“The Sprint,” one of the many ways the G train keeps you fit. Photo by mili005 on Instagram

You might think that the subway isn’t the healthiest way to get around, what with all the sitting and TERRIFYING MICROBES. And usually that’s the case, unless of course you live on the G train. In which case, with the help of the Riders Alliance and years of neglect from the MTA, you’ll be running, sprinting and hiking until you’re as fit as you were in college. Or, whenever you were most in shape:

Then again, if you only want to keep exercise where it belongs, in terrible terrible gyms, you could check out the Riders Alliance and see how you can get involved with their push for better transit.

TMBG: Can’t keep Johnnies down

1. Learn to make macrame plant holders, for all those plants you own, at Brooklyn Launchpad (Monday)

2. Or head to St. Vitus and learn what life is like for a black woman who spends her life hanging out in the metal scene, a subject Laina Dawes wrote a book about. Wonder if she thinks Slayer rules? (Monday)

3. Head to Branded, drink a couple beers, hang out with the Riders Alliance and make plans to put pressure on the MTA for better service after you’ve head a couple more beers (Tuesday)

4. Triangle man fights particle man in a lyrical smack down as They Might Be Giants play a free show at Academy Records (Tuesday) (more…)

Everyone wants a piece of it. via Flickr user gmpicket

Transit nerds across the city rejoiced today, because the MTA released 2012′s ridership figures today. Data, precious data! What are some things we should care about here? Weekday ridership went up 1.8% from 2011, which is why you struggled to find a seat two out of every seven days you rode the train. Also, Atlantic Av-Pacific Street (nope, not calling it Barclays) was the busiest station in all of Brooklyn, moving an astounding 11.5 million people through its turnstiles. And last but not least, the G train had the biggest increase in ridership out of all the lines in the system. Suck on that, 2 train! (more…)

Study hard, guys, study hard. via Flickr user The Eyes of New York

The Riders Alliance has been working tirelessly to publicize the plight of the humble G train rider, from the lack of reasonable transfers to insane service disruptions to waiting for 100 days and 100 nights for the train to show up on a weekend. According to the Daily News, the MTA finally heard your cries and has promised action. Are they going to increase service? Give you a transfer between the G and the J? Even better: they’ve commissioned a study! (more…)

It’s a noble train, yes it is. via Flickr user gmpicket

We’ve got to hand it to the Riders Alliance: they want better service on the G train just like you and I do, but instead of drunkenly bitching about it on the platform late at night, they’ve been out on the streets fighting for it. It looks like their push is gaining momentum, because after holding a meeting and petitioning about it, they’re taking the next, funnest step in public advocacy: they’re holding a rally, what with the chants and the signs and the feeling of bonhomie, this Sunday. (more…)

You don’t have to resort to anything this desperate…yet. Photo via Flickr user deltacbravo

If you’ve spent any time standing on a G train platform and staring down the tunnel, wondering where the hell the train is, we’ve got a way for you to make a dent in the waiting game. Fresh off their meeting to sketch out plans for getting better G service, the Riders Alliance is taking things to the streets this weekend with a petition drive. (more…)