Random Thoughts Thread - Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE)

[N6 Limited]

The stark contrast between being in a car and a bus on the Island is staggering.  It's like the bus system is its own little world sometimes, one that no one really wants to be in.

That's why when people on these transit forums say "You shouldn't drive , you should ride public transit" or other similar statements, I just laugh.  I ride the bus & subway to commute.  If I take my car in for maintenance, I'll use the bus and go to the mall, the gym, home, etc instead of waiting, but I like having the CHOICE.

 

Driving eastbound on the LIE in Queens around Utopia Pkwy, you could see a sign say something like: 

______________

|106/107 15 Mins |

|135        20 Mins |

|110        30 mins |

|______________|

 

By bus from Utopia Parkway and Horace Harding Expwy it would probably take 90 mins or so to get to 106/107 & LIE, by LIRR? who knows.

Edited September 26, 2013 by N6 Limited

[Amtrak7]

By bus from Utopia Parkway and Horace Harding Expwy it would probably take 90 mins or so to get to 106/107 & LIE, by LIRR? who knows.

 

LIRR from Jamaica to Hicksville is around 25min. Then add bus/subway connections to your destination.

[Vistausss]

Sometimes buses can be faster than cars on the same trip (given we're talking non-segregated bus lanes). It has to do with routing, crowds on the roads, special bus rules, etc.

[Burrstone]

On Saturday, September 21st, NICE hosted the 26th annual New York State Transit Association's (NYPTA) Bus Roadeo at Nickerson Beach Park.

 

 

Damn, how did I not know about this?!  Were there buses from around the state there?

 

Congrats to the NICE operator!

 

Kind of ironic because the story some have wanted us to believe for almost 21 months (to grind the ax of their personal agenda) is that NICE has the worst drivers and that all the good ones are leaving or being driven away, but a NICE driver is being recognized as the best in the state.  

[Joel Up Front]

Why is it that just the Orion Vs had the system where all the B/O had to do to close the back doors (or get moving) was to pump the brakes twice?

[Turbo19]

Why is it that just the Orion Vs had the system where all the B/O had to do to close the back doors (or get moving) was to pump the brakes twice?

It's due to an interlock, which is supposed to prevent the B/O from departing while the doors are open, as a passenger may still be in the doorway.

 

I don't believe the front doors are like that on the Orion V's, though I could be mistaken.

[Burrstone]

I'm not certain about Orion or NICE/LIB specs but the way the interlock works is it pretty much turns off the brake pedal (operator doesn't have to keep their foot on the brake the brake is automatically applied), and opens the backdoor.  To turn off the interlock the operator steps on the brake pedal, the interlock is disengaged and the back door closes.

 

Hound or LI Operator can comment if the system is different for LIB/NICE buses...

Edited September 28, 2013 by Burrstone

[Vistausss]

@Joel Up Front: It's not "just" the Orion Vs. Mercedes-Benz Citaro previous generation (pre-2008) also has that.

[Joel Up Front]

I'm not certain about Orion or NICE/LIB specs but the way the interlock works is it pretty much turns off the brake pedal (operator doesn't have to keep their foot on the brake the brake is automatically applied), and opens the backdoor.  To turn off the interlock the operator steps on the brake pedal, the interlock is disengaged and the back door closes.

 

Hound or LI Operator can comment if the system is different for LIB/NICE buses...

 

So what turns the interlock off on the NGs and after?  I'm sick of having doors slam in my face/having to force the rear door open because some bus operators refuse to activate the air assist.

[qjtransitmaster]

is still slow no matter what. Also, doesn't go near Jamaica Bus Terminal. It's about 10-15 minutes walk from Jamaica Center to Jamaica Bus Terminal.

With any Archer Av bus to nearby, it's 5-7 minutes, with Q44/Q20, about 5 minutes.

People takes to reach n6, n22, n24, n26, NOT .

People who takes n4 will take .

 

If those buses went to the it would cut down on travel time big time. I use Q30/31 to reach NICE.

That's why when people on these transit forums say "You shouldn't drive , you should ride public transit" or other similar statements, I just laugh.  I ride the bus & subway to commute.  If I take my car in for maintenance, I'll use the bus and go to the mall, the gym, home, etc instead of waiting, but I like having the CHOICE.

 

Driving eastbound on the LIE in Queens around Utopia Pkwy, you could see a sign say something like: 

______________

|106/107 15 Mins |

|135        20 Mins |

|110        30 mins |

|______________|

 

By bus from Utopia Parkway and Horace Harding Expwy it would probably take 90 mins or so to get to 106/107 & LIE, by LIRR? who knows.

Well I guess an express bus might work out well. I do think if shortline stopped in eastern queens at little neck parkway and skipped Hempstead ridership may get high outside holiday times.

[Amtrak7]

So what turns the interlock off on the NGs and after?  I'm sick of having doors slam in my face/having to force the rear door open because some bus operators refuse to activate the air assist.

 

Based on my NICE rides, I would say having the air assist on is a minority.

 

Here in Pittsburgh, because of the downtown free fare zone and its associated fare policies (pay on exit outbound), the only time I seen rear doors opened (with a few occasional exceptions) is in downtown. Very annoying and time consuming when an outlying stop has passenger flow in both directions.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Amtrak7

[Vistausss]

@qj: I'm not so sure if that'll work out so well. Long Islanders travel mostly b/w Eastern Queens and Western Nassau (at least, that's what statistics show). So skipping a major transit hub like HTC might ruin ridership for Shortline.

[FamousNYLover]

If those buses went to the it would cut down on travel time big time. I use Q30/31 to reach NICE.

Well I guess an express bus might work out well. I do think if shortline stopped in eastern queens at little neck parkway and skipped Hempstead ridership may get high outside holiday times.

When I was helping with n4/4x bus at Jamaica Center, I remember there were lots of passengers who wants n22/n24 gets off at wrong place. One time it was Spanish family and I told her to take any Archer Av bus to 165th St or Merrick Blvd for NICE bus at 165th St Bus Terminal.

 

One time, I helped elderly lady escort her to n24 Bus from Jamaica Center by walking because I'm sure some people don't want to used up money.

[B35 via Church]

The n22L is a n22a Limited, and the n22X is a Second Limited Version of the n22L.

 

The n22L runs from Hicksville to Jamaica, making all stops only at the timepoints listed, however not Roosevelt Field (because it takes Westbury and then Glen Cove Road

 

The n22x is a second limited. However, the catch with this is that it makes all stops until Roosevelt Field like the n22. The n22L deviates before RF, so the n22X takes places as the N22's Limited from Mineola to Hyde Park. It stops at RF, Mineola, and Hyde Park Road, then Jamaica.

 

Think of it this way

 

N22L> Really an n22a Limited that goes to Hicksville that doesn't serve Roosevelt Field

 

N22X> An n22 Limited From Jamaica to Roosevelt Field

N22/A/L/X Schedule: http://www.nicebus.com/_meta/routes_pdf/NICE-n22_MapSchedule.pdf

 

N22L (N22 Limited),

bypasses Mineola,Roosevelt Field and Old Country Road.

 

N22X (N22 Express, is like a NYCT Limited).

It has limited stops and runs in the the reverse peak direction during rush hour. 4 trips to Hicksville AM, 4 trips to Jamaica PM

It runs on 30 min headways

 

The stops are:

-Jamaica bus Terminal

-169th Subway

-179th Subway

-New Hyde Park Road

-Mineola Intermodal Center

-Roosevelt Field

-Post Rd & Maple Ave

-Hicksville LIRR Station

 

It takes a shortcut between New Hyde Park Road and Mineola Intermodal Center, so it saves even more time.

According to the schedule it saves 15 mins over the local between 179th Street and Mineola Station.

 

The N23 only goes to Mineola during rush hours, all other times it goes to Hempstead via a different routing south of Hillside Ave.

It runs roughly every 30 mins

N23 Schedule: http://www.nicebus.com/_meta/routes_pdf/NICE-n23_MapSchedule.pdf

Thanks, you two.

 

n22l is more like local because it makes all stops on Hillside Av and Maple Av.

I don't see why this post is so downvoted, it's true! When I rode the 22L it made every stop from the City Line to Willis.

From East Williston to the Q43 terminal vicinity (city line)? Well good god, if that's the case, then it isn't much of a "limited".....

 

- why would people put up with that? when there is the LIRR unless they are reverse riders.

 

- You coould use the to the and use jamacia buses to reach NICE.

1) lol.... Yeah, You have no idea how many folks come from Nassau county that took LIB's/take NICE buses to catch the during the PM hrs.... I'm not even saying this attitudinally either.....

 

In other words, yes, there are a plethora of reverse peak riders (going to nassau from "the city" in the morning and leaving nassau & coming to "the city" during the pm peak hrs) that don't take the LIRR..... For starters, Why do you think the N6 gets the crowds that it does? These are people that want no part of paying LIRR fares.... Unbeknownst to some, A lot of folks on N6's going to Hempstead are folks having boarded in Queens - Hell, I'd go as far as to say there are more intercounty riders than intracounty riders on the N6 (well that's how it always seemed to me).....

 

2) I don't live all that close to the or the , that's the problem.... It would still require me to leave the house well into the wee hrs of the morning.... Furthermore, Not putting up w/ the B12 to B'way Junction around those times as part of a daily commute, just to get to the subway, & to then have to walk from damn jamaica center to 165th terminal to catch a NICE bus.....2-fare zoning it out like that would be an immense waste of time; remember, overnight headways in general aren't the greatest..... This is why it's either the personal vehicle or the LIRR for me....

 

walk to KCH (albany av stop) for the B12 to broadway junction, for the from alabama to jamaica center, then walk from jamaica ctr. to 165th st bus terminal to catch the n22 or the n24 to mineola?

 

Nope, not happenin' cap'n...

 

As for the express buses, I think the buses should pick-up/drop-off at Hicksville LIRR, Roosevelt Field, Mineola Intermodal Center, then head to 179th, 169th, and 165th St Bus Terminal. That's a real express bus.

The point of the n22 Express though is to get riders from the major stops to/from Jamaica or Hicksville as quickly as possible.

Areas like New Cassel and Westbury still have the n22 Limited and the n22 local, both of which will show up more often than the express.

I was about to agree w/ Pinepower regarding the first reply... Then I read the second reply & said to myself, that's a good point, now that they have this N22L service.....

 

Pinepower's shtick has always been to increase service on the N22 (and the N35) by any means necessary (well before veolia took over operations).... He had a plan in the past that I found to be rather overserving the portion of the N22 b/w Hicksville & RFM; which is no surprise, since he lives b/w that stretch....

 

is still slow no matter what. Also, doesn't go near Jamaica Bus Terminal. It's about 10-15 minutes walk from Jamaica Center to Jamaica Bus Terminal.

 

With any Archer Av bus to nearby, it's 5-7 minutes, with Q44/Q20, about 5 minutes.

People takes to reach n6, n22, n24, n26, NOT .

People who takes n4 will take .

Nailed it....

 

You either have to walk from jamaica center to 165th after having came off the , or get off on sutphin or something & catch one of the buses that end inside 165th..... This is why you have ppl. making their way to the & waiting inside 165th bus terminal, or waiting at the stops near 169th st subway or 179th st subway (along hillside)....

[Vistausss]

Pinepower's area is in need of more service. They already get crappy enough LIRR service there as is.

[N6 Limited]

I'm always pushing for more n22 local service because I know those buses are needed. Pinepower's area does need bus service, just not as much as other areas do (especially when you look at total ridership numbers). But I also think the expresses and limiteds should be as full or semi-full like how successful the n6 LIMITED (something else I think they should bring back) was under the .

The N6 Expresses are getting fuller with the stop changes, etc. I'm not sure how full the N22X gets.

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

--Post Censored by Moderators--

 

Just stop!

I'm always pushing for more n22 local service because I know those buses are needed. Pinepower's area does need bus service, just not as much as other areas do (especially when you look at total ridership numbers). But I also think the expresses and limiteds should be as full or semi-full like how successful the n6 LIMITED (something else I think they should bring back) was under the .

 

Isn't it possible to extend n22A's to Hicksville to Provide extra service?

Edited September 30, 2013 by Brett

[B35 via Church]

Isn't it possible to extend n22A's to Hicksville to Provide extra service?

The original purpose of the N22a was to take some of that ridership b/w "the city" & RFM from off the 22's hands, without putting it all on the 22 route (that would go to/from Hicksville)..... Now that things are more complex w/ 22's/22a's/22L's/22x's around (and 24's running to Hicksville on top of it), I don't know if NICE would delve into extending 22a's to hicksville (to provide for more local service b/w RFM & Hicksville).....

 

I always saw the 22a as not much more than a 22 short turn.... I don't know how the 22a is used now.

[PinePower]

Pinepower's area is in need of more service. They already get crappy enough LIRR service there as is.

 

You got that right. Most of the time Westbury only gets one train an hour. Too many trains skip it, but the LIRR doesn't seem to be interested in adding stops to some trains, even though the expense would be minimal. The n22 has seen large increases in ridership for sure, because it serves an ever more crowded (but yet still poor) New Cassel and connects up to major transfer points at Hicksville, RF, Mineola, and in Jamaica. I think Hawk service would do well on this route, heck, the n4 has it so why not the n22?

True I know the n22 the best since I use it often, along with the n35, and I know there's worse crowding elsewhere in the system, esp with the n6. The thing is the n6 runs pretty often as it is, and I think it would be more cost-effective to invest in articulated buses for that route. The n6 is pretty straight, not too many turns, only fly in the ointment would be the terminals, so they'd have to stop outside of them.

As I've said before, I already know the north part of the n35 is a little weak, and it seems to be getting weaker, which is why I still worry about it's elimination north of NCC, esp outside of rush hours, leaving Westbury only with an already crowded n22 (or n24 if you feel like walking down to Old Country, its not a short walk). Problem is the n35 ends in the middle of nowhere, but I'd like to see it extended up to Jericho Turnpike, it'd go up Post Ave, turn by Westbury HS and go to Jericho by Brush Hollow, there's lots of stores and businesses in that area and no bus service, save for the n48/49, weekdays only, at the Quad which is not a short walk away either. There's lots of new stuff coming to the area which is an opportunity to get new passengers, especially with the opening of the Theater downtown. So I hope NICE will consider some of these ideas, at least they seem more open than the MTA. The LIRR isn't interesting in adding stops at Westbury at all, and here's what's really screwed up, Cold Spring Harbor gets a train every 30 mins on weekends, yet there's hardly any pax there at those times, every Huntington train should stop at Westbury, we have way more passengers, but we're treated like Carle Place, even though we have more people. The LIRR refuses to listen. Just like with those Montauk trains that pass through, but do not stop, at Hicksville. A valuable connection but they won't accomadate us. 

NICE does listen, they have improved n22 service since the MTA days, we even have 20 min headways most of the day on Saturdays. 

The N6 Expresses are getting fuller with the stop changes, etc. I'm not sure how full the N22X gets.

 

I routinely see the n22x leave RF pretty full, even with standees. Last time I took it to Jamaica it was pretty full.

[N6 Limited]

I've noticed that N31's don't short turn in Lynbrook anymore, when did this change? Last April? 

[Cait Sith]

1700 shows off the blue stripe at the left rear side. Currently on the n24.

 

Sent from my SGH-T699 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[Vistausss]

I don't see any blue stripe.

 

(bro tip: your picture didn't get posted)

[Amtrak7]

For some reason, ever since I came here (Pittsburgh), Newsday has never asked me for a login. I don't know if it's because I'm out of their coverage area, or because I'm on university wi-fi.
 

Bus riders in Nassau County are an important, but often overlooked, voting bloc, according to a new survey by a transit advocacy group.
The report by the Long Island Bus Riders Union found that of 284 Nassau Inter County Express bus riders surveyed, 55 percent said they had voted during the past two years. Of those, 69 percent said public transportation was "the most important issue" for them during an election.
Among those surveyed, 58 percent said they planned to vote in November, while 28 percent said they would not, with 14 percent unsure.

Riders Union founder Charlene Obernauer said the figures contradict a long-held perception by some candidates that bus riders don't vote.
"We always knew that not to be true, but we never had the concrete data to point to," said Obernauer, who noted the report also dispels the belief that most Nassau bus riders live in New York City. Of those surveyed, 77 percent said they were Long Island residents.
Obernauer said she hoped the report would spur candidates to become better advocates for the county bus system, including by riding buses, visiting terminals and attending regular Transit Committee meetings.
"Despite bus riders' high levels of turnout during the elections and their passion for reliable public transportation, bus riders or their issues are rarely a topic of discussion during Long Island electoral campaigns," the report said.
In an email, Democratic County Executive candidate Thomas Suozzi said, "We need to make sure that bus riders . . . are receiving the services they need."
Brian Nevin, spokesman for County Executive Edward Mangano, said in a statement he agreed that "transportation is important for riders and our economy."
In 2011, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it would cut more than half of Nassau bus routes unless the county met its financial obligation. Mangano turned the system over to Veolia Transportation, which added service on some routes and cut service on others.

 

[Joel Up Front]

And there's no NICE service literally anywhere near there.  Garden City CAVEdwellers at their finest.  That park also right next to the abandoned St. Paul's Church and school...

[PinePower]

And there's no NICE service literally anywhere near there.  Garden City CAVEdwellers at their finest.  That park also right next to the abandoned St. Paul's Church and school...

 

Yeah its a bit of a walk!