The end of New York's pay phones
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The reading
The end is coming for New York's public pay phones. New York City officials say workers are currently removing all public pay phones from the city's streets. Pay phones used to be everywhere in the city - on every street corner and in every park and public place. Engineers have started the removal work by taking away 30 pay phones from the Hell's Kitchen area of the city. In the coming months, the remaining phones will go. New York City spokesman Corey Johnson told the CNN news agency that: "The antiquated and outdated pay phone booths take up much-needed sidewalk space. Removing these booths is a win for pedestrians who navigate these crowded blocks."
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Many New Yorkers probably won't even notice the phones are going. Most younger people have never used one. They may have to read the instructions to use a phone, and scramble for coins to feed it. Modern technology means the public phone is no longer needed. Over 95 per cent of Americans have a mobile phone. Mr Corey said New Yorkers no longer want the phones. He said: "My office has received numerous community complaints from local residents about these antiquated pay phones, which present public safety and quality of life issues. Additionally, they take up sorely needed sidewalk space that could better serve people with disabilities and families with strollers."
Sources:
- https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/02/us/nyc-pay-phone-removal-trnd/index.html
- https://gothamist.com/news/last-remaining-pay-phones-nyc-will-be-ripped-out
- https://nypost.com/2020/02/28/nyc-will-remove-remaining-payphones-replacing-some-with-linknyc-kiosks-report-says/
