Ep 3. Metropolitan Transit

In this episode of Pretend It's a City, famed writer and New York City icon Fran Lebowitz takes viewers on a journey through the city's metropolitan transit system. With her signature wit and humor, Lebowitz shares her experiences and observations of the city's subway system, including the various characters she encounters and the unique challenges that come with navigating the underground world.

Lebowitz begins by discussing her love-hate relationship with the subway system, expressing both frustration and admiration for its efficiency and accessibility. She recounts her earliest memories of riding the subway as a child, and how the system has changed over the years.

Throughout the episode, Lebowitz interacts with various subway riders and employees, including a subway performer who impresses her with his musical skills and a Train Operator who shares insights into the mechanics of operating a subway car. Lebowitz also discusses the challenges faced by riders with disabilities and the ways in which the transit system could be improved to better serve their needs.

Lebowitz's observations of subway etiquette provide some of the episode's most humorous moments, as she shares her annoyance with riders who fail to observe basic subway etiquette like standing clear of doors and offering up their seats to pregnant women or the elderly. She also discusses the city's distinctive subway smell, which she describes as a unique blend of garbage, urine, and capitalism.

As the episode progresses, Lebowitz reflects on the ways in which the subway system embodies the city's spirit of diversity and communal living. She notes the way in which the subway brings together people from all walks of life and facilitates a sense of collective experience that can be hard to find in other parts of modern society.

Overall, Metropolitan Transit is a humorous and insightful exploration of one of New York City's most iconic features. Through Fran Lebowitz's unique perspective, viewers gain a deeper appreciation for the subway system and the many complex systems that make the city run.