Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 8, 2012 #1 Posted May 8, 2012 I often check the website to see if there are delays on the buses or subways, and the buses are always listed as having "Good Service" even if they are running 40 minutes late as was the case with the BxM18 a few weeks ago. Why is it that they always put "Good Service" for buses unless there is a detour?? It seems as if the subway status is a bit more accurate in that regard. The thing is with the subway they are less likely to be delayed unless there is a problem, but buses have to deal with the general traffic which can be far less predictable.
Rick44 Posted May 8, 2012 #2 Posted May 8, 2012 Your topic title is asking a question. You answered it in the post. Was this your intention?
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 8, 2012 Author #3 Posted May 8, 2012 Your topic title is asking a question. You answered it in the post. Was this your intention? No I didn't answer it. That's my impression based on my experiences with the website. I'm not quite sure what the considers to be "Good Service" but I've noticed a trend that could or could not be the answer and I find it rather annoying. As far as I'm concerned, "Good Service" means that buses are running with relatively next to no delays, as opposed to a bus that is 30 minutes late. There have been two BxM2s that have been a good 20 - 40 minutes late in the last few weeks and the had "Good Service" in both cases. If you have a bus that runs say once an hour then it would be nice to know that the bus is stuck in traffic so that you can make other arrangements and not play the guessing game.
Rick44 Posted May 8, 2012 #4 Posted May 8, 2012 The thing is with the subway they are less likely to be delayed unless there is a problem, but buses have to deal with the general traffic which can be far less predictable. i think that's what the would say as a reason for it. It justifies incompetence by the agency.
trainfan22 Posted May 8, 2012 #5 Posted May 8, 2012 There's too many bus routes for the TA to report every little bus delay, there's like what, 30 subway lines? Wheres there's 100+ bus routes in the city, would be overwhelming for the MTA to keep the bus "service alert" page as accurate as the railroad & subway ones are. I would imagine "Good Service" means the service is running on or close to schedule.
checkmatechamp13 Posted May 9, 2012 #6 Posted May 9, 2012 Probably because a) Buses like the BxM18 don't have BusTime, so they can't track them B) They don't see a point in putting up a notice for a couple of buses running late (even if it's by 40 minutes). Not saying I agree with either of those, though.
B35 via Church Posted May 9, 2012 #7 Posted May 9, 2012 What does the MTA define as "Good Service"? The buses themselves being on the road.
Amtrak7 Posted May 9, 2012 #8 Posted May 9, 2012 Good service on the bus = no detours, no turnbacks, and most buses leave the depot on time.
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 9, 2012 Author #9 Posted May 9, 2012 lol@ answers.... ---- @trainfan.... I don't call 40 minutes a little delay... It took me triple the amount of time to get home than usual that night (30 minutes vs 90 minutes). Just something that I've noticed here of late when they throw up "Good Service" on the website. They wonder why folks are using buses less... A prime example of how they need to improve things in terms of bus service and why Bus Time is indeed needed. With buses you either wait and hope the bus comes or take an alternative route. Now I waited because I could tell that the traffic was backed up based on how other express buses were running, but if you take a bus line that runs like crap, you are less likely to wait and that indeed can lead to fewer folks using the line .
B35 via Church Posted May 9, 2012 #10 Posted May 9, 2012 @trainfan....I don't call 40 minutes a little delay... heh, some routes runtimes aren't even 40 minutes !
youngblaze Posted May 9, 2012 #11 Posted May 9, 2012 Unfortunately, New York City Buses will always have "bad" service there are far too many variables that work against the operators. One of my favorite complaints is, "oh man...you drive so slowwwwwww". I'm not doing it by choice I'm doing it to maintain the schedule...you see the thing with people is that they hold the schedule to a T when they are waiting for the bus but once they board that's it it's out the window you gotta haul a** and that's just not the way it works...like I tell all the cry babies that board my bus and decide to "drive" the bus with their mouth...I'll get you there safely...NOT quickly...you want quick take a cab (I don't really say the take a cab part tho lol)
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 9, 2012 Author #12 Posted May 9, 2012 Unfortunately, New York City Buses will always have "bad" service there are far too many variables that work against the operators. One of my favorite complaints is, "oh man...you drive so slowwwwwww". I'm not doing it by choice I'm doing it to maintain the schedule...you see the thing with people is that they hold the schedule to a T when they are waiting for the bus but once they board that's it it's out the window you gotta haul a** and that's just not the way it works...like I tell all the cry babies that board my bus and decide to "drive" the bus with their mouth...I'll get you there safely...NOT quickly...you want quick take a cab (I don't really say the take a cab part tho lol) I don't think anyone denies the part about variables. I just think that putting "Good Service" when in reality the bus is extremely delayed for some reason or another gives a false pretense that doesn't exist. I'm not talking about a few minutes late either because you can't expect perfection, but I think delays of 15 minutes and above should be noted. There are actually times when service is GOOD, but when there are severe delays it should be noted. I mean, why should I wait for 40 minutes for an express bus if I can know that there is a problem in advance and take say MetroNorth to get home?? The whole point of having Service Status is to give passengers a heads up, so putting down "Good Service" when in reality there are severe delays defeats the whole purpose. The same thing goes for the Bridges that they list as having "Good Service". You go right back to playing a guessing game. Now this morning would be another example... Traffic is an absolute mess outside because of the rain. It took me almost 2 hours to get in from Riverdale this morning and I didn't mind it because of course I left an extra 40 minutes earlier than usual, so I was only about 5 minutes late, which is no biggie, but I'm sure some folks were extremely late because traffic was really backed up. Mind you I usually can get into the office in 45 - 50 minutes in good traffic. Of course they have service listed as "Good" though. lol
Guest Lance Posted May 9, 2012 #13 Posted May 9, 2012 Unlike the subway section of the Current Status page, the other sections are only changed when there's some kind of road diversion such as construction on a particular road rerouting certain bus routes. They might add delays on the MNRR/LIRR sections but I haven't seen it yet so I can't be sure. Also, unlike the subway system where TSSs can see the approximate location of any particular train based on the signal system (or ATS/CBTC), the only way they'd know if a bus is running late is if the B/O calls it in while en route. There's also the fact that just because the bus you're waiting for is 40 minutes late, it doesn't mean that every bus on that route is running at the same delay. Unfortunately, until BusTime expands system-wide and the brass can actually see where their buses are, these things will continue. PS, I hope you're really aren't expecting the MTA Bridges/Tunnels to be smooth sailing because they rarely are.
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 9, 2012 Author #14 Posted May 9, 2012 Unlike the subway section of the Current Status page, the other sections are only changed when there's some kind of road diversion such as construction on a particular road rerouting certain bus routes. They might add delays on the MNRR/LIRR sections but I haven't seen it yet so I can't be sure. Also, unlike the subway system where TSSs can see the approximate location of any particular train based on the signal system (or ATS/CBTC), the only way they'd know if a bus is running late is if the B/O calls it in while en route. There's also the fact that just because the bus you're waiting for is 40 minutes late, it doesn't mean that every bus on that route is running at the same delay. Unfortunately, until BusTime expands system-wide and the brass can actually see where their buses are, these things will continue. PS, I hope you're really aren't expecting the MTA Bridges/Tunnels to be smooth sailing because they rarely are. So then when there is a bus detour they only find out if the B/O radios in?? I ask because a few weekends ago there was actually a detour but we didn't know where the buses were detouring to, so naturally we went to check on the site which just said "Good Service". lol However it seems like they know about the planned events and do try to post those, which actually has helped me in a few cases. As for Bridges/Tunnels I'd say that it is pointless to have a service status up for them if they can't even mention when there is a bad traffic backup, which is usually the main reason for delays in the first place. There are times when the tunnels/bridges are just fine, in fact I'd say far more than rarely, but in times of serious backup, they should not list them as being "Good" when folks could use alternative connections, rather than sitting there in loads of traffic.
GojiMet86 Posted May 9, 2012 #15 Posted May 9, 2012 Isn't a train considered not in good service if there are delays of 10 minutes or more?
trainfan22 Posted May 10, 2012 #16 Posted May 10, 2012 They do post it when there's delays on the Bridges, I seen it a quite a few times. There usually most accurate with the railroads from what I noticed, if a train is having equipment trouble they post it up on the site. I mean like a LIRR train way out east on the Montauk Branch lol.
youngblaze Posted May 10, 2012 #17 Posted May 10, 2012 Isn't a train considered not in good service if there are delays of 10 minutes or more? Anything up to 5 minutes late is considered "on time" so I've heard.
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