dysfunctional

bicycle remains, originally uploaded by threecee.

my word today is: dysfunctional. i'd use it to describe, among other things, the MTA. or more specifically, MTA management. (and New York city government. and New York state government.) as dysfunctional at running the transit system as the bike in the photo, chained to the 7th Avenue station on Flatbush in Brooklyn.

they've decided that they need to raise subway and bus fares for almost all riders (more than 4 out of 5) by increasing the price of unlimited-ride tickets, while keeping the prices the same for pay-per-ride tickets, the type most often bought by tourists. this is just the latest insult to the bulk of riders who're often subjected to late, over-crowded, hot (in the summer), freezing (in the winter), and very often dirty subway trains and buses. that's assuming an actual train or bus shows up.

then there's the fact that they've practically given away the rights to develop over the Vanderbilt Yard in Prospect Heights Brooklyn for the proposed Forest City Ratner Atlantic Yards project. that's 100's of millions of dollars that could have been used to avoid a fare hike. unfortunately, Atlantic Yards isn't the first, and, i fear, not the last time that the MTA did not get fair market value for some very rare and valuable real estate. it appears that the MTA is trying to atone for their Atlantic Yards sins by handling the development over the Hudson Yards in Manhattan in what seems to be a rational, functional and considerate fashion. only time will tell, though.

if the MTA, city, state and federal governments are really serious about encouraging people to use public transit, then it should not follow that they raise fares for the bulk of riders. especially when the level of service, as they, SUCKS!

but maybe dysfunctional is not the correct word. maybe corrupt? incompetent? i certainly wouldn't be the first to call them corrupt, incompetent or dysfunctional, and again, sadly, i'd bet money i won't be the last.