Night Country

  It's always night in the subway. No matter what time of day it is the lighting does not change. That is one of the reasons that I like spending so much time down there.

  The city and the SEPTA transit agency have tried to turn the subway and concourse tunnels into daytime by installing overly bright LED lighting. They wrongfully think that by blinding people with this white light that crime will be deterred. But all the security cameras don't even come close to accomplishing that. The worst crime is committed in the most brightly lit, most watched station on the line. So trying to turn night into day is not the answer.

  The warm yellow-orange glow and the hum from the tube florescent lights have almost completely vanished. When ever I stop at a station that still has them, I sit, watch and listen for awhile. Even when I go to New York City I will walk four blocks out of my way to use such a station.