Underground Club

When I was Editorial Page editor of the FreeP I had a columnist who devoted a semester’s worth of columns to the T (Boston’s subway system). I don’t think the Tube deserves that much time, but it is worth a mention.

Having to ride it every day to get to work has really made me feel like I live in London – probably the more than anything else I have done has. When going down the escalators I find myself on the left-hand side (the side that is walking instead of standing) because I have a time and destination to get to. It’s fun to pretend like I am a very important working man with places to be. And because I go to the same place each day, I have mastered where I am going. I don’t need to check the Tube map, which is a clear sign that someone is new to the city. I have even figured out which side of the platform is best in order to be closest to the exit. So in the mornings I know that if I go as far to the left as possible on the Piccadilly platform, I will be closest to the “way out.” It makes me feel like an insider.

I also have the pleasure (probably the wrong word) of traveling at rush hour. Trains are crammed full at that time to the point where you cannot even lift your arms if you wanted to. Amazingly, however, some people still manage to read the paper. But what I mean by having the pleasure of riding the uncomfortable trains at rush hour is that I get the chance at contributing to the working pulse of this city for a short while. It has been my dream ever since thinking about careers to be in a city, have to ride the public transportation each day only to sit in an office for eight hours just to do it again the next day. Not that this is my idea of fun, but it feels cool to be working. It’s nice to have a taste of what the next 30 years will be like. It feels like I am actually living in London, which has been my goal from the start.

Of course there are still plenty of times that I ride the Tube without knowing exactly where I am going. In this case, I obviously check the maps and look like a tourist. But that’s OK, too. And I really love how easy it is to read the Tube map. It is one of the most user-friendly public transport systems I have ever been on. Everything from purchasing tickets to directions within the stations is well marked and clear. No complaints. Except for one about the breath of the guy who was reading the paper at 6 ish one day last week. I have a small complaint there.

(Pictures are from a walk I took in Hyde Park yesterday)

Comments Welcome,

Andrew