Sunday, June 07, 2026

The Sunday Five: Subways

1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? 

2: When was the last time you used a subway? 

3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? 

4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? 

5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? 

My answers: 

1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? London in 1990. 

2: When was the last time you used a subway? Tuesday, I had a meeting in DC. 

3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? About 1/2 a mile, a 10 to 12 minute walk. 

4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? Yes, it did. 

5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? This is a hard question, Paris, London and New York have some of the most useful systems, but they are older systems with many-many stairs to climb in most of the stations.  The DC system is smaller, but very accessible. London and Paris are moving along well on making the stations more accessible. 

Please share your answers in the comments.

 

25 comments:

  1. 1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? NYC
    2: When was the last time you used a subway? November
    3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? A couple of hours I suppose.
    4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? It could be a part of it.
    5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? I do love DC Metro.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We rode the systems in Madrid and Barcelona

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  2. 1. London's Tube.
    2. We have one here now, so I use it a couple of times a week, at least.
    3. Ten minutes walk.
    4. Assuredly. People who use public transport can continue to do so into a very old age, which is different to those forced to when they stop driving. Car drivers become incompetent at driving in their older years.
    5. I've limited experience with overseas subways. London's tube is probably the easiest to use, with good wayfinding. I made a couple of big mistakes with the NYC subway. Who would have thought two lines would cross at right angles with platforms with the same numbers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 5 extra. Unasked, with the kindness of strangers, we were corrected.

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    2. I can live here without driving if needed.

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    3. Nonsense! I was incompetent at driving when I was younger too. 😂

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  3. 1. Washington DC. 1978.
    2. Washington DC. 2025
    3. We have light rail. Station is about 1 mile from our house.
    4. It would
    5. DC Metro is well done - and clean. Paris, London and NYC are not bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have ridden the Shaker Rapid.

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    2. Going downtown on the Shaker rapid was one of the greatest joys of my youth.

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  4. 1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? NYC decades ago

    2: When was the last time you used a subway? BART and Metro in San Francisco a few years back.

    3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? Atlanta?

    4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? It might be a consideration, yes.

    5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? Either of my two favorite cities in the world: NYC and San Francisco, though I like DC's Metro, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SF system is modern and easy to use. Atlanta is the best way to get from the airport into downtown, cheaper and faster than a taxi.

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  5. I first road the London Tube and Paris Metro at the age of 18, and mastered both very quickly. I know the DC and Boston systems best, because I commuted on them. The DC Metro is one of the most visually impressive in the world. Now I live in Baltimore and there is no reason to ride its one line. Just got back from Buenos Aires, which has the oldest metro in Latin America. The NYC subway is a bear, hard to navigate

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    Replies
    1. NYC - it can be hard to find the way to change directions on the same line, up to street level, cross the street and try to find the entrance in the other direction. Lots and lots of stairs.

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  6. 1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? London 1985
    2: When was the last time you used a subway? Last August in London
    3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? About 350 miles, it's in LA.
    4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? Apparently not since I live in Phoenix
    5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? The one in London but they all work very well. I've used the one in Paris and the one in LA and NYC and of course Chicago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Trams in Phoenix are very nice, the system is limited, but if it is going where you want to go, it is an easy ride.

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  7. I just can't remember riding on a subway, although I am sure I must have some time in my life.
    Here we have the Metra trains and the El... above ground.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chicago has some underground lines, that run overground.

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  8. 1. I first rode the DC Metro in the early '80s.
    2. On Friday!
    3. Very close -- I'd sat a quarter of a mile, if even that.
    4. Yes. I love public transport.
    5. I like any system that functions and gets me where I want to go!

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    Replies
    1. The London system will take you close to almost anyplace in the City.

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  9. What was the first subway system you ever rode in? NYC.
    When was the last time you used a subway? NYC
    How far is it to your nearest subway station? Philadelphia.
    Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? No...some of the most fabulous cities don't have them.

    Do you have a favorite system in the world. Yes, the ones where men sit with legs widespread. What a great tri that is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember the CTA Blue Line, from O'Hare into the city, the day before IML,

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  10. 1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? NYC

    2: When was the last time you used a subway? Last year

    3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? 3.5 hours (NYC)

    4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? No

    5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? Toronto's Subway was so much nicer than NYC.

    Sassybear
    https://idleeyesandadormy.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been a long time since I used the Toronto system.. They have a good train to the airport.

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  11. I think it was Toronto. I. remember being excited about it as seeing the museums. I cannot remember when I was last in a subway - probably Chicago, when I lived there.

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  12. 1: What was the first subway system you ever rode in? The Tube in London circa 1960.
    2: When was the last time you used a subway? Last month - again in London.
    3: How far is it to your nearest subway station? 180 miles.
    4: Would access to a subway system enter into your choice of where you would like to live? No.
    5: Do you have a favorite system in the world? The Tube - London.

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