Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share #1401 Posted May 29, 2019 Tonight, The Express Bus Advocacy Group is at the NY1 Town Hall Meeting on the State of Transit. Andy Byford, Veronica Hakim and Pat Foye will be fielding questions from transit riders and advocacy groups.Tune in tonight at 8pm... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted May 30, 2019 Author Share #1402 Posted May 30, 2019 A shot from last night: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil 57 Posted June 3, 2019 Share #1403 Posted June 3, 2019 7:22 PM, the last SIM3 is just getting on the FDR. The buses are properly spaced and the traffic is normal since the first SIM3C of the evening is approaching the BBT, so was these buses extra buses? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted June 4, 2019 Share #1404 Posted June 4, 2019 22 hours ago, Lil 57 said: 7:22 PM, the last SIM3 is just getting on the FDR. The buses are properly spaced and the traffic is normal since the first SIM3C of the evening is approaching the BBT, so was these buses extra buses? Possible. Sometimes they have as-assigned trips that wait at the terminal and if they don't need them for anything else they send them down as a certain route at a certain time (e.g. The old 12:20am X17 out of 57th) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil 57 Posted June 4, 2019 Share #1405 Posted June 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, checkmatechamp13 said: Possible. Sometimes they have as-assigned trips that wait at the terminal and if they don't need them for anything else they send them down as a certain route at a certain time (e.g. The old 12:20am X17 out of 57th) BTW? Were there any riders on that 12:20 AM trip? The schedules listed the last X17 at Midnight and since that 12:20 AM bus could or could not show up, people wouldn't be planing around that trip. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1406 Posted June 5, 2019 4 hours ago, Lil 57 said: BTW? Were there any riders on that 12:20 AM trip? The schedules listed the last X17 at Midnight and since that 12:20 AM bus could or could not show up, people wouldn't be planing around that trip. There was one time I took it on a Friday and there were 67 people (yes, 10 standees on a bus that wasn't even on the schedule). Typically it would get at least 20 people, usually more like 30, and occasionally more. Probably most of those people had the X1 or X10 as a backup option. (Or some who saw it on BusTime at the terminal and didn't rush to catch the official last X17 which left at midnight). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil 57 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1407 Posted June 5, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, checkmatechamp13 said: There was one time I took it on a Friday and there were 67 people (yes, 10 standees on a bus that wasn't even on the schedule). Typically it would get at least 20 people, usually more like 30, and occasionally more. Probably most of those people had the X1 or X10 as a backup option. (Or some who saw it on BusTime at the terminal and didn't rush to catch the official last X17 which left at midnight). If that trip was getting that much passengers, they should have put that trip on the schedule. Maybe they could have a trip on the SIM4C leaving CPS at 12:30 if there is that much demand for it. Edited June 5, 2019 by Lil 57 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1408 Posted June 5, 2019 Just now, Lil 57 said: If that trip was getting that much passengers, they should have put that trip on the schedule. Maybe they could have a trip on the SIM4C leaving CPS at 12:30 if that many passengers are going to take that bus. From what I heard, once they sorted out a lot of the scheduling issues, they were able to have the extra operator on hand to run that 12:20am SIM4C trip (I haven't had to travel that late in a while so I don't know if it's true. I suppose if I stay up late I can check BusTime). But yes, I agree, it would definitely take some pressure off the SIM1C which can get crowded even at that hour. I believe we discussed this before, but I think they should create a SIM4N to run overnight (basically, the original SIM4C via Gannon, plus the Narrows Road stops). If necessary, it can start Downtown to cut back on costs (also maybe have those replace some early-morning and late-evening SIM33C trips). It can go to Arden Heights instead of Annadale, since Arden Heights has no local bus overnight. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil 57 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1409 Posted June 5, 2019 (edited) 5 minutes ago, checkmatechamp13 said: From what I heard, once they sorted out a lot of the scheduling issues, they were able to have the extra operator on hand to run that 12:20am SIM4C trip (I haven't had to travel that late in a while so I don't know if it's true. I suppose if I stay up late I can check BusTime). But yes, I agree, it would definitely take some pressure off the SIM1C which can get crowded even at that hour. I believe we discussed this before, but I think they should create a SIM4N to run overnight (basically, the original SIM4C via Gannon, plus the Narrows Road stops). If necessary, it can start Downtown to cut back on costs (also maybe have those replace some early-morning and late-evening SIM33C trips). It can go to Arden Heights instead of Annadale, since Arden Heights has no local bus overnight. I believe a SIM4N would be a good idea, and this would also cover riders to CSI in the morning. The SIM3C would get back it's early morning service. But I think the Narrows Road Stops would make the route a bit too long. Edited June 5, 2019 by Lil 57 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1410 Posted June 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Lil 57 said: I believe a SIM4N would be a good idea, and this would also cover riders to CSI in the morning. The SIM3C would get back it's early morning service. But I think the Narrows Road Stops would make the route a bit too long. The purpose would be to provide that area with 30 minute overnight headways (30 minutes each for the SIM1C & SIM4N). But yes, it doesn't necessarily have to stop along Narrows Road. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil 57 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1411 Posted June 5, 2019 9 hours ago, checkmatechamp13 said: The purpose would be to provide that area with 30 minute overnight headways (30 minutes each for the SIM1C & SIM4N). But yes, it doesn't necessarily have to stop along Narrows Road. Wouldn't 30 minutes for both routes be a bit Overkill overnight? I was thinking every 60 mins for both routes but they leave in a pattern that gives the ETC service every 30 minutes. However, early morning SIM4N trips would run at an increased frequency to give CSI students a ride. Below is a mock weeknight schedule of the SIM4N going towards SI (SIM4C and SIM33C end at 12:30 AM) SIM4N service begins (SI bound) 1:30 2:30 3:30 4:30 5:30 6:30 7:00 7:20 7:40 8:00 8:20 8:50 9:20 9:50 (SIM4C and SIM33C service starts at 10:20 AM) The SIM1C would run hourly overnight but reverse peak service would be increased to every 30 minutes SI bound starting at 6 AM and every 30 minutes until 9 PM Manhattan bound (instead of every 60 minutes). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #1412 Posted June 5, 2019 @Lil 57 That is exactly what I meant. Both the ETC and Narrows Road would see service every 30 minutes from the 2 60 minute routes being coordinated 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78 via Stew Leonards Posted June 7, 2019 Share #1413 Posted June 7, 2019 On 5/27/2019 at 4:10 PM, BrightlinerNewFlyer said: Hi, I think the BxM2 should run further up the west side to either 110th or 125th St. I know that a lot of people would find this super convenient. I also think that the M98 should be turned into an express bus. Thanks, BrightlinerNewFlyer I've been advocating that the BxM2 remain the West Side express for awhile, and use the HH Pkwy from Dyckman St. (I've been on some Manhattan bound runs that do that when I'm the only one on board, going to 34th st. Its a 30 min ride tops). Also the M98 should be a full time route that runs down to 34th St again, or even 23rd. I'd also advocate for a new route, M99, to run between Inwood and Lex/3rd Avs via the HRD, thus eliminating all BxM1 inwood service 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78 via Stew Leonards Posted June 7, 2019 Share #1414 Posted June 7, 2019 The BxM1 should not be touching 5th Ave at all. It adds at least 15 min every time they get off the 5th Ave exit and have to crawl through Harlem before getting to Lexington/96th St. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share #1415 Posted June 9, 2019 On 6/7/2019 at 12:56 AM, 78 via Stew Leonards said: The BxM1 should not be touching 5th Ave at all. It adds at least 15 min every time they get off the 5th Ave exit and have to crawl through Harlem before getting to Lexington/96th St. It should down 5th because 5th has a bus lane from 110th on down in operation for the morning rush. Lexington is a nightmare by comparison. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share #1416 Posted June 9, 2019 We've been asking express bus riders to take photos of their unsafe and FILTHY buses... Some of the most egregious examples are below: QM3 express bus in service QM8 express bus in service SIM31 in service Rotting seat cushions on BxM6 in service Roach bait on BM2 in service Overhead light area dangling - BM4 in service Broken wheelchair lift X28 in service 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion6025 Posted June 9, 2019 Share #1417 Posted June 9, 2019 41 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: We've been asking express bus riders to take photos of their unsafe and FILTHY buses... Some of the most egregious examples are below: QM3 express bus in service QM8 express bus in service SIM31 in service Rotting seat cushions on BxM6 in service Roach bait on BM2 in service Overhead light area dangling - BM4 in service Broken wheelchair lift X28 in service Jesus are any of those BxM or QM buses the 2800-2900 series MCI (+2204/2209)? Even so, shameful how disgusting some of those are, especially the SIM31 and X28 images... Those buses are oldish but not too old and to see them in such trashy condition for $6.75 a ride is deplorable... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share #1418 Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Orion6025 said: Jesus are any of those BxM or QM buses the 2800-2900 series MCI (+2204/2209)? Even so, shameful how disgusting some of those are, especially the SIM31 and X28 images... Those buses are oldish but not too old and to see them in such trashy condition for $6.75 a ride is deplorable... One may be. The rest are from 2005 - 2007 or later... Edited June 9, 2019 by Via Garibaldi 8 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BM5 via Woodhaven Posted June 9, 2019 Share #1419 Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Orion6025 said: Jesus are any of those BxM or QM buses the 2800-2900 series MCI (+2204/2209)? Even so, shameful how disgusting some of those are, especially the SIM31 and X28 images... Those buses are oldish but not too old and to see them in such trashy condition for $6.75 a ride is deplorable... 1 hour ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: One may be. The rest are from 2005 - 2007 or later... The QM8 one looks like it. The older MCIs (D4500; green sign) have those types of armrests. The D4500CLs usually have a more thinner looking one, although when they break, they sometimes replace the rest with that from one of the D4500s. Edited June 9, 2019 by BM5 via Woodhaven 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share #1420 Posted June 9, 2019 1 minute ago, BM5 via Woodhaven said: The QM8 one looks like it. The older MCIs (D4500; green sign) have those types of armrests. The D4500CLs usually have a more thinner looking one, although when they break, they sometimes replace the rest with that from one of the D4500s. Yeah I believe the QM8 one is, but as you said, sometimes they replace broken seats with old ones from older buses. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Around the Horn Posted June 10, 2019 Share #1421 Posted June 10, 2019 11 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: We've been asking express bus riders to take photos of their unsafe and FILTHY buses... Some of the most egregious examples are below: [snip] Broken wheelchair lift X28 in service These coach bus manufacturers need to design a better wheelchair lift because I'm hearing about broken lifts and/or wheelchair seats way too much. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted June 10, 2019 Share #1422 Posted June 10, 2019 4 hours ago, Around the Horn said: These coach bus manufacturers need to design a better wheelchair lift because I'm hearing about broken lifts and/or wheelchair seats way too much. I wonder if one of the issues is that since the EXP wheelchair lifts get relatively little use, the motor parts dry up and seize up, and no one checks them until it is needed and is now broken. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted June 10, 2019 Share #1423 Posted June 10, 2019 15 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: We've been asking express bus riders to take photos of their unsafe and FILTHY buses... Some of the most egregious examples are below: QM3 express bus in service QM8 express bus in service SIM31 in service Rotting seat cushions on BxM6 in service Roach bait on BM2 in service Overhead light area dangling - BM4 in service Broken wheelchair lift X28 in service I'll have to take and send you some pics of the reading lamps with dead bugs inside. So nasty! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetSMART45 Posted June 10, 2019 Share #1424 Posted June 10, 2019 1 hour ago, QM1to6Ave said: I wonder if one of the issues is that since the EXP wheelchair lifts get relatively little use, the motor parts dry up and seize up, and no one checks them until it is needed and is now broken. That is a possibility, BUT -- Lifts are supposed to be cycled as part of the pre-trip checklist. Operators are supposed to sign-off that "Yes, the lift is operational" along with all the other safety points. Now, I agree that it takes much more time to do an actual lift cycle (fully deployed to fully stored) versus cycling a low-floor ramp, but with how litigious NYC is (like the guy doing ADA shakedown lawsuits until he was photographed by the Post as being "able") and how the MTA is in hot water over subway ADA access, you'd think they'd cover their asses on such an easy item like bus lifts. Maybe they would be if the entire fleet was equipped with cameras, and someone went after them with an ADA lawsuit and actually used bus video against them of a customer being left at a stop and a pre-trip operator inspection not being done. Think a smart lawyer wouldn't subpoena all the maintenance records for the bus(es) involved in denial-of-service like that (or that hasn't happened already)? If they wanted to avoid operators being delayed by cycling the lift, shift it over to the porters to do it after check-in, and have it signed-off on at that time. That would ensure at least a daily cycle AND be part of the paper-trail. In any event, that picture of the broken lift (and any others like it) should be forwarded tout suite to Alex Elegudin, the MTA's "big boss" of accessibility. Since he is a mobility-device dependent person, I'm sure he would NOT be pleased in the least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-express Posted June 10, 2019 Share #1425 Posted June 10, 2019 So this is what the MTA has to say about tonight's express bus commute. I guess everyone should just give up and take the 7 or Queens Blvd line home... Express bus customers: In order to keep you moving, dispatchers may make real-time decisions to send buses on other streets based on traffic conditions. If possible, consider taking the subway to bus stops outside of midtown Manhattan to catch your bus on its regular route. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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