‘Rate My Rat’ website outs NYC subway vermin
Not to sound like John Rocker, but I’ve met some real rats on the subway.
If it wasn't for Bernie Madoff, Mets fans could drink Heineken. (Image taken from ratfreesubways.com)
In New York City, the problem with the four-legged variety of vermin is so bad transportation workers have created a website to draw attention to the infestation.
The “Rate My Rat” website allows rider to submit pictures of “nasty” rats for a chance to win a free monthly pass. My favorite is a cute little fellow sipping on a can of beer like an addled Mets fan.
Unfortunately, NYC subway riders aren’t exactly Marlin Perkins. Recently a train was evacuated when the first ‘possum ever spotted using public transportation caused a panic, and one submitted pic depicts someone’s rotund pet.
The workers union alleges budgetary “cutbacks mean rats are back,” so the website may be designed to restore jobs instead of reducing rats, but the tactic is interesting. Maybe MARTA could fire up a similar site to rat out the most obnoxious panhandlers?
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25 comments Add your comment
MiltonMan
January 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
As an Atlantan that did a three year stint of duty in NYC, the one thing I DON”T miss is the subway rats. They werent the cute little field mice you’ll see around here. They had foot long bodies with tails to match, all in an ugly shade of grey and grotesque pink, respectively.
David Baker
January 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
If the affluent suburbs supported the entire metropolitan area, perhaps there wouldn’t be blighted areas for them to worry about. I live in an affluent metro-Atlanta neighborhood supported by MARTA. My acre of forest and flowers is quite accessible to MARTA and we wouldn’t dream of driving to the airport, or attending a sporting event by car. I don’t drive, because I’m legally blind and there are many hundreds of thousands of metro citizens who don’t drive, because they are disabled, committed to a better environment, too poor to afford a car, or just like to walk. I think, JackZack, that you are too self limiting when you choose not accept the many wonderful people who make up your community and contribute to its success. You should hop on MARTA and meet some of the wonderful folks who use it every day.
Shabootyquiqui
January 30th, 2012
2:04 pm
Yes there are some biga$$ rats (the 4 legged ones George is talking about) around the MARTA tracks. For some reason the biggest ones seem to hang out @ the Lindbergh station, I’ve seen a few there that would give my 20 pound tomcat a good fight. As for 2 legged rats and such I’ll leave that to you other social commentators.
VTnyc
January 30th, 2012
8:34 pm
While waiting for the a subway at the Garden I had a frito bag walk by me. I only saw 2 legs and a tail sticking out. I actually miss the funny things I would see on the subway.
Cat in the ATL
January 30th, 2012
10:24 pm
@JackZach, I can afford to drive a car but choose not to because I hate the traffic. I would rather not have people like you in my neighborhood.
Seems as if Sandy Springs and Dunwoody do just fine with MARTA…
The What
January 30th, 2012
10:30 pm
Marta doesn’t work. It’s always broke. Say what you want but there’s a reason why folks continue to move away from it’s reach. If you want to make a difference, make the 5 Point Marta Station the jewel of Atlanta. Make it the next Atlantic Station. Drop the housing tax in Atlanta to incentivize growth. You’ll make the money back in consumer taxes easily (Food, Gas, etc.). Atlanta is a party ready to happen, but the politics just get in the way. Million dollar home sites across the road from the Georgia Dome but with crime and taxes, they remain dilapidated rental homes. Any other city it would be a gold mine.
DS
January 30th, 2012
10:58 pm
I would love MARTA to expand. It would be great to have the convenience of using them as a DD for nights out at the High or Fox. I live in a gated neighborhood with homes priced above $500K. One thing that makes me not want MARTA near my home is, have you EVER felt safe on MARTA? Daytime or night?
DS
January 30th, 2012
10:59 pm
And… I’ve been on the Subways in NYC, and Chicago and felt completely safe.
PoorAndWatchingYou
January 30th, 2012
11:01 pm
JackZack – we’ll be coming by your neighborhood on bicycles
We will go house to house raising awareness on the fact that we are poor, sick, and homeless because people sneer at us and yell at us to get jobs but NO ONE will hire us because we have the wrong skin color.
Bipedal Joe
January 30th, 2012
11:14 pm
@JackZach – are you a car insurance salesman?
People! Quick! JackZach said we’re too poor to be brought into his area!!! That means he has MONEY! We need to line the commute of the rich to work and stand on the sidelines advertising our businesses and availability for work. If these snobs have *so much* moolah that they are snapping at us to PLEASE go away and STAY out of sight (No Mo MARTA in *huff* MY backyahd!) then let’s line their route to work. Make things a bit uncomfortable to shove that nasty attitude RIGHT back in his face.
THREE people decide for over half a million others whether good transportation gets expanded. Money talks, so should the poor. The poor should make themselves visible and in-your-face. Only when the rich are uncomfortable do they EVER change.
Ready for Change 2012.