Im with the NYPPA and NPPA. Both organizations intend to vigorously fight the ban on subway photography. Censorship is a slippery slope threatens us all and it the main point of terrorism - to effect our freedom. We are with you in this fight and will have our own petition as well.
in reality, the MTA can not pass such a bill into thier code of conduct because the MTA dosn't own the system, i belongs to the average joe whos fairs and Tax dollars are spent every day on kepping the system up and runing
I appreciate the need to keep our city safe and am glad that you are thinking about ways to do so. My belief is that a ban on cameras on the subway is not an effective way though. Certainly you will devise a more effective plan.
This ban must now be allowed to pass, which is why I signed the petition. We are unfairly being targeted as people who will cause destruction which is simply not true.
All these photobands & the "Sorry, you cant be taking pictures" bullcrap is obsurd. I thought this is suppose to be the United States of America, we suppose to have life, liberty, freedom, and the persuit of happiness. Sometimes I feel like im not in the USA at all. I think this photo ban is a total waste of time. Concentrate on other things like the education system, keeping drugs off the street, child abduction, womens rights & their right to choose, gay rights, illegal immigration, etc. It just sickens me to my stomach that I cant even take a picture without being questioned or "tarmacked". Transportation is a hobby that I and a whole lot of people ( worldwide ) have cherished and respected for a long time. We are not a threat to society. Transportation is so filled with history, such as other things that we live, work, and play around. Without cameras, how else are we suppose to document history and express our love & art for transit? Without history, how are we suppose to educate the youth of tomorrow? If it weren't for camera manufacturers (Canon, Minolta, Olympus, Pentax, HP, and others ) .. .I dont think there wouldnt be any other way to document history. Example : Several transit fans in Los Angeles county have or are constantly working on exciting newsletters & thick booklets about transit agencies, not only in California, but all over the US. They are filled with pictures and knowledge of the transportation history...a part of history that we anticipate will be passed down to future generations and a vital source of finding out what is happening today. Think about it ! later down the road, children will wonder "Whatever happened to Amtrak, why was no government funding to save them?" or "why were those old cars in NY called redbirds and are there any pictures?" Several of these newsletters have been distributed to the LACMTA Transit Library &, and are also popular among the people that view them but also for th
After 9/11, we were told to go about our lives doing everything the same. Any changes to our daily routines due to 9/11 would mean that the terrorists have won. This would be the first such change!
If you think about it, a photo ban could actually be unsafe for riders and workers! I've seen some photos of deplorable conditions in some of NYC's subway stations (see www.forgotten-ny.com). Without these pictures, unsafe areas could get even worse! There's more to the proposed ban than one may think, in my humble opinion.
Stop the ban!
Oh, BTW, I took pictures of the old Rockaway Beach branch of the LIRR when I was in NYC last week (these will be submitted to oldNYC.com) to show how much the MTA actually wastes by abandoning infrastructure and letting it waste away.
I'm not an avid railfan or a rail-photo buff, but there are many, many avid railfans worldwide out there and their numbers continue to grow, and they will never be stopped from pursuing their hobby. If we've ever enjoyed seeing old railroad photos, we have them to thank. They should be encouraged.
The security risk stems from not having the ability to catch life on camera, not having that ability. The First Amendment is a tricky thing, but this seems outrageous.
If I am putting my country at risk, I am willing to reduce that risk by surrendering my collection of rail related phtographs I have taken over the last 50 or so years. I believe this would be a patriotic act.
Stupid..why? So pictures can't be published about the disgusting conditions? If a terrorist wants to commit an act in the subway...he doesn't use a camera to do it!
I don't claim to know the terrorists or thier methods. However, common sense says that if they could be thwarted by a photography ban the world would be a better place already. Fans of NYC history have stood by its said and in some cases helped with the rejuvination of the city and its newfound status as an architectural wonderland for America. Don't restrict access to the very people that were part of a seemingly limited number of people that loved the subway as much in 1975 as they do now.
Tourists come to NY and ride subways. Our transit system is great (although sometimes less than sparkling clean). Let tourists take photos. It is part of the NY exerience.
I've been a subway rider since I was 8 years old - commuting between 125th St. in Harlem to 86th St. where I attended night school. Once I started High School I commuted between 125th St. to 42nd St. (I went to Central Commercial High). When I started working (1962) I took subways from 82nd St. in Elmhurst to 42nd St. Hey,half of my life has been on the NYC subway system and if someone wishes to take a photo - GO AHEAD.
I used to ride the subway every day when I lived in NYC. Now that I live in a different state, people ask me what it was like to ride the subway. There is no possible way to explain this without photos.
Please focus your security measures on somewhere other than harming an activity that transit enthusiasts like myself enjoy. The NYCT Bus and Subway system is a slice of life and I enjoy photographing the different stations, architectural styles, and motive power.
Please do not ban photos on buses and subways. I feel that is a kneejerk reaction to a more serious threat of terrorism that should be combated by some other method than this.
Thank your for your time.
Sincerely,
David Abbey
Queens Village, NY
Do not give in to the fear mongering and paranoia of our current administration. Please do not contribute to the curtailing of our civil liberties in the name of security. New York City is supposed to be where Americans come to express themselves and to appreciate the artitic expressions of others. Do not strangle the economy and reputation of our city by enacting unenforceble rules that cause more ill will than feelings of security.
I feel that people should be able to take photos of the transit system if they like. If the transit authority is ashamed of the state of their stations, then they should do something about it, instead of declaring a ban on photography, so that people won't see a visual record of the long-standing neglect.
It is not necessary to prevent individuals from taking picture of subways, buses, and trains, as well as hard to detect. I hope that this proposal does not go through, otherwise I will be arrested for taking a picture of someone standing near a bus.
I think that this photography ban is stupid. What is it gonna protect? If the terrorist wanted a transit structure, all they have to do is call the information center and get the info they wanted. This is only taking away more from are everyday freedoms which is getting taken from us more and more. If you let this ban happen, your letting the terrorist win the battle we are fighting!!
New Yorkers have to deal with a lot of annoying things (i.e. fare hikes), but this photography ban is just rediculous. You won't be stopping terrorists but just hassling regular people (not only railfans) who just want to take and share pictures, maybe even make an artistic or political statement (you're not hiding anything, are you?). Photography, sharing beautiful sights is a freedom we ought to be able to enjoy. If anything, photography encourages appreciation for the subway, but this ban will definately not enhance our appreciation for the MTA.
