[handwarmers]

This type of pseudo-intellectual skepticism seems typical for HN, but the truth is that the NYC subway is an absolute horror show compared to the subway systems of equally or more corrupt European/Chinese cities.

I am actually baffled that this is even up for debate... Have you seen/smelled the NYC subway? Yes, it's NYC's most used public utility other than perhaps water and electricity, but people use it despite its qualities.

[lolinder]

I'm not questioning that NYC's subway is a disaster. Yes, I've spent time in it and have spent time in a few specific European subways and am well aware of the difference.

I'm all for questioning why NYC's subway is worse than London's. I just think that questioning why "cities in Europe and China can afford all this stuff and we (Americans) can’t" is a bad framing: it's so general as to be meaningless and perpetuates misleading stereotypes about both sides of the pond.

The fact at hand is that NYC specifically is a deeply corrupt and extremely filthy city by any standard, European or American.