PinePower

But if an MCI isn't available, a bus is better than no bus....obviously there's a situation with Howell hogging all the MCI's and still being short..

The 139 riders are snobs, better to have a bus than none at all. I will only defend their dislike of the Designlines but that're purely from a RELIABILITY standpoint. The NABIs and NEO's still have comfy seats not hard plastic. It's not like we're throwing some NICE Orion 7NG's on there or something...man I'd actually like to see their reaction to that..lol

http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0307.pdf Well they just issued the schedule for 2014, so they're not going to eliminate it this year. It's an important link to an underserved area, as Jackson Twp has very little regular bus service. Alot of workers there use it from Freehold..just how are they supposed to get to work if it gets discontinued? 139 riders can hop on Academy, but there's no alternative to the 307. I know, 139 riders have the $$ and $$ talks..

Do you know which bus #'s broke down that day?

https://twitter.com/NJTRANSIT_NBUS 2 Breakdowns on the 319 tonight as per their twitter. Could've been the same bus involved, but I just bet it's a CL and a good chance 7185 is to blame. Also one on the 137 as well, I was just on that run on Wed night. Bus Route No. 319, the 10:30pm departure from Atlantic City Bus Terminal to the Port Authority is disabled due to a mechanical problem. Bus Route No. 319, the 6:45 pm departure from NY PABT to Atlantic City is currently delayed in New York with a mechanical problem. Bus Route No. 137, the 7:35 pm arrival into New York Port Authority is currently delayed in Lincroft with a mechanical problem.

The way EasyPay works is that when the amount of money on the card drops below a certain amount (usually $10) it is replenished by funds from the bank account of the user. https://www.easypaymetrocard.com/vector/static/faq/ReducedFaq.shtml

I know, but its not like I'm using a regular Metrocard, it's an EasyPay with my name & photo ID.

I know it's because they got newer parts before the change to NICE. It's just something most people wouldn't expect.

The funny thing is many of the V's run better than the NG's. Lately every 17 I've been on felt like it was gonna stall out, and it's no surprise they're making up the majority of the breakdowns. Some of the drivers rev 'em at stoplights to keep them from stalling. Just wait till summer!

I got to put this rant out there. The fareboxes are still messed up. My NEW Easypay card that I got just last weekend wouldn't work on 2 buses today, along with one on Saturday. I almost thought that NICE damaged my card again, but then it started working on the 2 buses I took home. Also saw what appeared to be a 1700 or 1800 NG broke down on Old Country in front of the Source Mall. And what makes it worse are the jerk drivers who act like I need to pay when it says READ ERROR. It's not like I'm putting a card in that has no money on it, it gets deducted from my bank account once a month, and surely don't have any extra $$ to put into the farebox. From now on I'm standing my ground, let him throw me off the bus. No wonder drivers are getting beat up, and it's a shame too because it's the good ones that are getting beat up because of these jerk drivers. But I aint takin' no crap over the Read Errors anymore. I dont even want to give this operation my money, esp a cash fare which all goes to NICE. It's a freakin' joke. NICE sucks. I honestly don't feel like setting foot on these shitboxes on wheels ever again!

And unfortunately with out of the picture, there won't be the same testing standards.

He acted like the order was already made or was told from mgmt. But I think (and hope) it will be New Flyers. I sure hope its not crappy Gilligs...

BTW heard from a driver today the next NICE Bus order for 2015 will be New Flyers similar to what the city got. Dont know what the specs will be though. These will replace most of the Orion V "Greens" (mostly 1500s and some 1600s)

Buses in sorry shape. Look at the rear of 1831! And trust me they sound as bad as they look.

Hey...looking at the NICE schedule page...looks like they got rid of the n81! http://nicebus.com/Maps-Schedules/Bus-Maps-and-Schedules.aspx

BTW NICE will not see any additional funding besides the one proposed in the Governor's budget. So now the ball is in Nassau's court, otherwise there will be more service cuts this summer. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/advocates-decry-mta-s-loss-of-30m-in-state-budget-1.7575927?&p=413452

You're right, I shouldn't have. But lately thats the way it feels like with the more mainstream riders leaving.

I've been trying to make the point that mainstream riders are leaving the system, leaving only those with no choice,etc. Routes that serve poor areas do get more crowded because less people own cars, that's a fact. Basically a vicious cycle has started that's driving away mainstream riders, and if NICE doesn't address this the damage will only get worse. That is backed up by the ridership numbers that have all the other systems around us increasing ridership, while we're losing, all points I brought up. Just a case in point with the n22L, when it was eliminated some commuter folks who did use it to the subway, as it saved at least 15 min, are now using the LIRR again at those times (myself included). NICE didn't even replace those n22L runs east of RF, so the buses are more crowded and as a result, run late even more. It's worth the higher price of the LIRR ticket to avoid putting up with that. Basically NICE is driving away commuters with their changes, many of these folks may have cars or someone who can drive them, or an LIRR station. And what you're left with, doesn't really care how bad the service is (judging by the poor turnout of the meeting). No matter how good (or bad) I made these points, the printed facts (ridership stats from TSTC), which I shared with the BTC, show something is clearly wrong with the ridership patterns at NICE. It is moving "more toward" a welfare system. When you cut service in busy areas and force choice riders off, they're most likely gone for good.

I just saw them yesterday when I went to the meeting. I guess they don't want photos getting taken of the poor condition of the buses behind that fence!

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.

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'm surprised they can even afford Duct Tape!

And it's not just that, but also buses running early, which is now endemic as well. The 2:05pm n35 from Westbury habitually comes early, usually by 7 or 8 minutes. Last time the guy almost passed someone waiting for the bus as well. Since my EasyPay Metrocard got damaged on a NICE Bus last week and wouldn't work (READ ERROR), I have to pay with change now until I get the new one they sent me. So the transfer shows he came early. If NICE doesn't discipline him now, after I shared the proof with them, it's hopeless. wouldn't even tolerate 2 minutes early. Maybe I complained alot about LIB back in the day, but I should have realized just how good I had it. I see stuff I would never see with now. Yesterday I had another driver on the n35 park on a residential street off route so he could get something in a store, cut through side streets, then turn onto Post Ave from Asbury Lane, and skip the 1st stop on Rockland st entirely! As the Hound would say, you get what you pay for. And apparently Mangano & everyone in the legislature could care less, as well as most of the self-centered people that live in Nassau County. With crap like this, the message is "get a car or get out of Nassau".

The S92 is certainly busy on the South Fork all the way to East Hampton, and it's lighter on the North Fork. But it should NOT be extended to Montauk, the route is long enough as it is & prone to alot of delays. What I'd like to see is a "limited" version of the S92 that runs straight down Rt.27 and skips Sag Harbor & Downtown Southampton. Generally, the last time I took it, most passengers loads are going from Riverhead & Flanders/Hampton Bays, to Bridgehampton & East Hampton in the AM and back in the PM. By having a limited to serve these loads, it would make room for the riders coming back from Southampton, who often have to squeeze on the bus. It's been awhile since I've been on it so perhaps patterns have changed, but I am totally against extending it to Montauk. Most people who disembark at E.Hampton don't transfer to/from the 10C anyway. What I do think is that in summer the 10C should be extended to Montauk Lighthouse to replace the S94. I also think there should be regular hourly (or at least bi-hourly) service between Montauk & East Hampton.

Is this the late Joe Saitta's bus?