Public Phones — A Rarity
August 2, 2009 | Filed Under City Streets and Sidewalks
Nowadays, it’s very rare to see a public phone. There used to be at least one on every other street corner. However, since the majority of people use their cell phones, today, I suppose there isn’t a great demand for it. A few weeks ago, when walking my dog, a woman came up to me and asked me if I knew the whereabouts of a public phone. The only public phone I knew about in the vicinity had been removed because of some construction work. I didn’t know where else to send her.
The other day, I spotted these rare phone booths. From the distance, I thought the man was using the phone but he didn’t stay long in the booth and moved to the next booth after a few seconds. Instead of making a phone call, I think he was looking for loose change from the phones.
Paz
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16 Responses to “Public Phones — A Rarity”
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Definitely a rare sight these days! I remember the ones that had doors on them
You are right Paz, it is a rare site. I like those that you could drive up to–very convenient!
Public phones are a rarity here as well.
I’m always astonished by our phone booths: they are designed to have doors, but most of them have no doors!!
We still have lots of the old phone booths, minus the phone of course, vandalism is everywhere..unfortunately. Cant remember when I used a public phone though I do know I cant live without a mobile—-how sad
I guess they are a rarity. Hadn’t thought about that. I only use my cell for emergencies, and often forget to take it with me anyway. Good thing I haven’t had an emergency lately.
Once, in an airport, my cell battery died. I walked from one payphone in the terminal to another and none of them worked. And get this: I asked people if I could borrow their phone, even offered money. And no one would let me use their cell phone. Geez.
Same story here. They’re not profitable any more, we’re told. And when the cell networks go down for whatever reason we’d have to send smoke signals I suppose.
It’s the same here…public phone are almost disappearing, becoming non-existent. I think they need to stick around, as people’s cell phone batteries do go kerplunk and what to do when you need to make a call… A real bugger is at airports–those public phone never work! It’s all rather sad in a way… Very interesting topic today, Paz. Happy week, my friend ((HUGS))
Hi Paz!
You remember how difficult it was to make long distance calls with all the change you needed… Blessed cells…
Blogtrotter is back to the «urban jungle», which Reykjavik is far from being…
). Enjoy and have a fabulous week!
They’re starting, though, to come back in some places! In Europe I’ve seen ones which offer laptop services – so, you would use them like the little kiosks at the airport, where you can plug your laptop in, get power, use the network – wired or wireless – and/or charge some other device (such as your dead cell phone). One article mentions Turkey having purchased some which are wireless hotspots as well as phones. So.
The US is just a tad behind, primarily because of the whole “technology leapfrog” thing, where the inventor of a technology ends up stuck with it, while 3rd-world countries bypass an intermediate step (e.g. whole countries not going with cabled telephones, for example, but straight to cell phones).
We used to have them in the town I live in. Now I don’t think there is even one!
They are rare, and even rarer when you find one that works and isn’t smelling of pee.
didn’t Superman change in a phone booth? What does he do now?
And thanks for your positive vibes re my recent surgery and quick recovery! Thank you!
it’s the same in stockholm, very few phone booths around. i still carry an old phone card in my wallet, in case i’m low on battery or money in phone (yes i do have a cashcard phone, i’m not big on using the cell). it’s prpbably at least 10 years old though, wonder if it’s still working, hm…
I think of this many times. I don’t miss them very much, except for nostalgia’s sake!
Though if your cellie is dead, one sure does come in handy – if you can find one!
Excellent as always, Paz!
thanks for stopping by, everyone! mari, i would have lent you my phone, even if i didn’t know you. thanks for the link, davimack. ken! wishing you a speedy recovery!
paz