When Jody Avirgan heard this story about what might just be the city’s longest subway trip you could possibly take without riding the same segment twice, he knew it was his calling. The route was discovered by someone’s browser using the Subwaytron5000 (see below). This is the route we gave him.
Hello from Far Rockaway, where I begin my trek for @WNYC to ride the longest route possible on the MTA. 11hrs or so. pic.twitter.com/Aye1IImbrI
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
Besides not manspreading or hogging the pole or any of that nonsense, Jody had just three rules:
1. Only emerge to use the bathroom.
2. All meals must be foraged from the on-platform bodegas.
3. No selfies.
Bonus rule: love yourself.
Very first thing I see when I get on the train. Lovely. Of course, it’s next to this ad. pic.twitter.com/YqzGvMY21U
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
Just imagine how nice the subway system will be if he keeps riding for another 455,670 hours.
Can confirm. When you start to really look at the infrastructure it’s kinda frightening. pic.twitter.com/QcHapAbiOc
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
The great subway journey does not mean staying underground.
Utrecht-62nd transfer is the funnest so far. Nice breeze, pretty short, cool fence. pic.twitter.com/x8VVI8RX1J
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
Showtime, ladies and gentlemen.
Joined a showtime crew on the N, upped my hat game, but got kicked out as we crossed into Queens. It’s for the best. We still keep in touch.
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
It’s mutual.
I’ve always had a soft spot for these guys. pic.twitter.com/lzOTABhfRR
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
We hear train-delay announcements occasionally. Jody’s been hearing them all day.
Reasons for delay I’ve heard from conductors. Overall a very smooth day (he says as he rattles back to TimesSq @ 5pm) pic.twitter.com/ugU0rKWP4q
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 3, 2015
Nearing the end!
Even after 13 hours, the thrill of catching your transfer just in time never wears off.
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 4, 2015
Mission accomplished!
Okay, @datanews, there you have it. 154.6 miles, 54 transfers. 13hrs 48mins. The MTA is a wondrous thing. pic.twitter.com/ktsSW7efhv
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) September 4, 2015
And if you’d like to try your hand at finding an even longer route, give the Subwaytron5000 a spin. No guarantee we can get Jody to ride it, though!
Segment distances are calculated based on Steven Romaleski’s MTA shapefiles.One Man Rode the Longest Known Subway Route. Here’s How It Went. – The Brian Lehrer Show – WNYC.
