2014 Ridership Stats released, Bx12 now busiest route in NYC

[JubaionBx12+SBS]

The major news with the release of 2014 NYC Bus ridership statistics is that the M15 cedes it's crown as most used route in the city to the Bx12. The Bx12 benefits from a sizable increase in weekday riders once again and an even bigger increase in weekend usage. On the average weekend the route pulls over 62,000 riders which is a nearly 8% increase over last year. Factors such as increased demand for the new Mall at Bay Plaza could be at play there but the weekday growth has been present at significant levels for the past several years so it's just becoming a more sought after route in general. The M15 on the other end has seen delays increase and it's ridership decrease. The route lost almost 5,000 riders per weekday to pull it under 50,000 weekday riders after losing a significant amount in 2013 as well. Those two factors combined to push the Bx12 to number 1 in the city for 2014 usage as you can see in the links to be posted. The M15 sits at #2 above the B46 which has also decreased in usage (there's a trend here).

The 10 most used routes are as follows... 1. Bx12 2. M15 3. B46 4. B6 5. Bx1/2 6. B44 7. M14 8. B35 9. Bx15 10. Bx19

 

Other things of note... 

- Bx41 and Bx15 ridership both grow significantly as each route absorbs the ridership of the former Bx55. The Bx15 grew enough to land in the top 10 list for the city. 

- High usage routes in Brooklyn and Manhattan mainly see decreases in usage while such routes in the Bronx all kept stable or grew. 

- Select Bus Service seems not be not working to the degree the MTA suggests. The M15, B44, M60, M34/34A all saw decreased usage while the other SBS routes have increased due to factors other than SBS being in place. Given 2014 is the first full year of the B44 SBS that progress report will have some explaining to do. 

 

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/ridership_bus.htm

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/ridership_bus_weekend.htm

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/ridership_bus_annual.htm

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffbus.htm#routes

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

The MTA Bus Routes werent posted, so heres the general link (scroll to the bottom)

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/index.htm

[MysteriousBtrain]

The city is "growing" up so fast lol.

If the Bx15 is one of the top 10's, the mta should put less 40 fters on it (although I see less then usual now, but not by much)

[Mysterious2train]

Noticed the B41 isn't in the top 10 anymore on weekdays or annually, but it still is on weekends. I'm guessing people are abandoning the route in favor of dollar vans or subways, and I can't say I blame them. 

 

In fact, weekday/annual ridership on the B41 dropped almost 20% between 2009 and 2014. I know bus ridership as a whole is going down, but that's still eye-opening.

[trainfan22]

Noticed the B41 isn't in the top 10 anymore on weekdays or annually, but it still is on weekends. I'm guessing people are abandoning the route in favor of dollar vans or subways, and I can't say I blame them. 

 

In fact, weekday/annual ridership on the B41 dropped almost 20% between 2009 and 2014. I know bus ridership as a whole is going down, but that's still eye-opening.

B103 stealing riders between Downtown and Flatbush? Both take about the same time to travel between the two points but I wonder if the 103 "feels" faster between those two areas to the average rider.

 

Considering all the shopping areas the 41 serves, not surprised its still in the top 10 on weekends.

 

 

As for the rest of this thread, outside of the BX12, seems like SBS is flopping, damn @ B44 falling out of the top 10 AFTER getting SBS, that's so ridiculous that you can't help but to laugh. 

[Fresh Pond]

B35 in the top 10, not surprised at all...

[limitednyc]

just remember these #'s are based on fare box and macheine transactions.

[161 New York]

The s55, a decrease in -12,336 or -9.3% annual ridership. Despite lenghtening the line a few years ago to the fomer Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, ridership is anemic. Not surprised, as there has been times I had been the only passenger on the bus outside of school hours. The s56 OTOH has increased ridership.

The s89, a a decrease of -28,690 or -12% annual ridership or -113 passengers or -12% daily decrease in ridership for the past year. I'm not sure what the cause of the noticeable decrease is. The construction of the Bayonne Bridge would not appear to have any affect on ridership (per the service status), though the revised detour does unnecessarily add additional time. This figure does not aid the folks trying to extend the HBLR to Staten Island.

The weekday x17 had a slight decrease of average weekday ridership of -138 passengers or 2.3%. I attribute the decrease due to the introduction of the x21 which duplicates the x17J (and x23) at Eltingville Transit Center and AR Kill Road. Unsurprisingly, the x17 had a noticeable increase of average weekend trips of +8.5% or +161 passengers. Increased service has followed.

The x10 had a decrease of -3.3% or -93 riders for average weekend ridership. I think that may be due to increased x17 service.

The x1 had an increase of +2.5% or +153 riders for average weekend ridership. The additional runs and overnight service are probably contributing factors.
 

Just some thoughts on the buses on Staten Island I use the most or are very familiar with...

[trainfan22]

B103 stealing riders between Downtown and Flatbush? Both take about the same time to travel between the two points but I wonder if the 103 "feels" faster between those two areas to the average rider.

 

Considering all the shopping areas the 41 serves, not surprised its still in the top 10 on weekends.

 

 

As for the rest of this thread, outside of the BX12, seems like SBS is flopping, damn @ B44 falling out of the top 10 AFTER getting SBS, that's so ridiculous that you can't help but to laugh. 

Opps, its still there, there's no edit button even though I only made that post this morning.

 

 

Anyway, not surprised the BXM7 is number 1 in MTAB express routes. Its weird as the BM5 numbers are lousy despite both serve similar apartment complexes.

 

 

Surprised the B103 is not in top 5 in ridership in MTAB local routes.

 

 

Yikes at the BM2 not having even a 1000 riders anymore.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Opps, its still there, there's no edit button even though I only made that post this morning.

 

 

Anyway, not surprised the BXM7 is number 1 in MTAB express routes. Its weird as the BM5 numbers are lousy despite both serve similar apartment complexes.

 

 

Surprised the B103 is not in top 5 in ridership in MTAB local routes.

 

 

Yikes at the BM2 not having even a 1000 riders anymore.

The BxM7 has been himmeraging ridership for the last several years.  Co-Op City is A LOT cheaper than the areas that the BM5 serve and also faster than the BM5, but even with that, the economy has hit Co-Op City hard.  Other areas with decreased express bus ridership is due to slow and unreliable express bus service.  There have been A LOT of problems with our Riverdale express buses and I have filed numerous complaints not only to the but to our elected officials to get this mess turned around.  Too many guys trying to milk overtime and come late purposely and that nonsense has since stopped (at least for now).  The same deal is happening on a lot of other express bus routes with guys showing up whenever, and I'm glad that people are noticing and writing in to stop the games from happening.  This is a problem system wide, and there needs to be more monitoring done by dispatch on both the LOCAL and EXPRESS buses.   A lot of problems for example with missing BxM2's in the morning. The 08:30 is really hit or miss.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

The s55, a decrease in -12,336 or -9.3% annual ridership. Despite lenghtening the line a few years ago to the fomer Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, ridership is anemic. Not surprised, as there has been times I had been the only passenger on the bus outside of school hours. The s56 OTOH has increased ridership.

 

The s89, a a decrease of -28,690 or -12% annual ridership or -113 passengers or -12% daily decrease in ridership for the past year. I'm not sure what the cause of the noticeable decrease is. The construction of the Bayonne Bridge would not appear to have any affect on ridership (per the service status), though the revised detour does unnecessarily add additional time. This figure does not aid the folks trying to extend the HBLR to Staten Island.

 

The weekday x17 had a slight decrease of average weekday ridership of -138 passengers or 2.3%. I attribute the decrease due to the introduction of the x21 which duplicates the x17J (and x23) at Eltingville Transit Center and AR Kill Road. Unsurprisingly, the x17 had a noticeable increase of average weekend trips of +8.5% or +161 passengers. Increased service has followed.

 

The x10 had a decrease of -3.3% or -93 riders for average weekend ridership. I think that may be due to increased x17 service.

 

The x1 had an increase of +2.5% or +153 riders for average weekend ridership. The additional runs and overnight service are probably contributing factors.

 

Just some thoughts on the buses on Staten Island I use the most or are very familiar with...

Your observations are spot on. The X10 gets a lot of ridership from areas served by the X17 by Richmond Avenue, so they would rather boost X17 ridership than increase X10 ridership.  The X1 continues to grow esp. with the overnight service.  You can get 20 passengers easily on those late night trips to Manhattan.  Sometimes more. I got a 00:00 X1 back to Manhattan on a Saturday night out of New Dorp and was surprised at how full it was.  As for the S89, maybe the increased X17 service is the trick?  The X21 could be a factor too. I know a lot of people have flocked to the X21 and have called for more trips and more super express service for the South Shore.

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

Opps, its still there, there's no edit button even though I only made that post this morning.

 

 

Anyway, not surprised the BXM7 is number 1 in MTAB express routes. Its weird as the BM5 numbers are lousy despite both serve similar apartment complexes.

 

 

Surprised the B103 is not in top 5 in ridership in MTAB local routes.

 

 

Yikes at the BM2 not having even a 1000 riders anymore.

You cant compare the BxM7 and the BM5. Only a portion of the line has complexes (BM5), while the BxM7's base is much larger. The other areas dont have as much of a base, with the exception of several stops. The BM5 is less frequent, has the least span, and has no Sunday service.

[trainfan22]

The BxM7 has been himmeraging ridership for the last several years.  Co-Op City is A LOT cheaper than the areas that the BM5 serve and also faster than the BM5, but even with that, the economy has hit Co-Op City hard.  Other areas with decreased express bus ridership is due to slow and unreliable express bus service.  There have been A LOT of problems with our Riverdale express buses and I have filed numerous complaints not only to the but to our elected officials to get this mess turned around.  Too many guys trying to milk overtime and come late purposely and that nonsense has since stopped (at least for now).  The same deal is happening on a lot of other express bus routes with guys showing up whenever, and I'm glad that people are noticing and writing in to stop the games from happening.  This is a problem system wide, and there needs to be more monitoring done by dispatch on both the LOCAL and EXPRESS buses.   A lot of problems for example with missing BxM2's in the morning. The 08:30 is really hit or miss.

The BM5 serves Spring Creek Towers, its a Co Op just like Co Op City, but I guess lack of time savings is why people don't flock to it, B83 to the to Utica probably takes about the same time as the BM5.

 

 

IDK if they changed the route but when I use to fan the Bmx7, it only served Co Op city alone then went on the highway to the city, if one apartment complex could push the Bxm7 to number 1 then I would think BM5 would have heavy ridership from SC Towers alone, enough to even keep it nonstop in Queens.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

The BM5 serves Spring Creek Towers, its a Co Op just like Co Op City, but I guess lack of time savings is why people don't flock to it, B83 to the to Utica probably takes about the same time as the BM5.

 

 

IDK if they changed the route but when I use to fan the Bmx7, it only served Co Op city alone then went on the highway to the city, if one apartment complex could push the Bxm7 to number 1 then I would think BM5 would have heavy ridership from SC Towers alone, enough to even keep it nonstop in Queens.

The BM5 makes way more stops than the BxM7 does the BxM7 makes much better time. The BxM7 I believe seems to have a lot of elderly folks that ride, so they're not going to be looking to take the subway. The express bus is seen as safer for them.

[NewFlyer 230]

Beat me to posting this when I saw it earlier.

 

I'm not surprised with the ridership at all.

Of course the Bx12 the M15,B41,B44,B35,Bx1/2 and a few others were going to remain in the top ten.

 

I already knew the Q17 and Q88 ridership was going to drop because they take forever to show up at times and that is probably why the Q25/Q34 increased. They have their ups and downs but once that line of Q25's come everyone says screw the Q17.

 

I wonder why the Q113/Q114 are not together on the ridership statistics because they are pretty much the same route minus the Q113 being all limited and the Q114 all times except evenings and night. The Bx1/ Bx2 are together so why not the Q113 and Q114.

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

The BM5 serves Spring Creek Towers, its a Co Op just like Co Op City, but I guess lack of time savings is why people don't flock to it, B83 to the to Utica probably takes about the same time as the BM5.

 

 

IDK if they changed the route but when I use to fan the Bmx7, it only served Co Op city alone then went on the highway to the city, if one apartment complex could push the Bxm7 to number 1 then I would think BM5 would have heavy ridership from SC Towers alone, enough to even keep it nonstop in Queens.

Like I said, you can't compare Spring Creek and Co-Op City. Co-Op City is MUCH bigger than the Spring Creek Towers. Yeah Starrett City is big (3 blocks wide, about 10-11 comparable street blocks, but Co-Op City has more than double the area of it, and is essentially a separate community. Furthermore, Co-Op City has many more people living in it than Starrett City. Spring Creek/Starrett City is nothing more than a subsection of East New York, and East New York isn't a neighborhood in which most people would go and take the express bus. You'll see many packing (if they even can) onto the B83's, B82's, and other routes. You have a significant amount of people using their cars. You'll get riders, but I'm just pointing it out, that the area over there isn't as grand as you think it is.

 

It's like having the QM1 serve only points on 188 street  and then go non-stop into Manhattan, just because there's a huge amount of apartment complexes there; that's not how it works. If it goes into a highly dense residential area, then good. However, that doesn't determine that people will take the route. Or another scenario; have a Downtown BM5 variant to Canarsie/Williams, and then go non-stop. You just aren't gonna get enough riders.

 

 

Also to add, the BM5 serves a pretty specific area of Manhattan (Midtown). The BxM7 serves Multiple areas, like Harlem, Upper East Side, and Midtown Proper.

[Q43LTD]

Once again here we go:

Bronx

Bx12

Bx1/2

Bx15

Bx36

Bx19

Bx9

Bx40/42

Bx41

Bx6

Bx39

 

Brooklyn

B46

B6

B44

B35

B41

B82

B15

B38

B8

B1

 

Manhattan

M15

M14

M101

M86

M4

M100

M60

M34

M96

M79

 

Queens

Q58

Q44

Q27

Q46

Q17

Q43

Q20

Q85

Q5

Q54

 

Staten Island

S79

S53

S48/98

S46/96

S44/94

S78

S74/84

S40/90

S62/92

S61/91

 

NYCT Express

X1

X17

X27/37

X10

X28/38

X12/42

X22

X5

X7

X2

 

Bus Local

Q10

Q65

Q25

Q23

Q53

Q60

Q66

B103

Q111

Q6

 

Bus Express

BxM7

BxM9

QM5

QM2

BxM8

BxM10

BxM1

QM15

BM1

QM20

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

And Now, for the greatest improvements and decreases in Local and Express bus service

 

LOCAL

 

Weekdays:

 

Bronx^:

Improvement: Bx24: +22.5% (NYCT) & Q50: +9.2% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Bx7: - 2.3% (NYCT) & Bx23: -0.9% (MTA Bus)

 

Brooklyn:

Improvement: B4 & B67: +6.9% (NYCT) & B103: +1.6% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: B70: - 11.0% (NYCT) & B100: -0.1% (MTA Bus)

 

Manhattan:

Improvement: M35: +20.1%            Decrease: M20: - 14.6%

 

Queens:

Improvement: Q42: +9.4% (NYCT) and Q103: +27.9% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Q32: - 10.1 % (NYCT) & Q33: -15.1% (MTA Bus)

 

Staten Island:

Improvement: S93: +25.5%       Decrease: S89: -12.0%

 

 

Saturdays & Sundays:

 

Bronx^:

Improvement: Bx41: +20.8% (NYCT) & Q50: +13.2% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Bx7: - 2% (NYCT) & Bx23: -0.8% (MTA Bus)

 

Brooklyn:

Improvement: B24: +15.4% (NYCT) & B103: +12.4% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: B70: - 6.9% (NYCT)

 

Manhattan:

Improvement: M35: +23.0%            Decrease: M34/M34A SBS: - 14.1%

 

Queens:

Improvement: Q77: +37.6% (NYCT) and Q38: +15.2% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Q56: - 5.2 % (NYCT) & Q33: -23.5% (MTA Bus)

 

Staten Island:

Improvement: S76/86: +17.0%       Decrease: S78: -5.6%

 

Annual Ridership:

 

Bronx^:

Improvement: Bx24: +22.2% (NYCT) & Q50: +10.0% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Bx3: - 3.5% (NYCT) & Bx23: -0.9% (MTA Bus)

 

Brooklyn:

Improvement: B4: +8.0% (NYCT) & B103: +4.3% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: B70: - 11.2% (NYCT)

 

Manhattan:

Improvement: M35: +20.6%            Decrease: M34/M34A SBS: -14.1%

 

Queens:

Improvement: Q42: +9.4% (NYCT) and Q103: +35.2% (MTA Bus)

Decrease: Q56: - 5.2 % (NYCT) & Q33: -17.0% (MTA Bus)

 

Staten Island:

Improvement: S93: +25.5%       Decrease: S55: -9.3%

 

* All stats above adjust for routes such as Bx46, B32, B84, etc: Which had 100%+ growth due to routes running for completion of one year

 

^ Q50 is counted in the Bronx Statistics

 

All stats are NYCT routes unless otherwise noted

 

EXPRESS

 

Weekdays:

 

Brooklyn: 

Improvement: N/A:   Decrease: BM3 (MTA Bus) : -8.4% and X28 (MTA Bus): -5.3%

 

Bronx:

Improvement: N/A:   Decrease: BxM11 : -11.2%

 

Queens:

Improvement: X68 (NYCT): +1.2% and QM5 & QM11: +5.5%   Decrease: X64 (NYCT) : -11.6% and QM17 (MTA Bus): -18.8%

 

Staten Island*:

Improvement: X22: +4.6%    Decrease: X3 : -15.1%

 

Saturdays and Sundays:

 

Brooklyn: 

Improvement: X27 (NYCT):+8.3% and BM3 :+5.0%   Decrease: BM2 : -6.6%

 

Bronx:

Improvement: BxM8: +1.8%   Decrease: BxM11 : -13.4%

 

Queens:

Improvement:  QM5 +12.1%   Decrease:  N/A

 

Staten Island*:

Improvement: X17: +8.5%    Decrease: X10 : -3.3%

 

Annual Ridership:

 

Brooklyn: 

Improvement: N/A:   Decrease: BM3 (MTA Bus) : -7.9% and X28/38 (NYCT): -5.3%

 

Bronx:

Improvement: N/A:   Decrease: BxM11 : -11.6%

 

Queens:

Improvement: X68 (NYCT): +1.2% and QM5 :+5.8%   Decrease: X64 (NYCT) : -11.6% and QM17 (MTA Bus): -18.8%

 

Staten Island*:

Improvement: X22: +4.6%    Decrease: X3 : -15.1%

 

 

* Except for Staten Island, all stats are for MTA Bus routes unless stated. On Staten Island, all routes are NYCT.

[B35 via Church]

Brooklyn:

 

- Having rode the B32 quite a bit after work this year, the stats directly reflect what I've been experiencing (as far as the whole B32/B62 dynamic goes)... Worse than that (for the B62), it lost more ridership than the B32 gained since it's inception - this has to do with the B67... The B67 to Williamsburg is mainly utilized as nothing more than just another bus to get to the Farragut houses... That's where the 67 empties out coming from Downtown towards Williamsburg b/c (still) virtually no one takes that stupid extension through the Navy Yard, and it's not that part of Williamsburg (where it terminates, the residential Jewish side) where the demand for Downtown is at (that's the one thing the B62 still has going for it)....

 

...btw, B67 gained about 300 riders... Will ya look at that.

 

This trend keeps up, the B32 will get subtle increases as Williamsburg/Greenpoint grows & the B62 will see drastic cuts - service & routing-wise.... Park av usage seems to be waning as well on the B62.... The part of Park that (IMO) has latent ridership, is being snatched up by the B54.... I'll stop here, since that's astraying from the B32/62 dynamic....

 

- 1000+ riders have taken the B37... I have a hard time believing that, but I am curious to find out how much of that number are ppl. riding w/i Bay Ridge, and those that are riding anywhere between Sunset Park & (around) Barclay's....

 

- The same amount of riders have taken the B7 this year to last year.... Yeah right.

Now I can believe a "neighborhoody" route like the B31 undergoing negligible changes (the +8 riders), but a long ass route like the B7, yeah okay.....

 

- The B4... Not counting schoolkids for a sec., So Sheepshead riders & everyone clamoring for 5th av contributed to the gains on that route huh... Good for it.

Now if the MTA can only give that route a little more service during the rush.... Especially to accomodate those schoolkids.

 

- B15's losses, I can almost guarantee that has to do with too many trips ending over there by the Linden cinemas (linden/drew)....

The MTA should try its hand at short turns running from either (Fulton) or (St. Johns/Ralph) to JFK, instead of the current short turns from Woodhull to Linden/Drew.... I can understand the whole intraborough/interborough bit with how the route is handled, but the 15 is not as strong b/w Woodhull Hosp. & the Kingsborough houses (bergen/rochester area).... I wish some would stop clamoring for LTD's on this route, because it's not the problem with the route....

 

- poor B49, but AFAIC, that was to be expected..... As for the B44??? (We all know they won't, buuutttt....) MTA's got some 'splainin to do...

(What I'm getting at is, both routes saw losses of 1000+)....

 

- If the (and the areas it serves) keeps growing at the rate it is, the B60 is going to keep seeing losses as the years go by.... I have seen people walking distances (along Wilson) they shouldn't have to, to get to Wilson ... Which is another problem the B60 has always had, and its seems to always occur north of Broadway for some odd reason - and that is bunching.... I have to be honest here, the B60 west of Flushing I believe only exists for network coverage... When those Puerto Ricans get priced out of "East Williamsburg" & become fully gentrified, the B60 will be an afterthought b/w WBP & Flushing.....

 

- B57... so 79 more people are either going to IKEA, or use it interchangably with the B61 from Red Hook to Smith/9th since the extension (of the 57)... Lol....

 

- The B41, I don't know why it's losing riders like that, as it's a route I've been shunning (much like I have been the Bx12)....

I seriously doubt it's the 41/103 dynamic, but more the (obvious) dynamic of the subway (2/5/B/Q) v. bus.... There's an increase in subway usage at Parkside for crying out loud - a station 20+ years ago that used to be shunned by a lot of riders.....

 

- So the B35 gained at least 717 farebeaters huh... not surprised

 

- The B12 losing riders, I believe is due to mismanagement (I really want to say negligence).... I've mentioned it on here before, there is a serious problem b/w 5pm to like, 6:30/7pm, where there are far too many buses traveling in one direction & too few of them in the opposite direction... This is why you constantly have 100+ riders waiting at Alabama just about every f***in weekday seeking WB service.... I happen to think it begins around school let-out hours (around 3-4pm), but IDK.... The B12 had a serious problem with bunching (coming in 3's & even 4's) back when it ran to City Line, but that was due to buses running to city line & trips (then considered) short turning at Alabama... Now all trips end at Alabama, so that's not an excuse... It's reverting back to that shit.... I also find that b/o's tend to crawl the line, heading towards Alabama (especially)....

 

What would help is having 45's or 65's assist the 12 b/w Alabama & St. Johns... A chunk of riders that come off the at Alabama get off at Rockaway for the B60, or for the PJ's (Howard or Garvey).... All of this is well short of Utica, where the masses pile on.

 

- B70's losses due to the reversion of the pre 2010 route was to be expected...

 

- B32's gains since its inception I can see only increasing in the future... While the B84 also seen gains, I honestly don't know if future increases will get too much better than what it got since its inception.... Putting this another way, the B32 will have B2 level ridership (which isn't anything to write home about) in about 3 years or so..... I can't (confidently) say the same with the current B84....

 

 

That's pretty much all I got for Brooklyn's weekday changes right now (of which I wanted to comment on anyway).....

[JubaionBx12+SBS]

The following routes in Manhattan all saw major decreases in weekday ridership... M4 (-1,272), M5 (-1,040), M14 (-2,206), M15 (-4,713, biggest loss in the city which follows a loss of 3,247 the year before), M31 (-1,217), M34/34A (-1,913), M42 (-1,370), M79 (-1,662), M86 (-1,638), M101 (-1,729), M102 (-1,299), M103 (-1,007) and M104 (-1,102).

[B35 via Church]

Like I said, you can't compare Spring Creek and Co-Op City. Co-Op City is MUCH bigger than the Spring Creek Towers. Yeah Starrett City is big (3 blocks wide, about 10-11 comparable street blocks, but Co-Op City has more than double the area of it, and is essentially a separate community. Furthermore, Co-Op City has many more people living in it than Starrett City. Spring Creek/Starrett City is nothing more than a subsection of East New York, and East New York isn't a neighborhood in which most people would go and take the express bus. You'll see many packing (if they even can) onto the B83's, B82's, and other routes. You have a significant amount of people using their cars. You'll get riders, but I'm just pointing it out, that the area over there isn't as grand as you think it is.

 

It's like having the QM1 serve only points on 188 street  and then go non-stop into Manhattan, just because there's a huge amount of apartment complexes there; that's not how it works. If it goes into a highly dense residential area, then good. However, that doesn't determine that people will take the route. Or another scenario; have a Downtown BM5 variant to Canarsie/Williams, and then go non-stop. You just aren't gonna get enough riders.

 

 

Also to add, the BM5 serves a pretty specific area of Manhattan (Midtown). The BxM7 serves Multiple areas, like Harlem, Upper East Side, and Midtown Proper.

This part of it is Meaningless as to why one string of Co-op's gets the amount of express bus ridership it does, and the other string of Co-op's does not....

 

Yonkers is much bigger than Woodlawn....

....but somehow the BxM4 gets more ridership in Woodlawn than the BxM3 does in all of Yonkers

 

 

...Anyway, not surprised the BXM7 is number 1 in MTAB express routes. Its weird as the BM5 numbers are lousy despite both serve similar apartment complexes.

The BM5 serves Spring Creek Towers, its a Co Op just like Co Op City, but I guess lack of time savings is why people don't flock to it, B83 to the to Utica probably takes about the same time as the BM5.

It boils down to income levels...

Generally speaking, Spring Creek Towers < Co-op City.... I don't even have to hesitate about that...

(However broke you might think Co-op patrons are [which is a common misconception about Co-op City btw], Spring Creek Towers patrons are poorer)

 

To be blunt, more Co-op patrons can afford to take express buses.... out in Starrett OTOH, not (so many) so much....

 

I don't know about time savings necessarily, but though I will say the & the are more vital to Spring Creek Towers folks than the & is to folks out in co-op....

[cotb16]

My first post in a long while, but here's my take on some of the Bronx buses and their annual ridership:

 

-Bx1/2: no surprise in its gains, but I would have to thank the frequent midday construction on the which requires trains in one direction to run express north of 149th Street, causing some riders to rely on (and eventually -- get comfortable with) the bus. And despite the negative reputation of the stations along the line, annual ridership at every Concourse Line station has increased (with some such as Kingsbridge, Fordham, Tremont and 205th with 100,000+ gains apiece), so don't blame the for the Bx1/2 gain.

 

-Bx3: I'm pretty shocked that it lost 178,000 annual riders in 2014. The only possible scapegoat is the frequent bunching of the Bx3's, thanks to traffic and construction along its entire route (and it's not just restricted to Washington Heights and the 181st Street Bridge, there have also been some street repaving and frequent double parking along the narrow Sedgwick Ave).

 

-Bx7/10/20: the elected officials do have justification over their complaints about the bunching and delays on these three routes. Their combined annual ridership decreases proves it.

 

-Bx12: Don't just thank the monstrosity that is the Mall at Bay Plaza, but thank Fordham and Inwood's ridership for the increase.

 

-Bx13: obvious, more folks en route to Bronx Terminal Market are taking this route between the mall and 161st Street (and even to High Bridge). Just see the number of riders with shopping carts who use the Bx13.

 

-Bx15: while I do appreciate the gains, I am concerned about the many 40-footers used on the route specifically on weekends. I also worry about the high traffic on 125th Street causing the Bx15's to bunch.

 

-Bx19: like the Bx3, I am surprised that it lost 100,000+ in 2014. But the heavy traffic along most of its route is encouraging more to take either the (2)/(5) trains, or crosstown buses to travel between the Southern Blvd/149th St strips and Upper Manhattan.

 

-Bx21: blame the bunching on the Bx15 that cause some to use the Bx21 to travel between 149th and 163rd Sts, especially on weekends.

 

-Bx22: I am really concerned about this route. In 2009, it was a top-ten Bronx route in annual ridership. Now, the Bx35, Bx21 and others have overtaken this route. I have a feeling that there will be more cuts, despite this route being one of the few that travels between the Southeast Bronx (Castle Hill, Soundview, Parkchester) and the Northwest Bronx (Kingsbridge, Fordham, etc). Unfortunately, the Bx22 does deal with traffic along Fordham and construction along Unionport Rd.

 

-Bx41: I am glad that the route returned to 2009-level annual ridership. The SBS has done wonders for that route, especially during off-peak periods.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

My first post in a long while, but here's my take on some of the Bronx buses and their annual ridership:

 

-Bx1/2: no surprise in its gains, but I would have to thank the frequent midday construction on the which requires trains in one direction to run express north of 149th Street, causing some riders to rely on (and eventually -- get comfortable with) the bus. And despite the negative reputation of the stations along the line, annual ridership at every Concourse Line station has increased (with some such as Kingsbridge, Fordham, Tremont and 205th with 100,000+ gains apiece), so don't blame the for the Bx1/2 gain.

 

-Bx3: I'm pretty shocked that it lost 178,000 annual riders in 2014. The only possible scapegoat is the frequent bunching of the Bx3's, thanks to traffic and construction along its entire route (and it's not just restricted to Washington Heights and the 181st Street Bridge, there have also been some street repaving and frequent double parking along the narrow Sedgwick Ave).

 

-Bx7/10/20: the elected officials do have justification over their complaints about the bunching and delays on these three routes. Their combined annual ridership decreases proves it.

 

-Bx12: Don't just thank the monstrosity that is the Mall at Bay Plaza, but thank Fordham and Inwood's ridership for the increase.

 

-Bx13: obvious, more folks en route to Bronx Terminal Market are taking this route between the mall and 161st Street (and even to High Bridge). Just see the number of riders with shopping carts who use the Bx13.

 

-Bx15: while I do appreciate the gains, I am concerned about the many 40-footers used on the route specifically on weekends. I also worry about the high traffic on 125th Street causing the Bx15's to bunch.

 

-Bx19: like the Bx3, I am surprised that it lost 100,000+ in 2014. But the heavy traffic along most of its route is encouraging more to take either the (2)/(5) trains, or crosstown buses to travel between the Southern Blvd/149th St strips and Upper Manhattan.

 

-Bx21: blame the bunching on the Bx15 that cause some to use the Bx21 to travel between 149th and 163rd Sts, especially on weekends.

 

-Bx22: I am really concerned about this route. In 2009, it was a top-ten Bronx route in annual ridership. Now, the Bx35, Bx21 and others have overtaken this route. I have a feeling that there will be more cuts, despite this route being one of the few that travels between the Southeast Bronx (Castle Hill, Soundview, Parkchester) and the Northwest Bronx (Kingsbridge, Fordham, etc). Unfortunately, the Bx22 does deal with traffic along Fordham and construction along Unionport Rd.

 

-Bx41: I am glad that the route returned to 2009-level annual ridership. The SBS has done wonders for that route, especially during off-peak periods.

Oh please with your concerns about ridership decreasing.  Have you seen the rampant farebeating on these friggin' routes?  I've had the "courtesy" of using the Bx41SBS from the South Bronx to the Metro-North Fordham station, and that line along with the Bx6 has some of the highest amounts of farebeating that I have ever seen. It makes the Staten Island local buses look like child's play. Those people just walk on and have a seat.  Most of them don't even give a story as to why they can't pay and usually just laugh while the B/O presses the F5 button 10 - 15 times in some cases for one stop.  Unbelievable.  They should keep cutting service on those local lines since these people can't pay the damn fare. 

 

It's pretty easy to see how so many routes in the Bronx saw a dip in ridership when you have much that farebeating going on on one bus in a span of 5 - 10 minutes.  They need to ramp up inspections of a number of local buses to stop this nonsense.

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

This part of it is Meaningless as to why one string of Co-op's gets the amount of express bus ridership it does, and the other string of Co-op's does not....

 

Yonkers is much bigger than Woodlawn....

....but somehow the BxM4 gets more ridership in Woodlawn than the BxM3 does in all of Yonkers

 

 

 

 

Not at all...

 

The thing is though, I'm talking about the express buses serving apartment complexes (big ones). Just because they're there, doesn't mean an express bus is gonna burst in ridership. I'm just stating that Spring Creek Towers isn't as big as per say, Co-Op City, in addition to what I mentioned about most riders considering the Local buses, and whatever's left drive or something. In neighborhoods, it does depend on the income levels. The BM5 doesn't only serve Spring Creek Towers; it serves East New York, Lindenwood, Glendale, Forest Hills, and Rego Park/Middle Village. East New York, where the majority of it's ridership is based out of, is indeed a neighborhood in which incomes are considerably lower than the other neighborhoods served. Ridership concentrates there, because it's mainly intended for ENY residents. For such route, it does get good ridership though. The BxM4, X64, and X68 comes to mind too, as well as the QM21 to an extent, as routes which run through low-income neighborhoods at some point.  

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Not at all...

 

The thing is though, I'm talking about the express buses serving apartment complexes (big ones). Just because they're there, doesn't mean an express bus is gonna burst in ridership. I'm just stating that Spring Creek Towers isn't as big as per say, Co-Op City, in addition to what I mentioned about most riders considering the Local buses, and whatever's left drive or something. In neighborhoods, it does depend on the income levels. The BM5 doesn't only serve Spring Creek Towers; it serves East New York, Lindenwood, Glendale, Forest Hills, and Rego Park/Middle Village. East New York, where the majority of it's ridership is based out of, is indeed a neighborhood in which incomes are considerably lower than the other neighborhoods served. Ridership concentrates there, because it's mainly intended for ENY residents. For such route, it does get good ridership though. The BxM4, X64, and X68 comes to mind too, as well as the QM21 to an extent, as routes which run through low-income neighborhoods at some point.  

My personal opinion is that Co-Op City residents aren't that "well-to-do".  They just have fewer options (transportation wise into the city) and dirt cheap rent, which allows them to be able to afford the express bus moreso than the folks in Starett City/Spring Creek. I'm no fool.  I'm aware of the prices in Co-Op City. I think one bedrooms still go for under $900 a month! Something like $800 - 875.  At the very most, you would only need to make $35,000 a year, and they can be living like royalty, and they go by your income levels there for those apartments, so I'm sure some people may only pay $600 - 700 a month. That's my allowance for food alone, which as far as I'm concerned is pathetic for a yearly salary.  I made that much when I was preparing for my study abroad in college one year.