Nineteenth Century Solutions

Streetsblog notes the North Carolina congressman who is bravely speaking out against delusional Luddites righteously astride their velocipedes and their draisines and what have you. The patriot has perfect timing: On Wednesday in particular, New Yorkers surely regarded these preposterous penny farthings as but a barnacle on the dinghy of the daily commute. At left: Mr. and the Lady BIB en route to midtown.

The Aftermath

Photo by AngryCitizen.org Gowanus Lounge has images and reporting of the terrible damage caused by the (tornado-level?) storm in Bay Ridge. Gridskipper has more, and here's a Flickr stream of Brooklyn storm photos.

The Day the Trains Stood Still

A quiet hero of the 8/8 Total Transport Meltdown, Isaac Josephson (far left) convinced the driver of a double-decker tour bus to bring him and 30-some other stranded Brooklyn commuters (including Friend of BIB Julia Cheiffetz, near left) to midtown today. Isaac reports:

“After two hours of milling around the Flatbush/Atlantic area, waiting for the trains to work, I started to walk home. About six blocks off Flatbush on 6th Avenue, I ran into the tourist bus stopped at a red light. I knocked on his door, asked if he was going into Manhattan, and if he would give me a ride.

“At first, he said he wasn't sure. The light changed, and he started driving. I chased him for three blocks, pleading at every light before he let me on. When we got to Flatbush, I shouted from the top, ‘Anyone want to go to Times Square?’

“Yep, best commute ever.”

More photos from the crush at Flatbush/Atlantic are below, and here’s a slide show.