For 18 and a half years I relied on the strict but often faulty schedules of the MTA — the dirty green LEDs on the B69, sputtering and spitting exhaust across Myrtle Avenue — the choral hums of an approaching G train.
This year, though, I was curious to explore the alternative forms of transportation New York City had to offer.
I had heard about dollar vans before, and its almost impossible not to notice them passing through Brooklyn’s main thoroughfares. As I waited on Flatbush Ave, it only took 90 seconds for a bulky white van to drive past. I missed this first one, but hailed the next — where I met Shaka, who was the driver.
Below is a sound map– it is an exploration of the sonic environment inside the dollar vans, specifically the ham radios drivers use to communicate at red light stops along the route. This map is just the start of my relationship with Shaka and will grow as I add more recordings over the summer.
