New Yorkers begged rides on the Internet, dusted off their bikes and put on their skates on Wednesday in the battle to beat a mass transit strike that has hit business and raised tempers at the height of the holidays.
"I am a fifth grade teacher, and I need to get to my class!" read one posting on www.craigslist.com seeking a ride from the Bronx to Brooklyn. "Anyone driving from the Met to Brooklyn tonight?" read another message from somebody hoping not to waste their tickets to the Metropolitan Opera on Wednesday evening.
The bus and subway strike by some 34,000 transit workers is New York's first for 25 years. Staff walked out on Tuesday after talks on pay, healthcare and pensions broke down.
Todd X (correct), a 36-year-old bicycle mechanic, said his shop, Bicycle Habitat on Lafayette St. in Manhattan, stayed open an extra 3 hours on Tuesday to cope with the extra work tuning up old bikes. "We're getting a lot of flat tires, mostly on decrepit pieces of garbage that people unearth from the basement at the last possible moment," he said.
Rudi Hiebert, a 42-year old medical researcher, said the lack of subways was a good excuse for him to brave the cold and get back on his in-line skates, unused for over a year.
Officials have said the strike will cost the city $400 million on day one and $300 million a day until Friday.
Two local tabloids showed little sympathy for the strikers. "Mad As Hell" the Daily News screamed on its front page. The New York Post had this message for strikers: "You Rats."
With temperatures below freezing despite bright sunshine, commuters wrapped up in hats, scarves and gloves trudged long distances to work. Some were lucky enough to hail cabs that were charging fixed rates and picking up multiple passengers.
Police enforced strict car-pool rules during morning rush hour, leading to huge traffic jams above 96th St, from where vehicles needed at least four occupants to proceed downtown.
Traffic also piled beyond the many bridges and tunnels that feed traffic in from outlying areas. Bicycle rickshaws touted for business on major avenues, and ferries were packed.
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