Subway City: Riding the Trains, Reading New York

by Michael W. Brooks

None of the world's great cities is as closely identified with its subway as New York. Its trains provide much more than just rapid transit. They give New Yorkers a powerful symbol of their metropolis, one that they use to express both their hopes and their fears for the urban future. Subway City explores New York's transit system as both fact and metaphor. Brooks traces the development of the subway from its inception as the newest and most efficient public transportation system to its decline as an overcrowded and dangerous part of city life. The crowded cars gave Harold Lloyd material for comedy, fueled William Randolph Hearst's crusade against the Traction Trust, and convinced Lewis Mumford that the subway was a futile effort to solve the city's problems. Brooks explores films which have dramatized the dangers lurking below ground, and examines the infamous Bernhard Goetz shooting that made the subway a symbol of urban decay. More hopefully, he describes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's station improvements and ambitious programs for Music Underground, Poetry in Transit, and Arts-in-Transit, as keys to the city's renewal.

252 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a deep dive into everything New York City Subway. From the early planning and construction to artwork and even crime, nearly every facet of the subway is discussed. Numerous pieces of artwork are also included to complement the text. I enjoyed the book, but found it a little dry at times, and would have liked more detail in some areas and less in others.

[Blake Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 3rd grade because I started loving and learning about the MTA NYC Subway systems since then. This book is basically about the subway system, how many people use it daily, how dangerous it can be, etc. I would recommend this book to people (like me) who are interested in the subway system. Ask me anything about the trains and help will be there right away! Basic facts I know about the present NYC subway:
(1) (2) (3) is the 7 Avenue Line, runs on the upper west side in Manhattan.
(4) (5) (6) is the Lexington Avenue Line, runs on the upper east side in Manhattan.
(7) is the Flushing Line, runs between Manhattan & Queens.
(A) (C) (E) is the 8 Avenue Line, it's obvious that it runs along 8 Avenue in Manhattan.
(B) (D) (F) (M) is the 6 Avenue Line, it runs on 6 Avenue in Manhattan.
(G) is the Crosstown Line and only runs between Brooklyn & Queens.
(J) (Z) is the Nassau Street Line/Jamaica Line in Queens, and it runs between Manhattan, then Brooklyn, then Queens.
(N) (Q) (R) is the Broadway Line and All trains run between Queens, Manhattan & Brooklyn.
(S) are the 42 Street Shuttle (only runs between 42 Street-Grand Central and Times Sq-42 Street).
(S) is a Franklin Shuttle (only runs between Franklin Av & Prospect Park).
(S) the last one is the Rockaway Pk Shuttle (only runs between Rockaway Pk-Beach 116 St & Broad Channel).
(L) is the Canarsie/14 St Line and only runs between Manhattan & Brooklyn.

I would like to add more info to what's above:
(1) service operates between 242 St, The Bronx and South Ferry, Manhattan
(2) service operates between 241 St-Wakefield, The Bronx and Brooklyn College-Flatbush Av, Brooklyn
(3) service operates between 148 St-Harlem, Manhattan & New Lots Av, Brooklyn
(4) service operates between Woodlawn, The Bronx & Crown Heights-Utica Av/ New Lots Av, Brooklyn
(5) service operates between Nereid Av-238 St/Eastchester-Dyre Av, The Bronx & Bowling Green, Manhattan/Flatbush Av, Brooklyn
(6) service operates between Pelham Bay Pk/Parkchester, The Bronx & City Hall-Bk Bridge, Manhattan
(7) service operates between Main St, Queens & Times Sq-42 St, Manhattan
(A) service operates between 207 St-Inwood, Manhattan & Far Rockaway, Queens
(B) service operates between 145 St, Manhattan/Bedford Pk Blvd, The Bronx & Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
(C) service operates between 168 St, Manhattan & Euclid Av, Brooklyn
(D) service operates between 205 St-Norwood, The Bronx & Coney Island, Brooklyn
(E) service operates bet. Jamaica Center, Queens & World Trade Center, Manhattan
(F) service operates bet. Jamaica-179 St, Queens & Coney Island, Brooklyn
(G) service operates between Long Island City-Court Sq, Queens & Church Av, Brooklyn
(J)/(Z) service operates bet. Jamaica Center, Queens & Broad St/Chambers St, Manhattan
(L) service operates bet. 8 Av, Manhattan & Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn
(M) service operates bet. Forest Hills-71 Av, Queens & Myrtle Av/Metropolitan Av, Brooklyn/Queens
(N)/(Q) service operates bet. Astoria-Ditmars Blvd, Queens & Coney Island, Brooklyn
(R) service operates between Forest Hills-71 Av, Queens & Bay Ridge-95 St, Brooklyn
(S) operates bet. 42 St-Times Sq & 42 St-Grand Central, Manhattan
(S) operates between Prospect Pk & Franklin Av, Brooklyn
(S) operates between Broad Channel & Rockaway Pk-Beach 116 St, Queens