Using Facebook to Fight F/G Suspensions

In the midst of snow and ice storms, Slope straphangers are reluctantly adjusting to the long-term service suspensions on the 15th Street F and G trains. 

But one local is resident says that doesn't have to be the case.

Windsor Terrace resident Sima Golden, 34, hopes to use Facebook to organize community efforts and put pressure on the MTA to either extend service of the B68 bus to Seventh Avenue, as Councilmember Brad Lander has , or provide shuttle bus service from Bartel Prichard Square to Seventh Avenue.

“My hope now is to get the MTA to just pay attention to the fact that this is unacceptable to do this without extending the B68 or shuttle buses,” said Golden. “There should be shuttle buss at least running to the F/G on Seventh Avenue.”

Last week Golden started a Facebook group called “Take a Stand during F/G Renovations!” which has since attracted 40 members.

Though last week Councilmember Brad Lander hit the agency with a petition to extend the B68 signed by 1,238 Brooklyn straphangers, the agency still has not responded to Lander’s office.  Golden hopes her Facebook page will “get the ball rolling” and put pressure on the MTA and local politicians to address the issue more effectively.

“People are starting to get used to the commute, so there is less of a movement. I want to keep the movement going,” said Golden. “People shouldn’t get use to it. We’re paying for this city service and we’re not getting what we deserve.”

Due to rehabilitation work on the Culver Viaduct, northbound train service at both 15th Street-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Parkway is suspended until May, along with other .

The B68 extension or shuttle service would give stranded straphangers at both stations an alternative to walking to Seventh Avenue or heading southbound first in order to doubleback and catch northbound trains.

Deidre Parker, a spokesperson for the MTA, said that the agency could not comment on either Lander’s petition or the possibility of shuttle buses as both issues are still under discussion.

Parker did, however, emphasize that the agency added a “permanent limited stop” to the B35 at Ocean Parkway near the Church Avenue stop, though it is unclear how this might help F and G train riders as the bus runs up Church Avenue.

According to Parker, the MTA is also working to “produce customer information for Windsor Terrace residents about their bus options” and is “prepared to add supplemental service to the B61 if necessary.”

Golden said that the changes have only added an extra 10 minutes to her commute to Long Island University in Fort Greene. Instead of doubling back, she walks from her 15th Street apartment to the G train at Eighth Avenue, but adds that she initially chose her apartment to begin with because of the proximity to trains.

For now, Golden just hopes more folks will log-on to Facebook and join her e-movement.

“I just want an answer from the MTA as to why they won’t provide these shuttle buses,” she said. “We just hope someone at the MTA will buck up and hear us out.”