Astoria Line

Logged in here on a whim....

It's really nice to be back! Quick life update: I've moved my talents down to Philadelphia, PA but still very much checking out the state of transit affairs in NYC.

How's everyone??

It's been so long since I've logged on here..

I made three years here last month tho

How is everyone?

I usually don't post issues on here but this time I'm going to. I've been spending the last 2 weeks or so being alone and not attending events or nothing. Why? Because I'm not in photography school like I was supposed to because I couldn't afford it and I couldn't even get loans because the loans company rejected it. I've been posting more subway photos thread lately because of it thinking railfanning will ease the stress but it really hasn't. I've been lacking sleep because I'm stressed and embarrassed to even hang out and attend events because I'm not in anything right now and feels completely stupid. At this point, I didn't market myself out there even though I was going to because I'm not in anything. Dreams been crushed and is trying to find photography stuff to do but I've been lacking and nervous about it. And no I'm not going to community college because they're not for me and its not for everyone which is true

 

I had to let this out.

When it comes to art related things (film, photography, drawing, etc). I'd never suggest a college degree (unless it was graphic design), simply because one isn't required for the field. Work on building a portfolio, and improve your skills to the best of your ability, seek out internships and make connections.

Honestly, I'm in college because my field (medical) requires college education (I want at least to be an M.D.), and because I am getting internships and experiences along the way (and my undergrad is paid for by grants, too). 

I wouldn't have come back if not for the fact that my road test was a month ago and I was nervous for it.  I passed but only have a car on the weekends so I just go to the NICE forum to see how hilariously bad things get.

I've moved out of Nassau, and I don't miss NICE a bit! Congrats on passing!

Its been the first time in months since I've logged in here...

I have not been on here in ages

Finally left nASSau county. Why people find suburbia appealing is beyond me...

One last final today (Anatomy & Phys.) then I will never have to wear this ugly uniform anymore or take anymore HS tests.

Thank you lord, finally!!

...still on spring break.

Boy this felt like the longest non-summer break I've ever had!

Damn I haven't been to Hempstead Transit Center since December.

My n6s/n15s always connect on Fulton or Westminster instead of HTC anyway, so why bother? 

Have you had your eyes checked lately?

I'm repeating something that Piney said sarcastically HAHA.

I see working adults and students mostly when I'm on the bus, as well as home owning and vehicle owning neighbors. But I guess it depends on which routes and times one rides.

Same as me. I don't see derliects when I ride the bus, and I ride the N6/X which is apparently "the most dangerous route in the country" according to some 

Hunter is not bad at all, if you were to go to Baruch, I would of said: "Good luck with those train rides in the morning." But I think it's worse going uptown.

I don't have to deal with the thankfully, i take the from Jamaica, so I get a 1-seat ride to Lex-63rd then I walk.

I'm glad someone else notices it, he does it all the time and it's annoying. The reason why they should provide more bus service to an area is because demand is increasing, or there is overcrowding and pass-ups, not because "there are a lot of poor people without cars". He has an articulation problem.

 

Even when he goes to meetings, instead of voicing the issues with bus service, or why service needs to be improved in a civilized manner, he yells "you treat us like second class citizens, you don't care about us lowly bus riders, there are a lot of super duper poor people that need the bus, they can't afford cars and they need the bus to get to social services, and there are tons of illegals that need to get to their job for the day, who else is going to cut your lawns in the summer? and the rest are super ghetto gang members that tag the buses and low life clientele that beat up on bus drivers and don't call the police if they're not the perp".  Great way to paint an image and make them want to improve funding and service   .

That point in bold hits the nail on the head.

I have no problem with him making an opinion or whatever, that's fine, but don't sound ignorant either. He holds the stigmatized views of public transit for Nassau County but uses the buses himself, which sounds kind of hypocritical.

Psh it's only been a month, relax. You are not the ONLY one apply to Stony Brook.

I guess you're right, got rejected anyway.

Hunter College Class of 2018 I guess

So I went to the meeting today & hardly anyone showed up. The only speakers were myself and Yuki, no one from TSTC, LIBRU (other than Yuki), etc were there. Setzer had an hour-long presentation, giving a new preview to the Smartphone ticket system, which will only be for now on a pay-per-ride basis, no unlimiteds or transfers to MTA. I really don't see how well this will do. No mention of how the system would work for seniors & the disabled half-fare either. Then the budget presentation, with a $3 Million shortfall due to rising expenses, this budget was "conditionally" passed by the BTC assuming the hole will be filled by extra funding from the state, county, or other sources and that service cuts would be a very last resort (yeah right). Setzer claimed Metrocard Read Errors and FB problems are improving, but I think that is a flat out lie, problems are still commonplace and my EasyPay Metrocard was recently damaged by a NICE F/B and now just says READ ERROR, am awaiting a new card after reporting it. The Chairman did ask Setzer about a rise in breakdowns, but Setzer didn't really answer that question, other than they'll "try harder" to improve MDBF. I was the first of only 2 speakers. News 12 didn't even stick around for the whole meeting & left 15 min into Setzer's speech. I actually ran after them and asked them why they were leaving, they said they had to do a "live shot" and would be back after 5pm, but they I never saw them come back. In my speech I had printed out photos of the poor condition of the buses (trash, gang signs,etc) along with facts from the TSTC (TRi-State Transp Campaign) about ridership declines on NICE while NYC & LIRR made gains. Also included were some ideas from myself and some suggested by Brett to streamline the lightest routes, all these were given to the Nassau BTC and shared with Mr.Setzer. I first thanked NICE for service through the rough winter, and tried as much as possible to direct most of the blame toward Nassau County and it's lack of funding the system. I pointed out the breakdowns, farebox malfunctions, and declining ridership due to security & reliability issues. I talked about how the latest changes on March 30 will lead to more frustrated riders who will then leave the system too, like the cuts on the n1. My point was that something needs to be done to improve service reliability, increase security (cops & cameras on buses), and make common sense scheduling adjustments. I did not bring up the MTA, I was really just doing my best to make a point while using a little honey instead of vinegar to make it. I felt like I was cut short, certainly before the 3 mins was up, but I managed to get all in that I said. Yuki's speech was read twice, first by Yuki himself, and then by a BTC member. He suggested running the n48/49 to Jericho Quad on weekends, which to me is a waste. After it was a read I briefly mentioned to the BTC and Mr.Setzer that I think extending the n35 there on weekends would be a better idea, it would provide new service to several shopping centers up there with Kohl's and Home Depot, as well as the Westbury Music Fair & movie theaters. That would help get new ridership, whereas Yuki's suggestion would just serve an office park that has little traffic on weekends, anyway. Going back to my speech I brought up the problems caused by elimination of the n22L, as well as the n27 only running hourly from Glen Cove after 6pm which will result in more crowding. 

It's really just a waste of time folks. Really just giving up. If the riders are so frustrated, why did hardly anyone bother showing up? And watching News 12 later I see no mention of my comments about existing service, the story was basically centered around the $3 Million budget gap and some interviews at HTC. The system is basically a ghetto on wheels and that's the way everyone wants it. The ridership #'s may bump up a bit with routes serving poorer areas with the warmer weather & landscaping season, but the commuters, students,etc are finding other ways around, or just leaving Nassau entirely. Sorry for the feelings in this post but the situation just feels hopeless. At least I tried. 

Do you realize how you sound sometimes? You come off pretty closeminded and prejudiced. If only "poor people" ride NICE, then why do you ride NICE? I'm not poor, but I ride NICE because LIRR gives me shitty service and a car isn't feasible, especially going to college in Manhattan as of August.

Anyways..

I think Setzer is correct about the farebox issues. I had a ton of read errors back at the end of 2013, but I haven't got one in a long while, and I've been re-using the metrocards.

You are correct in trying to displace the blame of the county for the most part. I think Mangano doesn't give two s**** about the system, as well as the people who live here. It is typical suburban ignorance, which is why after less than a year in Nassau, amongst other things, I'm moving out within the next year. I'd rather put up with the MTA and its problems only than this sorry excuse for a system. I don't think anything will be done to make this system better without Mangano's help and as you can see, he doesn't care. 

I tell you it's getting bad. I don't feel safe on alot of the buses these days. Thats what happens when whatever mainstream ridership you had got fed up, what you're left with it even more evident.

I don't feel unsafe, considering the times I ride the bus. I'm getting off of this sinking ship of an island soon enough anyways.

Another NICE operator got assaulted Yesterday. In Franklin Square, AGAIN. smh.

This is why I ride NICE early in the morning and late at night when all the unstable people are still unconscious

Q44 stop reduction for SBS service:

 

Stops would be placed at

 

Merrick/Archer

Parsons/Archer

Sutphin/Archer

Sutphin/Hillside

Manton/Main

Union/Main

73rd/Main

Jewel/Main

Melbourne/Main

Booth Memorial/Main

Elder/Main

Kissena/Main

Northern/Main

32nd/Union

Willets Point/Union

20th/Union

14th/Union

Lafayette/Hutchinson River Pkwy

Castle Hill/Cross Bronx

Parkchester

West Farms Sq

+ Horace Harding/Main, i see it this way too...

The Horace Harding/Main was an accidental omission.

 

These are largely the same as the LTD stops, with a few missing such as 39th and Main; it's closer to the , but at the same time buses spend a disproportionate amount of dwell time at two Flushing stops; better to stop at a place with very wide sidewalks and not as much traffic.

 

Keep in mind that although the Q44 currently makes local stops north of 20th Av, it will probably not do so once it gets SBS. The B44 was also not LTD for its entire length, but SBS buses do not turn local at any point on the route. It will also probably occur simultaneously with a beefing up of Q20 service (so riders between 14th and 20th shouldn't be too screwed), and the segments in the Bronx are not very far from other bus routes heading in the same direction as the Q44.

Pretty much. It is not a long distance though, I don't think it will affect everything THAT much

This thread was open almost TWO years ago and is still going strong. Heck I remember when it was first made! (I knew B35 does too) lol

Yesterday was so beautiful outside, the warm day was really needed. After this week, hopefully spring will be here to stay!

Looks like I may be going the CUNY route, all 6 that I applied to (CSI, Brooklyn, Queens, City, Hunter and Baruch) accepted me.

Damn Stony Brook is taking 23184021985 years after I sent them my tax papers on February 20th. Its March 23rd ffs...

Well my usual N6X has been less crowded lately... (I actually get a seat at Terrace since my 15 doesn't connect with it time-wise at HTC anymore....) Pretty much every NICE route I've seen has been WAY less crowded lately (Ridership being lost is no exaggeration to me....)

On the N6 going home yesterday, near Franklin Ave (HTC-bound), a guy got on the bus, didn't pay his fare and told the driver to take off. Everyone has been taking their frustrations on the operators. No one is as friendly with them as they used to be. Says a lot about the satisfaction.

I have no complaints about the 6/15/31/32 for the most part, but my god that N4 always comes to Jamaica 6-10 minutes late (which is why I NEVER take it anymore)

The struggle of waiting for college acceptances...

its actually pretty infuriating...

That n6x runs a lot smoother in the morning. NICE made the headways 7-8 minutes instead of 10-13. I thank them for that, they at least improved SOME service. The buses have more room and are less packed. The trip is smoother and surprisingly shorter as well. I haven't tried it during the PM yet but the good service compared to the n4x's dismal 15 minute headways.

Once the N15 turns off old country (having came from RFM), it's pretty much smooth sailing (even for as long as the route is) - That has always been the case w/ that route... If old country is jammed, then N15's will be late - that's the biggest choke point on the entire route (the stint b/w [leaving] RFM & old country/[county seat (I think that is)]..... That explains why N15's are often early or on time by time it reached HTC.....

Well I was mainly talking about going to HTC in the morning from Long Beach but yeah I noticed that too.

Lately every n6/n6x i've been taking hasn't been too crowded as usual lately... hmm wonder why? lol

I catch the 6:08am n6x out of HTC and every other bus that goes to HTC other than the n15 has been showing up late the past week (that's rather interesting too). I feel bad for all those other people (which is why I love the n15, its always early or on time)

People actually listened to that? I thought it served as filler when the DJ left after you blew the last hundred on booze.

This^

PSA: 80% of current EDM fans aren't even REAL fans.

and this^

and don't forget the people who go to one rave and think they are advanced ravers/partiers/fans and then put "Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat." as their motto