MTA to unveil seatless train cars by the end of this year

Soon, students may have no choice but to stand on the subway once an MTA pilot program for seatless train cars begins.

If the MTA's program goes as planned, four out of 10 cars on a train will be equipped with foldable seats that will be locked during rush hour, forcing all passengers to stand.

Charles Seaton, a spokesperson for New York City Transit, said the program, if successful, will allow more people to ride the subway during crowded peak times.

The pilot was originally slated to begin in October and has already been postponed.

According to Seaton, the delay occurred because Kawasaki, the subway manufacturer, was unable to construct the foldable seats. The project will be stalled until the seats are redesigned.

"We don't have an exact date for when it will begin, but it should start before the end of the fourth quarter of this year," Seaton said.

Daniel Walkowitz, an NYU professor of social and cultural analysis, hopes the MTA will not follow through with the idea.

"What an appalling idea only a bureaucrat who does not use the subway much could imagine," Walkowitz said. "This is a poor alternative to getting money for mass transit."

While some passengers are concerned about increased cramming, others voiced their concerns for the elderly, pregnant women, the disabled, or those encumbered with packages and small children — all of whom would have to stand.

"The MTA reminds us by the sticker signs on certain seats to show courtesy to these citizens," CAS senior Linda Chen said. "I don't think it is reasonable now for the MTA to suddenly forget such a courtesy request themselves."

Theresa Peterman, 31, who is seven months pregnant, said the seatless program would likely not affect her typical subway rides.

"The one time that a person got up for me, some other man took it," Peterman said. "I think it's laughable that people are rallying behind pregnant women and the disabled now that their own comfort's being threatened. Take away the seats. I've been doing without one for a long time now."

But CAS freshman Bu Jung Kim is concerned about his hour-long commute to Flushing.

"I personally use the entire time to sleep," Kim said. "To have that taken away would be my worst nightmare."

According to Seaton, the duration of the program is undecided and will be determined using customer feedback.

Jenny Tai is a contributing writer.