Try not to cringe. This chair can potentially relieve your aches and bunions.
I’m standing on the subway platform anxiously waiting for the C train to arrive for at least 30 minutes, and my legs start to give. Tired after a long day and a late night out, I just can’t do it anymore. But the already sparse seats are taken. I look around at my options: squat against a gum-covered pole, or sit on the dirty ground that countless shoes have trampled across. Despite my best instincts, I choose the ground. Sometimes I sit on my bag, more often than not I expose my body to all of the germs and diseases that may attach themselves to me. I know it’s gross, but I do it all the time. And you know what? It feels good.
I’ve seen others do it, too, and I think a lot about how great it would be if there were more seats. Not just for me, but for children, the elderly, pregnant women, marathon runners, the anemic—you name it. All of us could benefit from a little more respite while waiting for the train. There are over five million riders on the NYC subway every day. We have music and performers to make our experience more pleasant; why can’t we have more places to rest our weary bottoms on?
So I was happy to see that somebody is doing something about this. Well, actually, a lot of people are. The Take a Seat Project is a public initiative started by a “dude” named Jason Eppink with the ultimate aim of making transit more comfortable. It’s not affiliated with the MTA, so there’s no funding nor fancy outreach materials. The basic idea is that we all chip in by salvaging chairs from trash piles, cleaning them up and reusing them in one of the hundreds of stations across the city. So simple, right? There’s also a Found Art aspect to this, which I love. I always see IKEA swivel chairs sitting on the curb sides; now I know they can serve a grander purpose.
Critics say that the seats would take up more space on an already crowded platform. While I agree that certain hours, days and stations are busier than others, I don’t think it’s like the West Indian Day parade down there all of the time. There’s definitely room. Skeptics also point out the potential for bedbugs and other such creatures. I’ve had my fair share of experiences with creepy crawlers, and I’ll chance another encounter for a shot at comfort any day. But that’s just me. What do you think?
4 Comments
Hiya,
Thanks for commenting. I really enjoyed reading your blog post, and it’s great to see such concern about the rampant bedbug manifestation across NYC.
Although I will say that disagree with your use of the phrases “…do not do as the Idealist in NYC blog tells you” and “…cellyham pleads.” There is not a single sentence in this blog post that tells the readers to do anything. I clearly state “The basic idea is that we all chip in by salvaging chairs from trash piles, cleaning them up and reusing them in one of the hundreds of stations across the city,” which is informing readers about the concept behind the project. I also clearly state at the end, “But that’s just me.” The whole point of the post is that I think this is a great idea, but of course, you take a seat at your own caution. NYC is dirty. That’s just the plain truth.
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guyana a couple of years ago, and can say with authority that I do know what bedbugs are like. There were countless times I awoke with bites, and had to soak my mattress in the sun. I’ve also heard of others accounts’ as well. I am, in all honesty, quite a germaphobe at times.
Your post definitely had me think, however, that I should have included more information, and stated more explicitly that taking the chairs is not just limited to salvage piles. I don’t think the intention of this project is to scavenge junkyards. It also includes thinking about that extra chair sitting in your apartment taking up space, and how it can be useful at a subway station. Also, to reduce the chance of bedbugs and other creatures, plastic and metal chairs are a good option as well.
The greater problem is of the health standards of NYC subways in general. But I do think this initiative is a good first attempt at addressing another problem. Maybe it’s not the perfect solution, but it’s a good step. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on how you think this specific problem about the lack of seats can be addressed with better safety standards.
I followed this link from the bedbugger blog — even though I’ve never had bedbugs. I think the chair salvaging project is an incredibly bad idea, not just because of bedbugs (though that is #1). Following that would be that essentially you are bringing unwanted furniture into a system that also doesn’t want them. just think for a second how huge the process and budget is for maintaining and keeping the subways clean. What if you then have broken down chair on the platform (or even whole chairs). Who cleans and maintains them? How does the floor under them get cleaned? Do the maintenance people have to move them? Who stores them when there are too many? Who pays when the MTA gets sued when someone trips over one? What happens when one breaks and gets thrown onto the tracks?
Anyway, you get the idea. Leave the MTA to do their job and don’t “help” them.
And leave art — including “found art” in the gallery or in your front yard where it belongs.
…but that’s just me.
Thanks for your reasoned response, cellyham —
I’ve responded here:
http://bedbugger.com/2008/10/09/take-a-seat-project-a-really-bad-idea-where-bed-bugs-are-concerned/#comment-12786
Cool post and what a beautiful photo. I have to agree that while Elizabeth seems to be a very good pragmatist, all excellent points to consider, there are many solutions (i.e. non-cloth chairs, etc.). I think the point about the moveable chairs and someone putting it on the tracks or the like is a concern. You just never know, but overall a very cool idea to see implemented on a small scale to start.
~ Marc
http://ispynyc.wordpress.com
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[...] and their cool Idealist in NYC blog. But I have to stress, in the name of sanity, do not do as the Idealist in NYC blog tells you, and try and help tired people find somewhere to sit in the subway by donating curbside chairs. Do [...]