Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

Given some of the unfathomable declarations floated in the name of opposition to congestion pricing ("We have to do something about the pedestrians"), it's hard not to wonder what goes on in the minds of those who so passionately reject any perceived infringement upon their "right" to clog the streets and poison the air for "free."

Enter one Ken Klinger, whose recent letter to the Queens Gazette features probably the most generalized and bigoted characterization of New York City transit riders this side of John Rocker -- pablum so awesomely over the top, you've almost got to wonder if it's satire:

Next, there's the commuters themselves, who make bus and subway ridesadditionally unbearable by yelling into their cell phones or crankingup the volume on their iPods so high that you feel like you've got onheadphones too.

Commuters' manners are typically atrocious too. They cough withoutcovering their mouths, wipe their runny noses on their hands andsleeves, and engage in a whole bunch of disgusting habits like pickingsnot from their noses, wax from their ears, and dandruff from theirscalps, and then holding up and examining the nasty stuff, especiallyif you happen to look their way for a moment.

For it almost seems as if commuters engage in these stomach-sickeningbehaviors as a means of getting nearby commuters not to look at them,in order to maintain a level of privacy, as I've begun to suspect,partially in an effort to explain how they could possibly behave sodisgustingly, on average, without exhibiting any shame.

The author, who calls mass transit "the most miserable and unpleasant mode of transportation on Earth, outside of being shot out of a cannon," continues:

Contrast this hellish environment to the comforts of commuting in acar, with cushy seats, either by oneself or in company with an equallycivilized and reasonably sane passenger or two. Sure, there areannoyances, too, associated with driving autos, like traffic jams andradio DJs who never play any music, insisting on hogging the airwaveswith their high-strung, bigoted rants instead. Still, all thingsconsidered, traveling into Manhattan by car is infinitely superior togoing by mass transit, and will continue to be so even when congestionpricing goes into effect, as it most likely will.

What do you think? Is Ken Klinger for real? Or did the Queens Gazette -- and Streetsblog -- get taken for a ride? 

Thanks to reader "d" for the Onion link. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025

Ex-DOT Official Warns NYC’s ‘Counterproductive’ E-bike Speed Limit Will Curb Biking, Safety

The mayor is working overtime to undo the decade of gains for cycling in the Big Apple, a former de Blasio administration official told Streetsblog.

July 3, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Just the News Edition

Things are slowing down for summer, but not entirely. Here's the news.

July 3, 2025

DOT Boss Defends Adams’s ‘Vision Zero’ Record As Agency Fights A Bike Lane in Court

Traffic fatalities are down and the DOT is taking a victory lap — even as it argues against a protected bike lane in court.

July 2, 2025

Cyclist Arrested After Crash with Electric ‘One-wheel’-Style Unicycle

Carolyn Backus is charged with fleeing the scene of a crash causing serious injury, but the details are murky.

Wednesday’s Headlines: Return of Summer Streets Edition

Summer Streets is back and bigger than ever. Plus more news.

July 2, 2025
See all posts