How to Organize Civil Resistance in the Subways?

December 18, 2008 6:09 AM

I'm considering organizing resistance to the proposed fare increases in the New York city subway system. What do you think would work and how would you implement it?
posted by dskinner to society & culture (12 answers total)

If you work at it, and if enough relevant people care, you could try setting up a group/event on Facebook. Also put up posters/hand out flyers around the subway stations. Set a date for a protest.
posted by jhighmore at 6:26 AM on December 18, 2008

Not really an answer, but: I'd go. You'd have to get a permit, probably. And then I'd send out press releases to the NYC-centric blogs. (Curbed, Brownstoner, etc.)
posted by pipti at 6:54 AM on December 18, 2008

Several small scale (or not) rallies at major subway stations where you pass out pamphlets and information about the proposed fair hikes. Send it out to listservs, activist networks, everything. Are you asking on what to do or how to promote it...?
posted by saxamo at 7:28 AM on December 18, 2008

I think there needs to be a mix of web presence and in person/dead tree material about your cause. Partner with straphangers if possible (although if you're going for civil unrest, they may be too conservative in action for you).

When have a website/blog/online network established, you can post it to projects and send press releases to NYC blog (gothamist, gawker) and magazines (NY Mag, TONY). Also, don't forget smaller papers. I'm talking about community weeklies and the like.

(PS, check your metafiltermail)
posted by piratebowling at 7:55 AM on December 18, 2008

This may sound entirely obvious but: try to locate, communicate with, and organize with other individuals and groups possibly already working to attract support.

• WBAI's evening news program has run stories on this and assuredly will continue to do so; they often interview activists from various community groups and announce related events.
• Some recent articles (like 1, 2) also have reported on various people arguing for critical expressions at public hearings scheduled for January (including Hilary Ring, the MTA's director of government affairs) and afterward.
• If all else fails you could throw a shoe at the MTA's chief executive (or at least threaten to). It's all the rage, you know.

posted by yz at 8:06 AM on December 18, 2008

I would touch base with Transportation Alternatives to see if they can help. Contact me if you want to know who to get in touch with over there.
posted by hermitosis at 8:26 AM on December 18, 2008

Hire The Kingston Trio to write a song about it.
posted by Andy's Gross Wart at 8:32 AM on December 18, 2008

I second or third: http://www.straphangers.org

Can you show us a timeline of fare increases since 1910 (or whenever)? I understand it cost a nickel for quite some time --AND THERE WAS A REASON FOR THAT.
posted by ezekieldas at 8:36 AM on December 18, 2008

Set up a free riding insurance fund. We have one here in sweden and it is working very well so far on a pretty large scale. See this for more details on how it works.

Also I belive that the people behind planka.nu would be happy to help you with their experience if you are interested in this.
posted by ilike at 10:13 AM on December 18, 2008

Write a letter to your representative explaining why you believe fares should not be raised.

Write letters to the news directors of all the tv, radio and newspapers explaining why the fare shouldn't be raised.
posted by gjc at 5:41 PM on December 18, 2008

Go on strike. More Train Less Strain was the organisation behind that protest.
posted by Helga-woo at 3:27 AM on December 19, 2008

Thanks to all for these comments. I've considered the Planka model. The problem is that New York subway turnstiles are not well-suited for a Planka system. The turnstiles in Stockholm are easily to skootch around. My main focus is on organizing massive fare evasion. Since turnstile jumping would be a mostly individualistic activity, I'm steering towards gathering groups of people together at pre-set times to go in through emergency exists on the day the fare hikes start. Any thoughts on the logistics of a scheme like this would be appreciated. Maybe a web-based system for linking up evaders, etc.
posted by dskinner at 5:05 AM on December 19, 2008