71 replies to this topic

[Via Garibaldi 8]

When I saw the title of this thread, I was about to say, not another one of these again... But yeah, it would suck if they did put an MCI on a local route, but as others have said I've seen plenty of MCIs with local bus runs on them just for the hell of it. This one B/O out of Ulmer Park loved flying down Fifth Avenue as a B36 to Avenue U, which I have to say looked pretty damn cool. Then I'd take my express bus and see him parked over by 23rd st relaxing and such later on. So as others have said, it could've been a number of things.

The one thing I have noticed is that Bus must be much more strict than NYCT with some things because I never see express buses in Riverdale signed up as something they aren't and the drivers are adamant about enforcing the rules. No getting off at the corner or any of that like the SI express buses unless they are permitted to at night (Request A Stop) or the stop is actually located at the corner. They don't like folks standing either I notice. Last weekend, my BxM2 had to do a detour because of some incident on 7th Avenue by 42nd street, so we had to detour to 5th Avenue and I'm thinking oh cool, I can get off at 34th & 5th since I was heading to Whole Foods, but the driver said he couldn't let me off. I have however been let off during detours on the X10 though and other SI express buses as well. His buddy or whatever (another B/O) who was with him had the nerve to ask me (albeit politely) to sit down. I gave him a look like who in the hell are you? Isn't that the B/Os job, but I thought about it and understood why so I cooperated even though I did give him a dirty look. lol

The thing is in Riverdale esp. folks (including moi) will write in like crazy if there are problems like with my bus stop, so they really have to be careful. There's also the issue of folks that work for the that live in Riverdale. I found out that the dispatcher came specifically for our stop the other night because one of the guys who waits at my stop with me works with Joe Lohta and he like myself made a stink about our stop being passed on several occasions (he had actually been bypassed far more times than I had and in fact told me his bus bypassed him as he was talking with Joe Lhota at the stop, but he didn't want to get the B/O in trouble lol), and so far since Monday all buses have been making the correct stop, so I haven't had to make any additional phone calls or anything to my contact at 347 Madison. Pretty sweet. He actually didn't want to say anything, but clearly there was a problem so he had to.

[Grand Concourse]

Well for the Bronx, the Bx23 or Co-op City line is the only MTA bus line in the Bronx. So unless MTA Bus was helping out NYCT, there won't be such sightings. Now for SI where each depot has both local and express buses, if there is a major emergency like the recent brushfire, you can't expect people of the local lines to be shafted with no buses if the only ones available are express buses, right?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Well for the Bronx, the Bx23 or Co-op City line is the only MTA bus line in the Bronx. So unless MTA Bus was helping out NYCT, there won't be such sightings. Now for SI where each depot has both local and express buses, if there is a major emergency like the recent brushfire, you can't expect people of the local lines to be shafted with no buses if the only ones available are express buses, right?

Well they have used express buses in emergencies... The most recent event I can think of would be the hurricane we had here last year... They had express buses lined up to take folks out of the Rockaways... Didn't sit too well with me, but I can understand. They are after all for the public, but they should used only when other options aren't available, mainly so that they don't get destroyed. I mean imagine paying the premium fare of the LIRR or MNRR and getting a seat with rips and tears in it to the point that you could barely sit in it. I've seen seats like that on SI express buses, or they had stuff sticking you you know where when you sat down. They also used express buses down in New Orleans during those hurricanes. In fact one of the BM3 express buses had some mention of it in the front.

Edited by Via Garibaldi 8, 14 April 2012 - 06:11 PM.

[The Real]

Ok, let me quick explain this....

There is interlined runs that the operator does a local piece, then swings for their meal and then does an express. Prime Example...Runs 056, 072 and 078 all do pieces on the S55 then has pieces on the X1/9.

My guess is either 1) These operators don't want to return to the garage to swap buses OR 2) There is a local bus shortage and the dispatcher gave the operators the MCIs to keep for their whole day.

However this isn't the first time that MCIs have popped up on local runs, back in 2002, I caught an MCI on a S78.

[Grand Concourse]

Well they have used express buses in emergencies... The most recent event I can think of would be the hurricane we had here last year... They had express buses lined up to take folks out of the Rockaways... Didn't sit too well with me, but I can understand. They are after all for the public, but they should used only when other options aren't available, mainly so that they don't get destroyed. I mean imagine paying the premium fare of the LIRR or MNRR and getting a seat with rips and tears in it to the point that you could barely sit in it. I've seen seats like that on SI express buses, or they had stuff sticking you you know where when you sat down. They also used express buses down in New Orleans during those hurricanes. In fact one of the BM3 express buses had some mention of it in the front.

As I said EMERGENCIES. It's not like it's because "let's screw with this guy because we know how pissed he'd get if the 'masses' ride the very buses he does". Some things are out of their control and it's a matter of what's ready. I understand about wanting undamaged seats for paying more, but I think you are overreacting about what some riders would do. But as long as none of the school kids (no offense to any younger posters here, I mean kids in general) are on it, I don't think there should be too much of a concern.

IIRC, those express buses that went to New Orleans ferried the soldiers/relief aid workers. I don't think any were used to ferry the survivors. And on this note I did prefer they sent the older buses instead of the newer ones because god knows what was in the water and you don't want practically new seats be destroyed before they got maybe 5 yrs of use.

Edited by Grand Concourse, 14 April 2012 - 06:20 PM.

[checkmatechamp13]

When I saw the title of this thread, I was about to say, not another one of these again... But yeah, it would suck if they did put an MCI on a local route, but as others have said I've seen plenty of MCIs with local bus runs on them just for the hell of it. This one B/O out of Ulmer Park loved flying down Fifth Avenue as a B36 to Avenue U, which I have to say looked pretty damn cool. Then I'd take my express bus and see him parked over by 23rd st relaxing and such later on. So as others have said, it could've been a number of things.

Not for the local passengers it wouldn't. As long as the buses are clean and everything, I wouldn't have a problem if they were used on a local run.

Well for the Bronx, the Bx23 or Co-op City line is the only MTA bus line in the Bronx. So unless MTA Bus was helping out NYCT, there won't be such sightings. Now for SI where each depot has both local and express buses, if there is a major emergency like the recent brushfire, you can't expect people of the local lines to be shafted with no buses if the only ones available are express buses, right?

I don't see what was such as major emergency, though. I don't think anybody had to be evacuated. Maybe a northbound S55 got stuck in traffic because of the fire, so they sent out an MCI to cover the run going southbound.

[checkmatechamp13]

Ok, let me quick explain this....

There is interlined runs that the operator does a local piece, then swings for their meal and then does an express. Prime Example...Runs 056, 072 and 078 all do pieces on the S55 then has pieces on the X1/9.

My guess is either 1) These operators don't want to return to the garage to swap buses OR 2) There is a local bus shortage and the dispatcher gave the operators the MCIs to keep for their whole day.

However this isn't the first time that MCIs have popped up on local runs, back in 2002, I caught an MCI on a S78.

That'd be pretty cool to catch an MCI on a local run.

As I said EMERGENCIES. It's not like it's because "let's screw with this guy because we know how pissed he'd get if the 'masses' ride the very buses he does". Some things are out of their control and it's a matter of what's ready. I understand about wanting undamaged seats for paying more, but I think you are overreacting about what some riders would do. But as long as none of the school kids (no offense to any younger posters here, I mean kids in general) are on it, I don't think there should be too much of a concern.

It depends. I mean, if you have the bus doing a tripper out of a technical high school, I doubt the bus would see any damage.

[Grand Concourse]

Kids are unpredictable and if they have food or knives on them, there's no telling what sort of damage they can do either knowingly or by accident. So I think it's best to play it safe and keep the express buses for non school hours. After all look at the RTSs with the suburban seats, those were in terrible shape and in need of being replaced.

And by emergencies, I meant it as an extreme case, since it's quite clear 'rare cases' of an express bus on a local line is 'abhorrent' to him.

Edited by Grand Concourse, 14 April 2012 - 06:31 PM.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Not for the local passengers it wouldn't. As long as the buses are clean and everything, I wouldn't have a problem if they were used on a local run.

Well of course they don't mind, and they'd have our buses filthy just like the local buses. The first thing I notice about some folks that aren't used to riding express buses (usually local bus riders) is they get on the bus and start f*cking with everything. Reclining back and forth like they've never been in a seat that reclined before and nonsense like that. In other words, if folks weren't such pigs I wouldn't object so much to express buses being used more often outside of express bus runs, but the reality is they'd be in terrible shape if they were more often. I see many of us on the Riverdale express buses putting things back the way we found them (i.e. putting the seats back in the up position, turning out overhead lights and such) because we want our buses to stay in nice shape and are considerate of other passengers.

As I said EMERGENCIES. It's not like it's because "let's screw with this guy because we know how pissed he'd get if the 'masses' ride the very buses he does". Some things are out of their control and it's a matter of what's ready. I understand about wanting undamaged seats for paying more, but I think you are overreacting about what some riders would do. But as long as none of the school kids (no offense to any younger posters here, I mean kids in general) are on it, I don't think there should be too much of a concern.

IIRC, those express buses that went to New Orleans ferried the soldiers/relief aid workers. I don't think any were used to ferry the survivors. And on this note I did prefer they sent the older buses instead of the newer ones because god knows what was in the water and you don't want practically new seats be destroyed before they got maybe 5 yrs of use.

Calm down... I read what you said... For the record, I was actually honored to ride a BM3 that had been used for the New Orleans hurricane. They sent tons of volunteers down there for rescue purposes and such, so for that I can understand, but like I said, only for emergencies like the both of us said. As you and I have said, it shouldn't become too routine esp. seeing what happened with those RTS buses. I remember getting on a B64 that had the suburban seats and almost got stuck by whatever they have in those seats because the seat was ripped apart.

Edited by Via Garibaldi 8, 14 April 2012 - 06:40 PM.

[CDTA]

It's funny because we use the NX MCI's up here for the sports shuttle to Albany High. But the most we've ever done is open up the windows which really pissed off the B/O to the point they got kicked off never to return again.