NEW YORK — The New York City subway system opened to the public 120 years ago Sunday , and over the course of those decades , it has transformed neighborhoods.
The subway can create identities within communities and, for some, it can be a lifeline to other parts of the city.
“The L train is like a unicorn”
Nathan Blake, a Brooklyn resident and photographer, has an enthusiastic perspective on the subway.
“From the sounds of the R211 acceleration, from the rackling subway cars, it’s amazing. It gives that adrenaline rush,” he said.
CBS News New York’s Elijah Westbrook caught up with Blake at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Downtown Brooklyn, where he sometimes works. They took the journey to Blake’s home stop – Rockaway Parkway on the L train, the southern end point on the line.
“It is a transit desert … because in the vicinity, it’s mostly bus rapid transit,” Blake said.
It was about a 35-minute ride from Downtown Brooklyn. When they arrived, it was clear they had transcended in a different neighborhood. Canarsie is surrounded by Jamaica Bay to the south and east, offers a mix of housing, and is also home to a diverse community of residents.