MikeC

Do NICE buses accept 7 and 30 day unlimited metrocards, or only the regular base fare of 2.75? I know PATH doesn't, and I need to know as I'm going to be using NICE soon. Thanks.

3640 I rode on the Q21 about a week ago. I see its on the Q64 rn on BusTime. IDK if that's a permanent move or not

They aren't hybrid

My mistake. I always thought they were. They're just "cleaner". 

Does anybody know about what month in 2013 Queens Village started getting their hybrid MCIs?

Well what about all of the people using the M60 to go to the airport with heavy luggage? Clearly there are some people that do use the local bus to reach the airport.  I do however agree with your other points.

I see some of those M60s when I'm going over the RFK bridge absolutely crush loaded and alot of the people have luggage too..

Sending the Q23 into LGA would be the biggest mistake ever. There is no need to bog it up any further. 

There is but that doesn't apply if you took a local bus to the express.

Ok thanks, yea IK its discounted to go from subway/local to express bus but I wasnt sure on a free ride from express to local. 

Is there a free transfer from an express bus to a local bus? 

But why is there an orion V? I thought they were all scrapped. Or in better words, what purpose does it serve now?

6038 is used for non revenue service. . 

Does anyone know what the expected life of the XD40 is? 

Is 9672 at FP done? 

I'm not trying to defend this whole thing (as my stance is quite clear with this whole 2nd Brooklyn-JFK bus route issue), but to be a little fair, this is his compromise for not having buses run on Church instead.... I just didn't like his whole downplaying of my reasons as to why a route running to JFK via Church isn't so hot an idea..... And then voila, I'm presented with a route to JFK via Parkside/Clarkson, etc....

 

Although it helps, only thing I don't exactly agree with you on, is this notion that a route eventually terminating in JFK has to be a fast one (since you say, need).... It's one thing if we're talking about a route with the implicit/main purpose of transporting riders to the airport (like the Q70.... or "supposedly" the Q48) - It is quite another if the focus is inserting another fixed route into Brooklyn's bus network that has a much larger catchment area than a Q70 or Q48, regardless of the "type" (by that I mean, LTD, SBS, local) of route it is, that has an end terminal somewhere other than Woodhull on one end (B15) running to JFK....

 

I don't have a problem with the B15 transporting riders in & out of JFK (and that route is definitely not fast... LOL!), and I have long been tired of the B15 LTD suggestions (which is an attempt to speed things up).... To be perfectly honest, I didn't think this 2nd JFK-Brooklyn bus route topic was mainly about speed, but more, (wanting to) connecting other areas of Brooklyn to the airport....

 

That's all I got for now...

------------

 

 

side note: Is the Q70 still considered to be a fixed route, or is it a point to point?

Pretty sure point to point. Destination sign doesn't change anymore I believe. 

3563 is back in service on the Q41, so I guess it's not finished?

And why is that?  Economics or that the QM15 is closer? Middle Village IMO is looks a bit more upscale and well kept than Glendale.  

I mean taking the express bus and subway is usually a matter of time and expedience for me. I usually prefer to take the subway in and the express bus home. I know alot of people down Myrtle closer to Ridgewood aren't as well off as people in Middle Village and Glendale by me so it makes sense. Also, for me to get to the 24 I have to take the Q55 or walk about 10-15 minutes, so I settle for the 15 or even the BM5 if I want to take the express bus.

well from what I read on here, Depots like UP maintenance dept.  dont want anything to do with orions so they got rid of the 7000's and got back RTS' 

 

I might be wrong. And also wanted zero to do with Hybrids

 

 

either way, RTS' are one of the most dreaded buses ( yes in the past, we had no choice) 

 

Most operators dont care about how it sounds, how it hits potholes. 

They care about preserving their bodies.

 

Most drivers if you really notice, who have lots of time on the job, walk with a limp.

 

Tough brake pedals, and interlocks wreak havoc on cartilage and ligaments. Sitting in crunched up quarters. Affects our lower spines. Some of the RTS' cant even move the seats back .

 

RIP to the tall operators who have to go to Williamsburg bridge from Kings plaza for an entire 2 round trips before he/ she can give up the bus. 

 

Maybe I'm just venting, but I'm trying to open some of you kind gentlemen's eyes to what operators face.

Believe me I know first hand with my dad. Some vets I know refuse to take anything else out. It's all preference like the car you own I suppose

I think that's the main problem... lol IMO the best buses out there now are the MCIs in terms of build quality.  They could definitely run some of those buses longer even though the plan apparently is to retire some of them.  I still find a lot of them to be in great shape overall for their age.

I wish the D4500 CLs would stay around forever. 

Middle Village is mainly white (Italian-American, with some Irish-Americans).  It's not an upper middle class area, but certainly solidly middle class.  Well kept clean neighborhood overall.  Your typical white collar folks I would imagine.... Glendale is nice as well, but not as nice or affluent as Middle Village, so it makes sense that more ridership would come from Middle Village.

Im in Glendale near Woodhaven Blvd, so I either take the QM15 or any of the local buses to the mall for the M or R. The ridership isn't really there along Myrtle Ave most of the ridership comes from Elliot Ave and the Middle Village folks

I for one as an operator do not understand why the Maintenance division has so much control and say over what kinds of buses that the operator drives. 

 

 

RTS is the one bus that the majority of operators try to avoid. 

Although bus fans love it, we have to drive in uncomfortable positions, oddly shaped dangerous mirrors, rear loading wheelchair lifts, sometimes very poor defrosting fans, not to mention poor loading with passengers and most of those RTS' cannot kneel with a heavy load. 

You will be stuck. 

 

For all of those reasons mentioned, I find in inexplicable that the Maintenance dept turns away buses that benefit operators who have to drive them for 8 hours. 

 

The most they do is test drive them .

Valid point 

Greens lines buses were the oldest too. They still had RTS buses running from 1984 in 2006. Queens Surface probably had the best batch of buses and I remember when the MTA sent their 1994 RTS's to the other MTA bus depots and then those buses too became crap lol.

 Jamaica Buses Classics were pretty solid too

better yet, those express routes were more enjoyable when they ran MCI Classics and Orion V CNG's under Green Lines, Triboro and Queens Surface.

RTS were used on express runs too. 

I know Green didnt have CNG's. Just mainly RTS's and MCI Classics. I tell you though, those buses were speed demons on the highways. O5 CNG's just had the best sound ever.  Some private lines were better than others though.

O5's were tanks. Very good to drive in the snow, atleast compared to the D4500s. 

Sunday service, therefore this year there will be double Sunday service.

Thank you! 

ENY depot is receiving another chunk of load of RTS starting next year. As an Bus operator, I can't stand the RTS. Driving the New Flyers (4000's - 7000's)or Novas (8000's) feels way much comfortable, and easier for passenger to step on especially the elderly.

Interesting that's something I hardly ever hear. How about the Orions?

Does anyone know what schedule the MTA runs the day after Christmas?

Why does Rego Park and Forest Hills even have a express Bus?? Can't they reroute the QM15 to serve some portion of Rego Park, and the BM5 to serve some portion of Forest Hills?

The QM12 get used in the morning, some people prefer not to take the subway

That's not what I was getting at. I'm trying to understand how it was determined which areas in Queens got a Downtown express bus. The areas covered by the QM2/QM20 seem like a no-brainer given how far they are from any subway.

Downtown service should be tried on QM2/20 for sure. 

Why are there so many LGA buses on the Q25/34 lately?

There's been work being done to the C40s. I know Spring Creek had a hybrid or 2 from JFK as well recently.