October 11, 2007
T Places Bid to Become America's Most Irritating Subway
There is a lot to love about the MBTA. Its mascot is a man who began a nightmarish lifelong captivity 'neath the streets of Boston when he tried to take the T to Jamaica Plain. It offers Bostonians spontaneous trust exercises. It grants importance to our geographically inclined citizens. And, let's face it, it gets us to work.
But America's oldest subway is poised to become America's most annoying. The concept is T-Radio, and it is going to change the subway platform from a haven of municipal quiet into a hellish iron cage of light news, "media personalities," and Neil Diamond. As if waiting twenty-five minutes in rush-hour during the daily Orange Line bottleneck weren't bad enough. Now you'll have "Cracklin' Rosie" as a companion.
But it gets worse. T-Radio is also going to have commercials -- 8 to 10 minutes of them an hour. Soon, waiting for your train is going to be just like shopping at TJ Maxx -- except without the bargains.Of course, according to the Herald, the commercials aren't going to be introduced until after the customer testing period is over.
T riders -- there is still a chance to derail this plan. The T is testing T-Radio at North and South Stations and Airport (making sure it ruins the day of riders on every single line). Go to these places. Find the people with the survey pads, and tell the T to leave the entertainment to the riders!
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this explains why i heard elton john last night through those horrible tin speakers at south station. such a bad idea - but, it's just another way to get money from advertisers!!
You can (and should!) also leave feedback on the execrable T-Radio on the MBTA's website: http://mbta.com/riding_the_t/feedback/
geez... they could have been using money for improving services in efficiency, cleanliness, and safety so that our subways won't be laughed at by even monkeys, but no, they have to go and make it even worse.
agreed. instead of shoving more corporate commercial crap down our throats, they should be using the money to improve station conditions or even add some nifty LED signs that could let passengers know when the next train is coming, if it's going to be a while, of there is a problem, etc. ya know, something useful maybe?!?!