Editorial, Opinion

EDITORIAL: The MBTA is a public amenity — bring on the Christmas trees

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority slithers across Boston in a convoluted manner. It is not necessarily linear or graphed but rather just scattered, mirroring the bizarre iterations of expansion this city has undergone. Because it reaches into some of the farthest corners of Boston, and then beyond the city limits, to the outlying suburbs, the MBTA is the only mode of transportation for many. The T exists for the Boston public, despite what some may believe when swiping a CharlieCard.

On Friday, a Reddit thread went viral bemoaning the presence of a Christmas tree on the Red Line, which cuts through the heart of Boston. As explained in a Friday Boston Globe article, the actual rule of toting festive flora on the public transportation system is unclear.

“We ask that people exercise common sense when using the subway system,” MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in an e-mail to the Globe.

The Globe itself had a suggestion for those irked by the presence of holiday cheer, closing the article with the statement of, “So, riders, if you see [someone] with a tree, maybe it’s best to turn that holiday cheer on high, and let it go, let it go, let it go.”

Though seemingly insignificant, this instance brings to light several fundamental roles the MBTA plays for Boston residents.

For many, as stated above, the MBTA is the only way to get from Point A to Point B, besides walking. As such, perhaps the only way they could bring the tree home is on the MBTA. Certainly, the person in the photo could have theoretically found an alternative way to bring the tree home, but also, what if they couldn’t?

It’s very easy to brush off those who use public transportation as a their primary option for transportation as having other options, but something to remember, particularly in the holiday season, is that many do not have that option for financial or other reasons.

When it comes to bringing excessive baggage on the T, trees or luggage or otherwise, other riders on the train almost always do not have the right to judge that individual. To begin, the individual subjected his or herself to this public experience. Whether we like it or not, the T is a public amenity where there is a very low barrier for entry. As such, weird situations are bound to happen. If dealing with a Christmas tree on board is the most bizarre thing encountered during your MBTA travels, then bravo.

Regarding what exactly can be brought on the T, it is not Joe Pesaturo’s right to dictate a list of items, arboreal or otherwise. This certainly isn’t condoning complacency when it comes to bringing threatening objects on the T, but things like strollers, bikes and luggage need to be addressed.

It is also highly ironic that administrators of the MBTA are advising residents to “exercise common sense” when many decisions made by those same administrators do not adhere to the realm of “common sense.” From corruption allegations to random service interruptions, the MBTA most definitely does not operate with “common sense.”

For bikes, in particular, a better, more uniform system needs to be implemented. Like public transportation systems, many of those who cannot afford other options turn to bikes, especially to extend past the reaches of the main MBTA lines. By eliminating bikes from the Green Line and Mattapan Trolley, the T is not serving residents in the best possible way. Yes, they are cumbersome and perhaps disruptive, but other transportation systems have addressed this, and it is time for the T to do the same.

Strollers are similarly large and perhaps invasive of personal space. Yet, what is a parent to do? Leave the child behind? As mentioned above, this is a perfect example of the intersection of the public and private spheres that occur on public transportation. By allowing anyone to ride for a small fee, aspects of private lives are inevitably brought into the public, where they intersect with other private lives. While fascinating, we must be considerate of this overlap and think of public transportation as it was designed.

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One Comment

  1. “a Reddit thread went viral bemoaning the presence of a Christmas tree on the Red Line’

    That’s not actually accurate. The OP on reddit clarified in the comments that he or she was posting the picture because the scene was unusual, not a nuisance, and most people seemed to agree. While the pretext of this editorial is based on a false narrative, the message is still very applicable and relevant.