hahaha I do this EVERYDAY!! Its challenging, and requires you to know the general feel for that particular train/stations. I've even come up with certain body forms and techniques to deal with what I call "side to side" and "frequent start/stop" trains.

We used to challenge each other by forming an 'O' with your hands around one of the vertical poles. If your hand touches the pole at any point, that meant you were out.

Guess for each portion of a line, you could assign green / blue / black to rate the difficulty of staying up during that ride. As Christopher above stated, some lines w/ turns / frequent stops would definitely be blue or black.

Totally! Also, did you ever try looking at the car in front of you? It's a great way to inform you on what to do next (sort of like when you're boarding down the mountain and looking at what the trail has to offer).

Anyway, I envision this app to also help motivate people in exploring different train lines in search of a harder challenge. This was actually an idea I had during my thesis exploration. You can find more of it here: http://genelu.com/2010/09/snowboarding-in-the-subway-2nd-thesis-idea/.

haha, I had always entertained this idea of surfing other train lines, but I guess I'm not surprised that there are others who have given it considerable thought! Concise thesis, by the way. I like the concept of the Wii board, but any additional step (especially hardware, and on top of that the need to hack) is an additional barrier to adoption, though by no means does it discount the concept.

I almost see this as a SCVNGR-like game layer specifically for the train system. In fact, this concept has a parallel to my submission here: http://bit.ly/iXM2H4
While it is, granted, a much less sexy, fun version of what Gene has initially proposed, the underlying concept is the same -- is there a way to change/modify/gamify behavior of commuters, whether for fun or for efficiency that can contribute to a greater good? This has been a constant problem I have been looking to solve, but its quite the massive one.

Oh, by the way. I vote the most difficult "trainboard" ever: L train between 1st ave and Bedford. I have to gloat though -- with enough room, I've done it! =)

Chris, I don't know if that compares to the turn at the Queensboro Bridge going into Queens on the N/Q (rated: double black diamond).

haha, well, theres only one way to find out, right? Build this app! Gene, let me know if you want to get together in person to toss around some ideas further. I'd also be interested in learning some more about the work you've done in your portfolio.

That's a great idea... For a GAME - NOT something people who actually have real LIVES here NEED.

I'm NOT being sarcastic - well, slightly. But, as I said; it's game material. Why not go build that yourself? See if you get any takers...

Rock n Roll - Check out this cool [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g3ad-t1f_I&feature=related]Rock n Roll[/url] . This guy is an unknown rock [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g3ad-t1f_I&feature=related]guitar master[/url]. Just check out the video if you dont believe me. If you like rock n roll or a beautiful melody, you will love like these videos.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g3ad-t1f_I&feature=related]Rock n Roll[/url]