Honda X-4Riding Sun

Motorcycles and other stuff from a New Yorker living in Tokyo
Why don't I just take the subway to work? Because I can't be sure Wesley Autrey will be around if I fall on the tracks. The New York Times reports:
Mr. Autrey was waiting for the downtown local at 137th Street and Broadway in Manhattan around 12:45 p.m. He was taking his two daughters, Syshe, 4, and Shuqui, 6, home before work.

Nearby, a man collapsed, his body convulsing. Mr. Autrey and two women rushed to help, he said. The man, Cameron Hollopeter, 20, managed to get up, but then stumbled to the platform edge and fell to the tracks, between the two rails.

The headlights of the No. 1 train appeared. “I had to make a split decision,” Mr. Autrey said.

So he made one, and leapt.

Mr. Autrey lay on Mr. Hollopeter, his heart pounding, pressing him down in a space roughly a foot deep. The train’s brakes screeched, but it could not stop in time.

Five cars rolled overhead before the train stopped, the cars passing inches from his head, smudging his blue knit cap with grease. Mr. Autrey heard onlookers’ screams. “We’re O.K. down here,” he yelled, “but I’ve got two daughters up there. Let them know their father’s O.K.” He heard cries of wonder, and applause.
Here's Wesley on the Late Show with David Letterman:


Check out the computer simulation of the rescue at the end, with the train cars whizzing by a mere inch or two above Wesley's head. Amazing.
Posted by GaijinBiker on 01.07.2007 at 1:46am
Topics: Motorcycles, New York, Train Troubles
DavesWagon (www):
Yes, but if you're prone to seizures, I don't think a motorcycle will be much of an improvement.
1.7.2007 5:13am
langtry (mail):
Did you see Mr. Autrey at the State of The Union address? He was President Bush's special guest and received kudos during the speech for exemplifying what is good about America &Americans.
1.31.2007 1:59am
Account:
Password:
Remember info?
COMMENTS POLICY:
A user account is required to post comments. If you do not have an account, please feel free to create one. Accounts with obscene or offensive user names will be rejected.

I always have time for a well-articulated opposing viewpoint, thoughtfully and politely expressed in good faith.

However, I have no time for name calling, personal attacks, rudeness, or other types of hostile behavior, whether directed at me or at other commenters.

Therefore, comments I find to be rude, abusive, profane, annoying, or otherwise inappropriate may be deleted. Comments may also be deleted if they are redundant or off-topic.

The maximum comment length is 3,000 characters. Longer comments broken into multiple parts to circumvent this policy will be deleted. If your comment is too long, please edit it down, link to the full text on your own blog, or both.

Listed below are links to blogs or other websites which have notified this blog that they've posted something which links to Why I commute by motorcycle, pt. 64. This is an automatically generated list and the presence of any link on this list should not be construed as an endorsement of them.