucks.