Bus Riders Explore New Ways To Pressure MTA for Better Service

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Straphangers use short stories to vent their anger at MTA buses

By Jose Martinez
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 12:19 AM EDT

It's not just subway commuters who are grumbling about miserable service; many bus riders are, too, and they're sharing their tales of woe in a new way. NY1 Transit Reporter Jose Martinez has more on that story.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, as the beloved children's song says.

But in the city, those wheels often turn mighty slow.

"Buses are in a serious decline," Stephanie Burgos-Veras of the Riders Alliance advocacy group said at a press conference. "They're costing New Yorkers time, they're costing New Yorkers money, and they're costing New Yorkers frustration."

Leading to the release of "The Woes on the Bus," a collection of short stories about very long waits for buses and painfully long rides.

The Riders Alliance compiled the collection to document the toll that shabby bus service is taking on everyday life.

"There's been times where this bus actually makes me late for my medical appointments, which I have to maintain every week," Bronx bus rider Ramona Ferreyra said at the press conference. "And missing one of those is actually horrible, because I have to wait about a week to see a primary care doctor."

Ferreyra was among the thousand New Yorkers who submitted stories to the Riders Alliance.

48 were selected, and they are true tales of woe about lost jobs, missed doctor appointments, troubles at school — all because of late and delayed buses.

"I've had students show up late for class, even show up late for exams, because of unreliable bus service, and subway service, of course," said Brooklyn bus rider Suman Ganguli.

The story headlines say it all:

"I was late to a job interview."

"I've gotten to my final warning, about to get fired."

"I've made a bad impression on my professors."

"It means I'm 30 minutes late to work."

"I'm tired of wasting money on cabs."

But if this were a competition, a rider identified as Faith from Brooklyn would win hands down:

"The bus is never on time, and I feel like it gets rerouted a lot," she wrote. "Once, I missed an audition to do background vocals for John Legend."

Two years ago, the Riders Alliance released "Subway Horror Stories" about poor train service. "The Woes on the Bus" seeks to push the city and the MTA to fast-track measures that can improve bus speeds, such as bus-only lanes.

The MTA says it's working on several initiatives to boost service, but concedes that worsening traffic, especially in Manhattan, might undermine the effort.

In which case, "The Woes on the Bus Part Two" would make a perfect sequel.

Video: http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2017/09/27/the-woes-on-the-bus-short-stories-mta-bus-frustrations-nyc-riders-alliance.html

----

 

The Daily News article below provides more specifics:

Transit watchdogs urge state, city to fix lousy MTA bus service

Stephanie Burgos-Veras, community organizer with the Riders Alliance, debuts transit advocates' book of tales from bus riders called, The Woes on the Bus, Frustration and Suffering, All Through the Town.

 (DAN RIVOLI / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

BYDAN RIVOLI

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Updated: Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 2:16 AM

As the MTA focuses on fixing the crumbling subway system, a coalition of transit advocates said Tuesday that the plodding bus network needs some road work as well.

To show the transit pros how bad it’s gotten on city streets, the groups collected more than 1,000 stories of bus riders’ missed appointments, angry bosses and unplanned taxi trips.

Members of the Bus Turnaround Coalition, which includes the Straphangers Campaign, published 50 tales of terrible MTA bus trips called “The Woes on the Bus: Frustration and Suffering, All Through the Town.”

The coalition will be delivering copies to the offices of Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio, as well as to transit agencies.

The toll late buses take can be measured in dollars and aggravation:

Shannon Reid complained her Gateway Mall job is in jeopardy due to the long wait for a Q8 bus near her Brooklyn home. She relies on cabs to get to work on time — even though she has an unlimited Metrocard.

Excerpt from "The Woes on the Bus" by Riders Alliance.

 (COURTESY RIDERS ALLIANCE)

“It has gotten worse over the years,” Reid said, blasting the route as the “worst bus line.”

“I’ve gotten my final warning, about to get fired, waiting for this bus,” the irate commuter wrote.

Another woman said been there, done that.

“I lost my last job because my bus always arrived late,” grumbled Sade G., of Queens.

Edith D. of Queens gave herself a two-hour head start for a 9 a.m. job interview — but a late bus thwarted her.

 

“The bus was so late that it didn’t even arrive until after my interview was supposed to start,” Edith D. wrote.

Yet another bus foiled the ambitions in an epic, even legendary way, for aspiring musician Faith L. of Brooklyn

“Once I missed an audition to do background vocals for John Legend,” she groused.

And Maria Z. made a fuss that it took her three hours to get from her Greenpoint home to Williamsburg.

Ramona Ferreryra, member of the grassroots transit group, Riders Alliance, said a slow ride on the Bx19 from her South Bronx home to northern Manhattan can make the difference between seeing a doctor or needing to reschedule appointments.

 

The advocacy groups want the city to add more bus lanes to speed up service.

 (JEFFERSON SIEGEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

“I have Medicaid. It’s difficult to get in to see some of the specialists that I see,” Ferreryra, 37, said at Columbus Circle. “It’s super-stressful.”

She complained that her ride on the Bx19 through E. 149th St. in the Bronx is constantly held up in traffic, particularly near Lincoln Hospital.

Unlike the MTA-run subways, both Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio share responsibility for the bus system. Cuomo controls the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and de Blasio’s Department of Transportation controls the streets.

Though transit officials are trying to improve the bus system to stem the loss of riders, performance has yet to improve. In June, nearly a quarter of buses were late to their next pickup, according to the latest MTA stats — a slight decrease from the same month last year.

The advocacy groups said the MTA can allow all-door boarding on local bus routes, while the city can add bus lanes and tweak street signals to let buses zoom through intersections.

 

The MTA blamed congested streets for holding up buses.

“Better bus service is directly connected to less-congested New York City streets, strong enforcement of bus-only lanes and expediting new technology like traffic signalization prioritization,” said MTA spokeswoman Amanda Kwan.

Traffic has become another fight between Cuomo and de Blasio over the state of transportation in New York.

Cuomo has embraced a traffic-busting plan called congestion pricing that charges drivers to enter Manhattan’s business core. De Blasio has called it a “regressive” tax, instead preferring a tax on high-earning New Yorkers to fund transit.

“Buses are stuck in traffic and there are a couple of ways to solve that problem. One of the ways is more bus lanes,” said Nick Sifuentes, director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Reducing traffic on our streets and having congestion pricing in New York ... would help in that regard.”

“The most progressive thing we can do,” he added, “is fix transit for the millions of New Yorkers who are on it every single day.”

 

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/transit-watchdogs-urge-state-city-fix-lousy-mta-bus-service-article-1.3523743

[Deucey]

Was late to an interview because S40 was overcrowded and S44 ran late, so I missed the ferry by two minutes.

But SIX buses deadheaded to the ferry on Richmond Terrace at that time.

I feel like those deadheads should be used as supplemental service on the way to/from the ferry when regular services are too full to take on passengers- unscheduled on customer schedules, but able to be assigned by dispatchers for pickups in the last two miles of ferry-bound routes, and the first two miles of routes leaving the ferry. They're light pickups - maybe 10 passengers, but it'd help stop unnecessary delays.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

7 hours ago, Deucey said:

Was late to an interview because S40 was overcrowded and S44 ran late, so I missed the ferry by two minutes.

But SIX buses deadheaded to the ferry on Richmond Terrace at that time.

I feel like those deadheads should be used as supplemental service on the way to/from the ferry when regular services are too full to take on passengers- unscheduled on customer schedules, but able to be assigned by dispatchers for pickups in the last two miles of ferry-bound routes, and the first two miles of routes leaving the ferry. They're light pickups - maybe 10 passengers, but it'd help stop unnecessary delays.

Transportation in this city has to be THE topic for the upcoming elections in November. Our mayor is simply not doing enough and we the voters have to make it a centerpiece. The mayor has said that getting anywhere above ground is "hell", and yet he has done next to nothing to work with the DOT to see that more bus lanes are installed. I'm sure he'll throw that on Cuomo too. I also agree about the deadheading, but I think this is part of the 's plan, which is actually just exacerbating the problem.

Basically, we need better dispatching, more signal priority, more bus lanes and expedited payment options to get bus service across the city where it needs to be, but the is giving lots of lip service. If you look at the articles I've posted, there's a pattern here, which is no specific information on what they're doing to address the problems and constant excuses about how traffic is worsening to alleviate themselves of shouldering any responsibility. I want to see the same efforts being given to subway service applied to bus service. We also need uniformity in management across the depots which is another problem. 

Media coverage on this problem MUST continue. We are a city that relies on public transportation, and we simply can't say well we have a problem and leave it as is. Depending on my schedule, I may go to one of the upcoming board meetings to voice my gripes with service. The board spent a good hour talking about subway service a few days ago at the latest meeting, but where's the focus on bus service aside from SBS? It's been a while since I have spoken at a meeting, and I don't like making it a habit because some of the people that go see truly nut jobs. It's important that ordinary riders that are knowledgeable speak calmly and give organized presentations and address the board members directly without sounding accusatory with their own figures. That's what I did the last time I spoke.

Edited September 28, 2017 by Via Garibaldi 8

[161 New York]

On 9/28/2017 at 1:52 AM, Deucey said:

Was late to an interview because S40 was overcrowded and S44 ran late, so I missed the ferry by two minutes.

But SIX buses deadheaded to the ferry on Richmond Terrace at that time.

I feel like those deadheads should be used as supplemental service on the way to/from the ferry when regular services are too full to take on passengers- unscheduled on customer schedules, but able to be assigned by dispatchers for pickups in the last two miles of ferry-bound routes, and the first two miles of routes leaving the ferry. They're light pickups - maybe 10 passengers, but it'd help stop unnecessary delays.

As was previously explained by @checkmatechamp13, Richmond Terrace is the official deadhead route for all three Staten Island depots with local service. So, that would be nice for the s40 and the s44 routes only, but useless for our friends on the s74 and s78 routes AND not the most efficient way to use the resources for the last 2 mile of pickups on Victory Blvd (redundancy 61/62/48 + Limiteds etc). Also, depending on the specific bus operator  schedules (internally - called "paddles") - not realistic (being an operator (and speaking personally), I know).

Addressing the article/commentaries (again, speaking personally  from being a customer for 10+ years): Congestion, distracted motorists and poorly timed traffic control lights are major contributions to bus service delays .

 

[Deucey]

11 hours ago, 161 New York said:

As was previously explained by @checkmatechamp13, Richmond Terrace is the official deadhead route for all three Staten Island depots with local service. So, that would be nice for the s40 and the s44 routes only, but useless for our friends on the s74 and s78 routes AND not the most efficient way to use the resources for the last 2 mile of pickups on Victory Blvd (redundancy 61/62/48 + Limiteds etc). Also, depending on the specific bus operator  schedules (internally - called "paddles") - not realistic (being an operator (and speaking personally), I know).

Addressing the article/commentaries (again, speaking personally  from being a customer for 10+ years): Congestion, distracted motorists and poorly timed traffic control lights are major contributions to bus service delays .

 

That answer just sounds like "We don't do it because it would be too hard to implement and we don't feel like trying."

Also known as "We've always done it this way, and it works for us, so why change?"

Key phrase being "it works for us". 

If by the time routes close to the ferry the buses are too full to pick anyone up waiting, that's a problem. Not fixing that problem is another problem. Just because every deadhead runs on Richmond doesn't mean that's how it should be - especially if folks along Richmond or Victory are having to wait for the third or fourth bus to come to get on. And it being SI, outside rush hour, if we miss the yacht we're now 30 minutes late because TA doesn't care to figure out how to allocate resources better and/or make new policies and operations  to serve the ENTIRE island.

And they're gonna want $3 from me in March?? Eff that. 

Thats why I'm not mad DeBlasio isn't giving up more money- why pay more for shitty service that'll only become slightly less shitty?

 

 

[Gotham Bus Co.]

10 hours ago, Deucey said:

And they're gonna want $3 from me in March?? Eff that. 

Take that up with your state-level elected officials who passed a "bailout" law requiring fare increases every two years.

[BrooklynBus]

So what else is new? The MTA refuses to take any responsibility, blaming all late buses on traffic which they cannot control and continue to claim the only answer is more exclusive bus lanes that are enforced. Total BS.

Particularly interesting was the one hour wait for the B74 whufch is really just a shuttle. How can they blame traffic for that? June 30, 2016 all Q69s stopped running after about 8 PM and the u,don't provide any answers. 

Now they are proposing  exclusive bus lanes on the six lane portion of Kings Highway when DOT's own data shows buses moving at an average speed exceeding 20 mph at all times. With a 25 mph speed limit the lanes will only tie up traffic and cause needless traffic congestion where none exists now while not speeding up buses one iota. A fad to name matters worse it will cost millions extra each year of operation. 

Just total incompetence by everyone involved without addressing the real problems such as daytime deliveries on commercial streets and inadequate loading zones. 

[Via Garibaldi 8]

30 minutes ago, BrooklynBus said:

So what else is new? The MTA refuses to take any responsibility, blaming all late buses on traffic which they cannot control and continue to claim the only answer is more exclusive bus lanes that are enforced. Total BS.

Particularly interesting was the one hour wait for the B74 whufch is really just a shuttle. How can they blame traffic for that? June 30, 2016 all Q69s stopped running after about 8 PM and the u,don't provide any answers. 

Now they are proposing  exclusive bus lanes on the six lane portion of Kings Highway when DOT's own data shows buses moving at an average speed exceeding 20 mph at all times. With a 25 mph speed limit the lanes will only tie up traffic and cause needless traffic congestion where none exists now while not speeding up buses one iota. A fad to name matters worse it will cost millions extra each year of operation. 

Just total incompetence by everyone involved without addressing the real problems such as daytime deliveries on commercial streets and inadequate loading zones. 

I actually support more bus lanes, and think they should be implemented ASAP.  Drivers should be the ones inconvenienced if anything, not those taking public transportation. I am sick of sacrificing and NOT driving and sitting in traffic behind cars with one person in it. It's ridiculous.  Nevertheless, the deliveries need to be addressed and FINED because they park all over the damn place and tie up traffic constantly.  I don't know where you're getting the idea from that there's enough room for loading zones, but I don't see it. The answer is to have deliveries done over night instead of having those huge trucks clog up major arteries during rush hour.  Between the endless construction and digging up of the streets, the delivery trucks and the taxis, you're lucky if there is one lane for actual traffic.

My question to you is what in the hell are people like Polly Trottenberg doing on the  board?  She's the commissioner of the DOT and yet there seems to be no cohesiveness with the DOT and the  on addressing traffic issue. I don't understand it.  What is her role exactly on the board and why can't the  work more directly with the DOT to address these congestion issues?  At the last board meeting, she seemed to be quite vocal on the subway issues, but not a peep on buses.   

[Interested Rider]

The members of the MTA Board are chosen by the bigwigs such as the governor, mayor, and the county executives and have to be approved by the State Senate. As a result, it is a political reward job, not a job where the ability to know and ride the buses and subways on a regular basis without the cameras and microphones present  even with a free metro card is a requirement. The quality of appointments to the MTA board ranges from fair to absolute disasters but there have been some exceptions over the years who did a credible job. As far as Polly Trottenberg being on the Board, she is there to make sure that Mr. Vision Zero's thoughtless ideas for improving public transit are implemented especially when it involves bus service. Those of us who ride the B/36 bus to the Sheepshead Bay Station will gladly show you her greatest accomplishment known as the East 15th Street Pigeon Plaza any day of the week.

I agree that something must be done about the double parking situation when it comes to deliveries during the day. In this area it is the school buses as well that causes the double parking as they get to the location early and then wait there until the students come out of school. Sometimes there is really no solution as if parking is eliminated in front of the school or Y so that the buses could wait there, then the employees will complain as there is no parking for them.  The B/44 route has an automobile dealership along with medical facilities where the double parking is rampant so what can be done about the double parking there?The reality is that many of the streets are too narrow for two way traffic and making the streets one way will make the situation even worse. The only solution is enforcement of the traffic laws on a regular basis on those streets where there are most problems but it will never happen as the screams from the businesses wold be heard from here to Albany via City Hall and Gracie Mansion and right away the situation goes back to what is was originally  

[Via Garibaldi 8]

9 minutes ago, Interested Rider said:

The members of the MTA Board are chosen by the bigwigs such as the governor, mayor, and the county executives and have to be approved by the State Senate. As a result, it is a political reward job, not a job where the ability to know and ride the buses and subways on a regular basis without the cameras and microphones present  even with a free metro card is a requirement. The quality of appointments to the MTA board ranges from fair to absolute disasters but there have been some exceptions over the years who did a credible job. As far as Polly Trottenberg being on the Board, she is there to make sure that Mr. Vision Zero's thoughtless ideas for improving public transit are implemented especially when it involves bus service. Those of us who ride the B/36 bus to the Sheepshead Bay Station will gladly show you her greatest accomplishment known as the East 15th Street Pigeon Plaza any day of the week.

I agree that something must be done about the double parking situation when it comes to deliveries during the day. In this area it is the school buses as well that causes the double parking as they get to the location early and then wait there until the students come out of school. Sometimes there is really no solution as if parking is eliminated in front of the school or Y so that the buses could wait there, then the employees will complain as there is no parking for them.  The B/44 route has an automobile dealership along with medical facilities where the double parking is rampant so what can be done about the double parking there?The reality is that many of the streets are too narrow for two way traffic and making the streets one way will make the situation even worse. The only solution is enforcement of the traffic laws on a regular basis on those streets where there are most problems but it will never happen as the screams from the businesses wold be heard from here to Albany via City Hall and Gracie Mansion and right away the situation goes back to what is was originally  

I was in Sheepshead Bay a few weeks ago, and couldn't believe that they not only turned part of Sheepshead Bay Rd into a one way street, but added that stupid island as well.  The whole thing is so weird and completely unnecessary, and it makes accessing the buses a royal PITA there.  I was actually walking to the Stop & Shop and then making my way to the express bus, but for those who need the local buses there, I feel for them.  Polly Trottenberg may actually be worse than Sadik Khan, which is saying something.  They way the lights have been synched is just ridiculous and it definitely impedes the flow of traffic so that you get to one green light and before you can start gaining any real speed, BOOM, here's a red light to slow you right back down.  If anything, I'd argue that Vision Zero has led to more road rage and less safety, not the other way around, and I don't trust the DOT's stats either.  I'm sure they're doctored to suit de Blasio's agenda.

Edited October 5, 2017 by Via Garibaldi 8

[Trainmaster5]

I've read the proposals for bus-only lanes, night deliveries, better DOT/ coordination and the like and it appears, at least to me, that people come up with "solutions" that are poorly thought out. Everyone seems to be focusing on their situation and overlooking the big picture. Suppose the DOT creates bus lanes in the outer boroughs to speed up bus transit ? Is this a rush hour only proposal or a 24/7 deal? I'm thinking Flatbush Avenue from Kings Plaza north to Grand Army Plaza for example. With this Vision Zero idea lowering the speed limits in various locations does anyone actually think that a B41 bus from the south is going to be faster than an auto, with 1 or 5 passengers, traveling along the same route ? I can't see how that's even remotely possible. BTW the last time I looked it was the motorist who was paying the fees that went toward the upkeep of the city streets, certainly as much as a non motorist, correct? The double parking argument in NYC is nothing but "pie in the sky" to the bus riders and the regular motorist alike. Take off the blinders and come back to the real world ASAP please. Let me realistic here. UPS, Fedex, DHL and the like pay NYC for the privilege of double parking on the city streets. I don't know the law/rules in effect today but as a former letter carrier for the USPS many years ago the NYPD or Parking enforcement agent could not ticket or interfere with me, period.  This brings me to another idea I feel is unrealistic and unworkable in the real world. Overnight delivery. I'm speaking of Brooklyn because I know that borough more than any other but I think what I'm saying applies to all of the outer boroughs. Michael's Meat market on Nostrand Avenue, businesses on Coney Island Avenue, Kings Highway, Utica , Fulton, Manhattan Ave, 86th St,or Pitkin Avenue all get daytime deliveries and have for at least the last 60 years that I've personally witnessed. I'm not talking big box stores but mom and pop stores. The backbone of any community. Are people suggesting that the owners remain overnight or hire new employees to receive these overnight deliveries? Do the owners resort to putting in 20+ hour days or give up and move on? Is anyone willing to pay the higher prices these places will be forced to charge? The bread, milk, bakery, package ( pizza boxes, etc) , beverage delivery people will charge these businesses more, as will UPS, FEDEX, and the like because they will have to pay their employees more, including night differential in many cases. Guess who ends up with the short end of the stick? Via, BrooklynBus, Interested rider, B35, and the rest of you are welcome to critique, pro or con and I won't be offended. I'm trying to get people thinking about the big picture, that's all. Carry on.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

12 hours ago, Trainmaster5 said:

I've read the proposals for bus-only lanes, night deliveries, better DOT/ coordination and the like and it appears, at least to me, that people come up with "solutions" that are poorly thought out. Everyone seems to be focusing on their situation and overlooking the big picture. Suppose the DOT creates bus lanes in the outer boroughs to speed up bus transit ? Is this a rush hour only proposal or a 24/7 deal? I'm thinking Flatbush Avenue from Kings Plaza north to Grand Army Plaza for example. With this Vision Zero idea lowering the speed limits in various locations does anyone actually think that a B41 bus from the south is going to be faster than an auto, with 1 or 5 passengers, traveling along the same route ? I can't see how that's even remotely possible. BTW the last time I looked it was the motorist who was paying the fees that went toward the upkeep of the city streets, certainly as much as a non motorist, correct? The double parking argument in NYC is nothing but "pie in the sky" to the bus riders and the regular motorist alike. Take off the blinders and come back to the real world ASAP please. Let me realistic here. UPS, Fedex, DHL and the like pay NYC for the privilege of double parking on the city streets. I don't know the law/rules in effect today but as a former letter carrier for the USPS many years ago the NYPD or Parking enforcement agent could not ticket or interfere with me, period.  This brings me to another idea I feel is unrealistic and unworkable in the real world. Overnight delivery. I'm speaking of Brooklyn because I know that borough more than any other but I think what I'm saying applies to all of the outer boroughs. Michael's Meat market on Nostrand Avenue, businesses on Coney Island Avenue, Kings Highway, Utica , Fulton, Manhattan Ave, 86th St,or Pitkin Avenue all get daytime deliveries and have for at least the last 60 years that I've personally witnessed. I'm not talking big box stores but mom and pop stores. The backbone of any community. Are people suggesting that the owners remain overnight or hire new employees to receive these overnight deliveries? Do the owners resort to putting in 20+ hour days or give up and move on? Is anyone willing to pay the higher prices these places will be forced to charge? The bread, milk, bakery, package ( pizza boxes, etc) , beverage delivery people will charge these businesses more, as will UPS, FEDEX, and the like because they will have to pay their employees more, including night differential in many cases. Guess who ends up with the short end of the stick? Via, BrooklynBus, Interested rider, B35, and the rest of you are welcome to critique, pro or con and I won't be offended. I'm trying to get people thinking about the big picture, that's all. Carry on.

So in other words, UPS and FedEx should get carte blanche to clog up our streets and cause other people to pay more to commute to work or lose money because of lost productivity, is that the idea?  That's absurd.  Fresh Direct, UPS and FedEx should NOT be allowed to basically hog up parking spaces for the entire day and double and triple park on major arteries leading to traffic back-ups for blocks on end.  We have finite amount of space on our roads, and we need to maximize them accordingly.  I pay taxes through the nose too, and at the very minimum, I should be able to get work on time.  

There are already companies that get deliveries overnight.  Guess what? The delivery person has a key to the front door.  The delivery is made in the designated location, the door is locked and that is it.  No blocking up of streets and tying up traffic because it is done late at night. I see it all of the time in Manhattan and it works just fine.  Our population is growing and we cannot simply resort to the status quo.  Whether you are driving or taking public transit, I am certain you are spending more time sitting in traffic and this must be addressed.  Bus lanes should 

You put in bus lanes can be 24/7 if needed or from a certain time period, and certainly not just rush hours only, or you reward people that have more than one person in their car.  Too many people driving these gas guzzlers with one person in it. We simply don't have the space for it.

Edited October 6, 2017 by Via Garibaldi 8

[BrooklynBus]

On October 5, 2017 at 2:25 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

I actually support more bus lanes, and think they should be implemented ASAP.  Drivers should be the ones inconvenienced if anything, not those taking public transportation. I am sick of sacrificing and NOT driving and sitting in traffic behind cars with one person in it. It's ridiculous.  Nevertheless, the deliveries need to be addressed and FINED because they park all over the damn place and tie up traffic constantly.  I don't know where you're getting the idea from that there's enough room for loading zones, but I don't see it. The answer is to have deliveries done over night instead of having those huge trucks clog up major arteries during rush hour.  Between the endless construction and digging up of the streets, the delivery trucks and the taxis, you're lucky if there is one lane for actual traffic.

My question to you is what in the hell are people like Polly Trottenberg doing on the  board?  She's the commissioner of the DOT and yet there seems to be no cohesiveness with the DOT and the  on addressing traffic issue. I don't understand it.  What is her role exactly on the board and why can't the  work more directly with the DOT to address these congestion issues?  At the last board meeting, she seemed to be quite vocal on the subway issues, but not a peep on buses.   

I also support more bus lanes when they are needed to speed bus service and when they do not inconvenience more people than they help. It is ridiculous to institute bus lanes with the only purpose to slow down cars when it wouldn't help bus riders at all like proposed for Kings Highway. Are you for bus lanes on the wide portion of Kings Highway where buses are already traveling at top speed all the time without them? That's what I was talking about. 

Its nice to say buses deserve priority over cars because they can carry 60 people while cars usually carry only two. But look at Woodhaven Blvd where only 20 percent of the people are in buses and the rest are in cars. It makes no sense to make travel slower for 80 percent in order to benefit only 20 percent. And please don't try to tell me that people would switch to the bus because of the bus lanes, because it takes a lot more than that for people to switch. 

There is room for more loading zones but the city doesn't want to remove parking meters to accommodate them and the merchants are against that also. 

I agree with you about night time deliveries being mandatory like is the case in parts of Europe. The merchants don't want to pay more for that either. 

Remember when the Fulton Transit Mall was created in the late 70s. Two lanes of traffic were eliminated and sidewalks widened to accommodate the crowded sidewalks. All traffic except buses and deliveries were banned which were supposed to be limited to after 7 PM because of the roadway narrowing. Buses were supposed to zoom along the street without automobiles. The city spent 17 years planning it. So what happened? At the last minute the merchants back out at agreeing to nighttime deliveries. So instead the buses "zooming", instead of fighting with cars, they now fight with trucks parked in the bus lane because they don't fit into the designated delivery zones, and have to go into the opposing lane to get around the trucks so they travel no faster than they did before when the street was wider and cars were allowed. 

I agree with you about Trottenberg. With her on the Board, the MTA has no excuse to say traffic is not within their perview. She has shown zero independent thinking and is just a puppet for de Blasio. Today I wanted to take the B37 for ten blocks northbound. I checked BusTime and it showed the nearest bus a mile and a half away. Even worse, it showed that bus as the only bus on the entire route traveling northbound and five buses going southbound. 

I don't care what the traffic delays are. When a bus is scheduled at 20 minute headways, there is zero excuse why only one bus should be going in one direction and five in the other. You mean to tell me we can figure out how to go to the moon but we can't figure out how to better space out the buses more evenly? And please don't tell me you would support a bus lane when buses are scheduled to operate once every 20 minutes because that is insane. 

 

[checkmatechamp13]

On 9/28/2017 at 1:52 AM, Deucey said:

Was late to an interview because S40 was overcrowded and S44 ran late, so I missed the ferry by two minutes.

But SIX buses deadheaded to the ferry on Richmond Terrace at that time.

I feel like those deadheads should be used as supplemental service on the way to/from the ferry when regular services are too full to take on passengers- unscheduled on customer schedules, but able to be assigned by dispatchers for pickups in the last two miles of ferry-bound routes, and the first two miles of routes leaving the ferry. They're light pickups - maybe 10 passengers, but it'd help stop unnecessary delays.

The problem is that, unless the bus puts up "Next Bus Please", you don't know which buses are overcrowded (unless the B/O radios it in or something). But yes, I do agree with the general point.

On 9/28/2017 at 8:44 AM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Transportation in this city has to be THE topic for the upcoming elections in November. Our mayor is simply not doing enough and we the voters have to make it a centerpiece. The mayor has said that getting anywhere above ground is "hell", and yet he has done next to nothing to work with the DOT to see that more bus lanes are installed. I'm sure he'll throw that on Cuomo too. I also agree about the deadheading, but I think this is part of the 's plan, which is actually just exacerbating the problem.

Basically, we need better dispatching, more signal priority, more bus lanes and expedited payment options to get bus service across the city where it needs to be, but the is giving lots of lip service. If you look at the articles I've posted, there's a pattern here, which is no specific information on what they're doing to address the problems and constant excuses about how traffic is worsening to alleviate themselves of shouldering any responsibility. I want to see the same efforts being given to subway service applied to bus service. We also need uniformity in management across the depots which is another problem. 

Media coverage on this problem MUST continue. We are a city that relies on public transportation, and we simply can't say well we have a problem and leave it as is. Depending on my schedule, I may go to one of the upcoming board meetings to voice my gripes with service. The board spent a good hour talking about subway service a few days ago at the latest meeting, but where's the focus on bus service aside from SBS? It's been a while since I have spoken at a meeting, and I don't like making it a habit because some of the people that go see truly nut jobs. It's important that ordinary riders that are knowledgeable speak calmly and give organized presentations and address the board members directly without sounding accusatory with their own figures. That's what I did the last time I spoke.

The board members aren't the ones you need to convince. By the time any service change is in that PDF booklet, it's just a formality when they vote to approve it. The people you need to convince are in Operations Planning, who design the routes, and also the scheduling department in some cases.

On 9/29/2017 at 2:25 PM, 161 New York said:

As was previously explained by @checkmatechamp13, Richmond Terrace is the official deadhead route for all three Staten Island depots with local service. So, that would be nice for the s40 and the s44 routes only, but useless for our friends on the s74 and s78 routes AND not the most efficient way to use the resources for the last 2 mile of pickups on Victory Blvd (redundancy 61/62/48 + Limiteds etc). Also, depending on the specific bus operator  schedules (internally - called "paddles") - not realistic (being an operator (and speaking personally), I know).

Addressing the article/commentaries (again, speaking personally  from being a customer for 10+ years): Congestion, distracted motorists and poorly timed traffic control lights are major contributions to bus service delays .

 

If it helps people on two routes, that's still better than those people not being helped at all. The other thing to consider is that when a bus runs late and crowded, the B/O might arrive late for the return trip. I know there's some deadheads that basically arrive at the ferry just before the run's departure time, but out of the 6 buses that passed him, there had to have been 1 or 2 that had some slack in the schedule, and all you end up doing is screwing that late driver out of a layover (In addition to the passengers being late of course).

Aside from that, the MTA is cheap with regular service around school dismissal times. The S40 should not be running every 20 minutes after 2PM: It should at least be running every 15 minutes. At the very least, they should schedule some trips to leave the depot a few minutes earlier and run in-service. For example, say a trip is supposed to turn into a 3PM trip. Instead of leaving the depot at say, 2:40PM, leave at 2:35PM and make stops starting from Clove.

On 9/30/2017 at 1:38 AM, Deucey said:

That answer just sounds like "We don't do it because it would be too hard to implement and we don't feel like trying."

Also known as "We've always done it this way, and it works for us, so why change?"

Key phrase being "it works for us". 

If by the time routes close to the ferry the buses are too full to pick anyone up waiting, that's a problem. Not fixing that problem is another problem. Just because every deadhead runs on Richmond doesn't mean that's how it should be - especially if folks along Richmond or Victory are having to wait for the third or fourth bus to come to get on. And it being SI, outside rush hour, if we miss the yacht we're now 30 minutes late because TA doesn't care to figure out how to allocate resources better and/or make new policies and operations  to serve the ENTIRE island.

And they're gonna want $3 from me in March?? Eff that. 

Thats why I'm not mad DeBlasio isn't giving up more money- why pay more for shitty service that'll only become slightly less shitty?

To be fair, flagging isn't really an issue on Victory near the ferry. Between the 5 routes running along that street, there's enough buses that if one is overcrowded, there's probably one right behind it (maybe from a different route) that you can fit on.

On 10/5/2017 at 1:46 PM, BrooklynBus said:

So what else is new? The MTA refuses to take any responsibility, blaming all late buses on traffic which they cannot control and continue to claim the only answer is more exclusive bus lanes that are enforced. Total BS.

Particularly interesting was the one hour wait for the B74 whufch is really just a shuttle. How can they blame traffic for that? June 30, 2016 all Q69s stopped running after about 8 PM and the u,don't provide any answers. 

Now they are proposing  exclusive bus lanes on the six lane portion of Kings Highway when DOT's own data shows buses moving at an average speed exceeding 20 mph at all times. With a 25 mph speed limit the lanes will only tie up traffic and cause needless traffic congestion where none exists now while not speeding up buses one iota. A fad to name matters worse it will cost millions extra each year of operation. 

Just total incompetence by everyone involved without addressing the real problems such as daytime deliveries on commercial streets and inadequate loading zones. 

Agree.

On 10/5/2017 at 2:25 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

I actually support more bus lanes, and think they should be implemented ASAP.  Drivers should be the ones inconvenienced if anything, not those taking public transportation. I am sick of sacrificing and NOT driving and sitting in traffic behind cars with one person in it. It's ridiculous.  Nevertheless, the deliveries need to be addressed and FINED because they park all over the damn place and tie up traffic constantly.  I don't know where you're getting the idea from that there's enough room for loading zones, but I don't see it. The answer is to have deliveries done over night instead of having those huge trucks clog up major arteries during rush hour.  Between the endless construction and digging up of the streets, the delivery trucks and the taxis, you're lucky if there is one lane for actual traffic.

My question to you is what in the hell are people like Polly Trottenberg doing on the  board?  She's the commissioner of the DOT and yet there seems to be no cohesiveness with the DOT and the  on addressing traffic issue. I don't understand it.  What is her role exactly on the board and why can't the  work more directly with the DOT to address these congestion issues?  At the last board meeting, she seemed to be quite vocal on the subway issues, but not a peep on buses.   

It's one thing if there's traffic, but if you're talking about the quickest part of the route, where buses flow smoothly without a bus lane, what's the point in adding it? The only time it makes sense is if you're talking about a corridor where the street is super-wide and you want to discourage drivers from speeding.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

4 hours ago, checkmatechamp13 said:

It's one thing if there's traffic, but if you're talking about the quickest part of the route, where buses flow smoothly without a bus lane, what's the point in adding it? The only time it makes sense is if you're talking about a corridor where the street is super-wide and you want to discourage drivers from speeding.

What a stupid comment. Congestion is a problem citywide. Very few areas overall are seeing instances where buses are moving as they should, so obviously it would be stupid to install bus lanes just for the hell of it, not to mention a waste of money. BrooklynBus loves bringing up Woodhaven Blvd where traffic generally flows well (including buses) as if there are no other corridors in the city, and the reason is because it's the exception and not the rule. It's a wide corridor with lots of room, but other corridors aren't as wide and buses are constantly stuck in traffic. Even along parts of Woodhaven Blvd I have crawled on the QM15 where sections are narrower. Since I need to clarify myself for those who are dense , in areas where buses are not reaching their full potential, bus lanes should be installed and then the DOT should study how long the lanes should be in affect (24/7, rush hours, etc.)

[BrooklynBus]

2 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

What a stupid comment. Congestion is a problem citywide. Very few areas overall are seeing instances where buses are moving as they should, so obviously it would be stupid to install bus lanes just for the hell of it, not to mention a waste of money. BrooklynBus loves bringing up Woodhaven Blvd where traffic generally flows well (including buses) as if there are no other corridors in the city, and the reason is because it's the exception and not the rule. It's a wide corridor with lots of room, but other corridors aren't as wide and buses are constantly stuck in traffic. Even along parts of Woodhaven Blvd I have crawled on the QM15 where sections are narrower. Since I need to clarify myself for those who are dense , in areas where buses are not reaching their full potential, bus lanes should be installed and then the DOT should study how long the lanes should be in affect (24/7, rush hours, etc.)

For bus lanes to make sense the frequency of buses should be less than one every five minutes, preferably a bus every three minutes. There aren't too many streets where that is the case and where it is the case, there are probably bus lanes there already. Except for possibly midtown Manhattan, you should also consider the effects on other traffic, and just not conclude cars should be screwed and it doesn't matter if they are all gridlocked.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

37 minutes ago, BrooklynBus said:

For bus lanes to make sense the frequency of buses should be less than one every five minutes, preferably a bus every three minutes. There aren't too many streets where that is the case and where it is the case, there are probably bus lanes there already. Except for possibly midtown Manhattan, you should also consider the effects on other traffic, and just not conclude cars should be screwed and it doesn't matter if they are all gridlocked.

In some cases, HOV/bus lanes make sense. I would reward carpooling too, but people who insist on driving with only person in the car in congested areas... If they must drive they're going to sit in traffic either way so it is what it is. It's not like we have infinite amount of roads available. 

[bobtehpanda]

On 10/5/2017 at 6:16 PM, Trainmaster5 said:

I've read the proposals for bus-only lanes, night deliveries, better DOT/ coordination and the like and it appears, at least to me, that people come up with "solutions" that are poorly thought out. Everyone seems to be focusing on their situation and overlooking the big picture. Suppose the DOT creates bus lanes in the outer boroughs to speed up bus transit ? Is this a rush hour only proposal or a 24/7 deal? I'm thinking Flatbush Avenue from Kings Plaza north to Grand Army Plaza for example. With this Vision Zero idea lowering the speed limits in various locations does anyone actually think that a B41 bus from the south is going to be faster than an auto, with 1 or 5 passengers, traveling along the same route ? I can't see how that's even remotely possible. BTW the last time I looked it was the motorist who was paying the fees that went toward the upkeep of the city streets, certainly as much as a non motorist, correct? The double parking argument in NYC is nothing but "pie in the sky" to the bus riders and the regular motorist alike. Take off the blinders and come back to the real world ASAP please. Let me realistic here. UPS, Fedex, DHL and the like pay NYC for the privilege of double parking on the city streets. I don't know the law/rules in effect today but as a former letter carrier for the USPS many years ago the NYPD or Parking enforcement agent could not ticket or interfere with me, period.  This brings me to another idea I feel is unrealistic and unworkable in the real world. Overnight delivery. I'm speaking of Brooklyn because I know that borough more than any other but I think what I'm saying applies to all of the outer boroughs. Michael's Meat market on Nostrand Avenue, businesses on Coney Island Avenue, Kings Highway, Utica , Fulton, Manhattan Ave, 86th St,or Pitkin Avenue all get daytime deliveries and have for at least the last 60 years that I've personally witnessed. I'm not talking big box stores but mom and pop stores. The backbone of any community. Are people suggesting that the owners remain overnight or hire new employees to receive these overnight deliveries? Do the owners resort to putting in 20+ hour days or give up and move on? Is anyone willing to pay the higher prices these places will be forced to charge? The bread, milk, bakery, package ( pizza boxes, etc) , beverage delivery people will charge these businesses more, as will UPS, FEDEX, and the like because they will have to pay their employees more, including night differential in many cases. Guess who ends up with the short end of the stick? Via, BrooklynBus, Interested rider, B35, and the rest of you are welcome to critique, pro or con and I won't be offended. I'm trying to get people thinking about the big picture, that's all. Carry on.

Given that on many city streets it's been long impossible to hit a sustained 30MPH on a bus in the first place, I highly doubt it's tanking average speeds by all that much.

As far as user fees, the only money that goes for city streets is general fund taxes. Which we all pay. But very clearly, if buses make up 25% of people on a city street, they certainly don't get 25% of the space.

Overnight delivery works in some places, but the real culprit is loading zones. The city needs more loading zones that can't be used for street parking, so that if FedEx or UPS or whoever wants to make a delivery they can pull up to the curb on the same block and just do it.

[JubaionBx12+SBS]

I like how most of the discussion in these bad bus service rants turns to traffic when the MTA has shown time and time again that traffic is not necessary to make a mockery of bus service. There are routes that bunch on 30 minute headways, there are routes that bunch at 10 pm on a Saturday (cough, cough... Bx31) with minimal traffic at that. What's the excuse for all the terrible service when traffic isn't clogging the streets? The only possible answer is that there's a deliberate sabotage of bus operations taking place. The conversation I want to have is focused on what the end goal(s) of such sabotage would be and how do we get the MTA to accomplish those without screwing over passengers. 

[Trainmaster5]

54 minutes ago, bobtehpanda said:

Given that on many city streets it's been long impossible to hit a sustained 30MPH on a bus in the first place, I highly doubt it's tanking average speeds by all that much.

As far as user fees, the only money that goes for city streets is general fund taxes. Which we all pay. But very clearly, if buses make up 25% of people on a city street, they certainly don't get 25% of the space.

Overnight delivery works in some places, but the real culprit is loading zones. The city needs more loading zones that can't be used for street parking, so that if FedEx or UPS or whoever wants to make a delivery they can pull up to the curb on the same block and just do it.

Actually you're right about the loading zone idea IMO.  That's why I was exempting Manhattan from my post in the first place.  I guess I should have clarified that.  The point about overnight delivery in the outer boroughs is something that I was trying to get  a bead on.  I wasn't referring to the Shoprite,  King Kullen supermarket delivery where there's usually a defined loading zone but rather the mid-block ground floor businesses on many commercial strips. The meat market, luncheonette,  pizza parlor,  dry cleaning establishments with upstairs residences. The two and three story types. Is anyone suggesting night delivery for these places? I remember people complaining about the private sanitation overnight pickups because of the noise. I  can only imagine how that works out when the babies,  schoolkids, and Fido are disturbed by a 2am delivery. That's why I used the " real world " phrase. To those who thought my crack about UPS and FedEx paying the city for double parking was made up I suggest reading about the city including the ticket revenue in their anticipated budgets for years.  With Vision Zero and citywide congestion during rush hour traffic where is the incentive to speed up the traffic flow? Suppose the city could mandate flexible working hours and congestion pricing.  I can only imagine the howling from the progressive types and the free market libertarian folks. I'm just trying to find out what you people think.  I don't pretend to know the answers.  Carry on. 

[paulrivera]

11 hours ago, checkmatechamp13 said:

Aside from that, the MTA is cheap with regular service around school dismissal times. The S40 should not be running every 20 minutes after 2PM: It should at least be running every 15 minutes. At the very least, they should schedule some trips to leave the depot a few minutes earlier and run in-service. For example, say a trip is supposed to turn into a 3PM trip. Instead of leaving the depot at say, 2:40PM, leave at 2:35PM and make stops starting from Clove.

School dismissal times are not uniform at all and are very inconsistent, as are the ridership patterns from those schools. I'll use the Bx12 as an example: There's a school by Williamsbridge Road that dismisses at 2:30, a couple of schools around Fordham Road that dismiss at 3, and a school by Eastchester Road that doesn't dismiss until 4:00. Some days you'll see 30 students trying to cram on a bus on Monday, and there could be only 5 students waiting for that same bus on Tuesday. Some days they won't need the 12 at all because of band/soccer/basketball/etc. because they need a different bus or train to get to their activities.

 

1 hour ago, JubaionBx12+SBS said:

What's the excuse for all the terrible service when traffic isn't clogging the streets? The only possible answer is that there's a deliberate sabotage of bus operations taking place.

It's a combination of traffic (pedestrian and vehicular,) individual driving styles, and piss poor dispatching.

-Too many cars on the street, and too many jaywalkers worsening the congestion on said streets.

-If driver A goes 20mph, driver B goes 25mph, and driver C goes 15mph, of course you're going to have bunching and service gaps. The drivers that insist on taking their full break on their layover when they're already late doesn't either.

-Dispatchers either don't do enough, or do too much. Some dispatchers don't short turn/deadhead their buses enough (which bunches up service) while others overdo it (they get rid of the bunching, but half the intervals at certain stops get abandoned with all the turning, flagging, and deadheading which increases wait times exponentially.)

Also, when a regular driver calls in sick or if the bus breaks down, the run more likely than not doesn't get filled, which means more abandoned runs and longer waits.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

4 hours ago, Trainmaster5 said:

Actually you're right about the loading zone idea IMO.  That's why I was exempting Manhattan from my post in the first place.  I guess I should have clarified that.  The point about overnight delivery in the outer boroughs is something that I was trying to get  a bead on.  I wasn't referring to the Shoprite,  King Kullen supermarket delivery where there's usually a defined loading zone but rather the mid-block ground floor businesses on many commercial strips. The meat market, luncheonette,  pizza parlor,  dry cleaning establishments with upstairs residences. The two and three story types. Is anyone suggesting night delivery for these places? I remember people complaining about the private sanitation overnight pickups because of the noise. I  can only imagine how that works out when the babies,  schoolkids, and Fido are disturbed by a 2am delivery. That's why I used the " real world " phrase. To those who thought my crack about UPS and FedEx paying the city for double parking was made up I suggest reading about the city including the ticket revenue in their anticipated budgets for years.  With Vision Zero and citywide congestion during rush hour traffic where is the incentive to speed up the traffic flow? Suppose the city could mandate flexible working hours and congestion pricing.  I can only imagine the howling from the progressive types and the free market libertarian folks. I'm just trying to find out what you people think.  I don't pretend to know the answers.  Carry on. 

Cuomo has already been trying a pilot program that incentivizes overnight deliveries, so it may happen either way and people would have to adjust. Most businesses are on commercial streets anyway. I know of people who live off of major avenues in Manhattan and you either hear nothing at all or only when their window is wide open, otherwise with the windows closed you get complete silence.

[QM1to6Ave]

3 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Cuomo has already been trying a pilot program that incentivizes overnight deliveries, so it may happen either way and people would have to adjust. Most businesses are on commercial streets anyway. I know of people who live off of major avenues in Manhattan and you either hear nothing at all or only when their window is wide open, otherwise with the windows closed you get complete silence.

Some of the city councilmen were also discussing this idea recently, where you get tax credits in exchange for hiring workers to stay overnight to receive deliveries. The upshot was it's really complicated to set up and only works for some kinds of businesses. 

[JubaionBx12+SBS]

8 hours ago, paulrivera said:

School dismissal times are not uniform at all and are very inconsistent, as are the ridership patterns from those schools. I'll use the Bx12 as an example: There's a school by Williamsbridge Road that dismisses at 2:30, a couple of schools around Fordham Road that dismiss at 3, and a school by Eastchester Road that doesn't dismiss until 4:00. Some days you'll see 30 students trying to cram on a bus on Monday, and there could be only 5 students waiting for that same bus on Tuesday. Some days they won't need the 12 at all because of band/soccer/basketball/etc. because they need a different bus or train to get to their activities.

 

It's a combination of traffic (pedestrian and vehicular,) individual driving styles, and piss poor dispatching.

-Too many cars on the street, and too many jaywalkers worsening the congestion on said streets.

-If driver A goes 20mph, driver B goes 25mph, and driver C goes 15mph, of course you're going to have bunching and service gaps. The drivers that insist on taking their full break on their layover when they're already late doesn't either.

-Dispatchers either don't do enough, or do too much. Some dispatchers don't short turn/deadhead their buses enough (which bunches up service) while others overdo it (they get rid of the bunching, but half the intervals at certain stops get abandoned with all the turning, flagging, and deadheading which increases wait times exponentially.)

Also, when a regular driver calls in sick or if the bus breaks down, the run more likely than not doesn't get filled, which means more abandoned runs and longer waits.

While you are correct about school patterns it doesn't really address checkmate's point and i'm inclined to agree with him as well. First, routes with multiple schools along them are likely high ridership routes which are running on low headways around school dismissal times anyway. Second, schoolkids who utilize low headway routes are likely to be more liberal with their after-school plans leading to the difference in patterns you notice. It could very well be that the same number of schoolkids are using the bus each day but on some days the demand is more spread out than others given school activities and whatever hangout plans the kids make. The freedom low headway service provides is flat out better for the kids so it's not a big deal if you don't have a crush of students boarding buses 5 minutes after the last school bell. Third, the Bx12 is the busiest route in the city, and thus an exception to whatever ridership pattern rules you'll generally find. There are far more schoolkids taking the Bx12 then can be explained by just the schools in proximity to it. It is absolutely true that the MTA is stingy around school dismissal times but only riders on mid and high headway routes would notice that. A route like the B16 is case and point. The adult ridership is not all that great but the route is notorious for after school crowding.

 

To my post, all of those things do work hand in hand but even then you shouldn't be getting the amount of bunching and gaps you have on weekends and late evening hours. When routes with 20 minute headways are bunching on corridors with little traffic on Saturday evenings you can't even blame that on variability in driver speeds. Also, one thing to consider is that the more bunching you have the larger the odds are of buses on high ridership routes carrying light which leads the driving public to look at the buses as wasteful and seek less of them on the roads. 

[MysteriousBtrain]

I'll just leave a recent experience I had be read over here. (Although I'll be referring to the system, I mainly want to focus on the bus system)

Last Monday was nearly a living hell for me. The was crawling from my area to Bleecker St, and at the lower level, I missed the and the next train was the (m), which took 15 min to leave the station. Instead of waiting for the to reach Jay St (or take the or to Brooklyn and transfer to the (r), which I should of done in the first place) I take the to Marcy Av and walked to the B67 since I checked the route on bustime and I figured that since there were two B67s bunched at the terminal, I thought that at least one of those buses would stay at least a few more minutes.

 

Nope, both buses left at the same time and I was stranded once more for nearly 30 minutes (and no I did not want to take the B62 because I felt the B67 was faster). By the time I made it to Jay Street, I was barely on time to make it to class and even so the only reason I was "on time" was because the professor forgot to bring her roster for class. Again, maybe I should of took the or to the as I had a similar issue last year when I had to take an exam (and this might of been one of the reasons I had to drop classes), but the point I'm trying to make is even when you have bunching on a route, why the hell would you make two buses leave the terminal and not have at least one bus standby just in case. And the B67 isn't even that busy, especially in Williamsburg.