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THE SUBWAY’S NO. 1 CHARMER
Inside the cramped and crazed subways of New York, a colorful conductor on the 1 train brightens commutes with off-script announcements.
By Daniel Krieger
Riding the subway in New York City, there’s not a whole lot to smile about. Delays, filth, passengers who block the door or take up multiple seats or eat fried chicken—there’s always something to rankle you. And if you’re already having a rotten day (or week or life), everything seems to take on an even bleaker hue under that dim fluorescent lighting, as you’re hemmed in by humans not of your choosing. This condition is what inspired Victor Vasquez, a conductor on the No. 1 Broadway local, to start veering off-script last summer when making routine announcements.
“A lot of people who get on the train have a semi-depressed look on their face,” Vasquez says. “Standing under someone’s armpit, you just want to get home.”
Vasquez, who is twenty-seven, bearded and a tad heavyset, wanted to make straphangers smile with the hope that they might even pay it forward, which is the gist of one of his public service messages from his own repertoire: “Your smile might make a difference in someone else’s day. Little things count.”
Whether he’s urging good behavior—“Be nice to each other as you go down the steps”—sharing his thoughts about the weather—“Nice breeze we have tonight. Autumn finally decided to arrive”—or just pointing out your location—“Change of scenery; Harlem, everyone”—Vasquez’s casual remarks do seem to lighten the mood, as if he were joining you for the ride.
True, he’s subverting the institutional tone of those humdrum announcements that passengers mostly tune out. But he discovered that when he throws in a little friendly commentary, some ears perk right up, like mine the first time I heard him while riding downtown. Immediately, I stepped off the train, found him, and asked if he was the guy. Vasquez flashed a mischievous smile and said, “Maybe.” Then I got back on and heard a more definitive response over the PA: “Yes, I am the Batman.”
968重庆之声
每周一至周五8点56分
每天三分钟
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