Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

Note for historians — today marks the day the “podcast” concept jumped the shark:

For thousands of subway riders, it has become an essential commuting tool. Plug in the iPod, and tune out the world. Instead of that overbearing panhandler or a crackling service announcement, the possibilities for these riders range from Debussy to Death Cab for Cutie.

And now comes TransitTrax, the New York City Transit podcast.

It is perhaps an unlikely concept: messages offered by the subway system to riders who are frequently trying to avoid listening to the subway system.

But since the podcast began on June 12, more than 1,600 people have programmed their iPods or other MP3 digital music players to tune in, downloading the messages in advance. They listened 2,576 times last week to TransitTrax audio features, transit officials said.

Yesterday, those tuning in might have selected a feature on what to do if “that sickly feeling” sets in as they are about to board a train (the advice: don’t get on).

. . .

TransitTrax’s 16 daily options include features covering customer safety, transit projects, security, recent events and service changes. Its most popular feature has been “Summer Heat and the Subway,” originated during the recent heat wave, in which a senior subway engineer discussed things like the heat that air-conditioned cars throw off into subway stations.

For now, transit advocates appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach to the podcast, for which Mr. Fleuranges said little has been spent. He said the system was started with less than $2,000 of new equipment, and relies entirely on personnel of the transit system for technical support and content on the air.

“You can’t fault their good intentions,” said Neysa Pranger, a coordinator for the Straphangers Campaign. “Whether many people use it will just have to play itself out.”

Speaking of which — whatever happened to Ms. Subways?