[DoreenMichele]

HN is a US-cetric forum. Americans are bad about being oblivious to the existence of anything outside the US. New York is, by far, the largest US city and one of the oldest. It is hugely influential here and has essentially legendary status in the minds of many Americans. To most Americans, New York is kind of The big city and symbolizes anything and everything urban. I am not sure if we even have subways elsewhere (which just may be my own ignorance showing). If we do, they wouldn't be as extensive.

[chimeracoder]

> I am not sure if we even have subways elsewhere (which just may be my own ignorance showing). If we do, they wouldn't be as extensive.

There are subways in other US cities, but nowhere near as extensive. One-third of all subway stations in the entire country are within New York City itself.

New York City has more subway stations than any other subway system in the world, and that's not counting the non-subway transit (commuter rail, PATH, etc.)

[totalZero]

> Americans are bad about being oblivious to the existence of anything outside the US.

That seems like a pretty hefty generalization.

> I am not sure if we even have subways elsewhere (which just may be my own ignorance showing).

Maybe you should visit nearby Boston, DC, or Philadelphia.

[crazygringo]

The NYC subway is seen in TV shows, movies, it's part of the national consciousness.

Have you ever seen a movie or TV show which depicted the Boston, DC or Philly metros?

Most New Yorkers you know will not have cars. Most people you know in Boston, DC or Philly will.

[pmalynin]

Actually yea, I saw a Netflix show that had a scene in the subway in LA. The show was about Hollywood writers or something, can't recall the name.

[derivagral]

The people I know in Boston/Somerville/Cambridge avoid having a car due to how irritating it is. I had one while living in the city (family reasons), but if I had the option I would've happily ditched it.

[chimeracoder]

> The people I know in Boston/Somerville/Cambridge avoid having a car due to how irritating it is.

Anecdotal stories notwithstanding, New York is the only city in the country in which the outright majority of people don't own cars. (D.C. is a very distant second).

[philliphaydon]

When ever I hear about NYC subway i instantly picture the photos on imgur.

[seanmcdirmid]

LA has a subway with a couple of lines.

[asteli]

I've lived in California all my life and was somehow ignorant of this fact. Apparently it does exist, although the bulk of the Urban Rail system is light rail, not grade separated. Daily ridership is somewhere around 360K (not bad honestly!) vs. SF Muni at 660K and NYC at 5.7MM.

[seanmcdirmid]

The light rail isn't that bad as far as traffic goes: it isn't grade separated, but its not in the street either (e.g. to Santa Monica). The two subway lines I'm referring to (red and purple) are actually subway lines though (vs. the Expo line which is basically light rail). Living in LA, I actually never had a chance to ride any of these routes.

[neoncontrails]

I started wondering if I even needed to steal cars in GTA5: the Metro was such a convenient way to get around downtown pseudo-LA.