You ain't gonna believe this about the MTA
So look, you know I ride the rails more than a train conductor, right? The 7 train, the Q, the L — that’s my office commute, my grocery run, my whole life. And you know the MTA, bless its heart, ain't exactly known for being on the cutting edge of tech. I mean, half the time, my train's delayed because of "signal issues," which I'm pretty sure is code for "a pigeon flew into the third rail." But here's the thing, they just rolled out a new bus simulator to train drivers, and deadass, it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Janno Lieber, the MTA big shot, was over at the Zerega Testing Center in the Bronx checking it out.
Here’s the Deal
It's not just some fancy video game, nah. This thing is designed to mimic every single wild, unpredictable thing that can happen on the streets of New York City. Imagine this: * Pedestrians jaywalking like they own the street (because, you know, they kinda do). * Delivery trucks double-parked on a narrow street in Flushing. * Sudden downpours that turn the West Side Highway into a slip 'n slide.
They're throwing everything at these new drivers, making sure they're ready for the chaos that is navigating a bus through, say, Canal Street at rush hour, or dodging a rogue hot dog stand near Grand Army Plaza. It's about getting these folks prepped for real New York City driving, the kind of driving that makes you wanna pull your hair out, but also makes you the best damn driver in the world.
That’s New York — if you can’t keep up, take the bus. And now, at least our bus drivers are gonna be ready for whatever this city throws at 'em.
The morning crew is talking about this and more. Catch 'em live at mornings.live.