New Yorker Complains About 9 Minute Subway Waiting Time, Sparks Debate About US Public Transit

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Sep 22, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

As somebody who spent their adolescence in a badly connected small town, one of the best things about moving to a city was the wonder that is public transport. Even now, I am genuinely thankful of the ability to go from A to B without worrying about calling a taxi, or bothering a friend for a lift (yeah, the driver's license is still pending).

At the same time, any established city slicker will know that complaining about public transit is part of the naturalization process. It's true that despite being essential to most major urban areas, these things can often be poorly managed and underfunded — but don't you dare say that to anyone who lives in a place that has it worse.

This is an issue that was dredged up by a recent tweet, in which a guy complained about having to wait nearly 10 minutes for the subway in New York. While some sympathized with his plight, others rolled their eyes at his relative privilege. While not everything has to be about the Big Apple, it can't be denied that their trains need an overhaul.