Is the LIRR 'kinda chic'? Commuters weigh in.

Is the Long Island Rail Road "kinda chic"? Depends on whom you ask.

Joelle Gregoire Lincoln, who rides the LIRR from her home in Rockville Centre to New York City nearly every day, would say no.

"It's not that fancy," Gregoire Lincoln, 23, said. "I can barely get a seat to sit down in the morning."

But Sean Jones, 54, of Elmont, said he enjoys his commute. Jones, a writer, recently started taking the LIRR into the city due to car troubles.

Jones said that compared to the subway, the LIRR is cleaner, safer and more comfortable.

"You're not on edge looking around, you know, to see what's going to pop off next to you," Jones said. "I'm just glad I take this to 34th Street and go to work." 

For anyone unfamiliar with the phrase, "kinda chic" has recently gone viral on social media, with celebrities and influencers hopping on the trend, which is about sharing moments and habits that are seen as positive in some way. Other recent examples are "kinda chic to support your local library" and "kinda chic to find joy in the little things."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday posted its own take on the trend, with graphics of the subway, bus, LIRR and Metro-North and statements proclaiming each form of transportation was "kinda chic." The post's caption reads, "Kinda chic to take public transit."

Shanifah Rieara, the MTA's chief customer officer, said the company's social posts are meant to appeal to younger riders. Participating in trends, Rieara said, helps the MTA reach its customer base in a creative way and promote greater engagement for other posts, like service updates.

"This is something that we see value in," Rieara said.

An MTA representative confirmed to Newsday the post received roughly 141,000 impressions across all social media platforms in less than 24 hours. Thousands of people have also engaged with the post via liking, commenting and sharing.

But the post also opened the MTA up to backlash, with some riders commenting on social media about safety and service concerns.

One user on X commented, "It's slow, it's incredibly hot in all the stations and they all smell like urine. There's nothing chic about any of this." Another user said that it's "kinda chic to run on time."

At the LIRR's New Hyde Park station on Friday, Hirra Arain, 29, of Floral Park, said she likes her regular commute because of recently updated trains and platforms.

Arain said the ride is more cost-effective and environmentally conscious than driving her car. But asked if she thought the LIRR was "chic," she said, "I wouldn't say 'chic' because it is a crowded situation. And also, it gets delayed."