Waitin' for the Red Bus on Roosevelt Island
A frequent topic of concern is whether the Red Bus schedule should continue to be linked with the Tram. The major benefit of linking the Red Bus to the Tram schedule, aside from the convenience of Tram Riders knowing there will be a bus waiting for them when they get off the Tram, is that residents are able to plan the time they leave their apartment in order to catch the bus. As stated in the RIRA letter to RIOC published in the June 16 Main Street Wire:
Up through 2003, the Red Bus was a reliable service, arriving precisely every 15 minutes during normal hours, and every 7.5 minutes during rush hours. All Island residents had their own formula that worked for 30 years:However, in a letter to the editor of the Main Street Wire dated June 16, 2007, another view is expressed by a Roosevelt Island resident who thinks it is unfair that the Red Bus is linked to the Tram schedule,
“If I leave the apartment at 11:02, I can catch the bus at 11:06, arrive at the Tram at 11:11, catch the 11:15 Tram, and be in Manhattan by 11:20.”
Since 2004, RIOC has been tinkering with the bus schedule. The bus schedule and its variance (variability in waiting times) is so bad that residents have given up on the bus service. Although the bus is supposed to run on average every 7.5 minutes, there is no scheduling at all: during rush hour, one can wait up to 22 minutes for a bus (assuming a seat is available), and outside of rush hours one can wait over 30 minutes for a bus.
First, and most importantly, is the sense of entitlement that Tram riders have of expecting to never have to wait for a Red Bus. Apparently, a Tram rider’s 25-cent Red Bus fare is worth more than everyone else’s. Far more people depart and arrive on the Island every day using the subway than the Tram. So why does the Red Bus then stop and wait at the Tram while subway riders are piling up at the subway station? And why should a subway rider have to wait for a Tram rider to arrive before a bus shows up? Am I, as a subway rider, a second-class citizen? Is my 25-cent fare worth less than a Tram rider’s? Why not keep the bus in constant motion in a loop? Eventually everyone, including the Tram riders, will get picked up. But at least everyone will have equal access to the bus service.A RIRA representative points out that the constant loop bus service advocated above leads to bus bunching as occurs during the continuous service morning rush hour that can stretch waiting times as much as 30 minutes. If the only reason not to institute continuous bus service is the issue of bus bunching I would think that problem could be solved if the bus drivers were in communication with each other via radio/walkie talkie or if there were a traffic dispatcher advising the driver.
I think think the Red Bus schedule is a good issue with which to start a new polling feature to Roosevelt Islander. The first polling issue is "The Red Bus schedule should be changed to run on a continuous service schedule and not be linked with the Tram schedule" agree or disagree. The poll is located on the right hand column below the Statement of Purpose.
6 comments :
I think that the whole argument about whether it is timed to the tram or not is ridiculous. The reality is that the "tram based" schedule ensures that the buses run every 15 minutes during non-peak hours and every 7 minutes during rush hour. People need to look past who they think is being "entitled" or not and look at what really is at issue: do we want a predictable schedule of 15 minutes/7 minutes, or an unpredictable schedule of a continuous loop with potential of bunching. Not even the NYC MTA has such a ridiculous schedule, knowing full well the potential for error. Every bus schedule has a terminus and beginning, with timed dispatches. The mere fact that it is "timed" with the tram doesn't belie the fact that the dispatch times are fixed to every 15/7 minutes, just as the tram is.
Just my two cents from someone who is tired of the ceaseless bemoaning and who doesn't ride the tram regularly to commute but like the fact that I know when the bus is coming.
Except that because of the extra stops, increased volume and construction, they really don't run regularly like clock work any more, imo.
I think it is quite okay to link the departure times of the red bus with the arrival of the tram. Making sure that a bus arrives in time for the tram to leave, though, is a different beast. I don't think you can have both.
Making the tram station the stop where the bus line begins and ends is perfectly fine. Then let the bus make its round. Forget all those special routes like "Octagon Express", "Firehouse Local", and "Octagon Local". Make them all local and let them run as frequently as possible. Bunching cannot be prevented due to the fact that everybody wants to always get on that bus that just arrived instead of the next one, just a couple of minutes behind).
Somebody brought up that with Southtown getting bigger we should have a bus that also goes down the "other part" of Main Street (what is that called anyway?). Maybe have a bus go from the Tram all the way up to the Octagon passing by the subway station and have another one go from the Tram to the firehouse passing through Southtown would be an idea.
I agree with 1:01 and 2:03, I think having the tram being the beginning point and having it regularly leave as the tram arrives is the best way to ensure that the buses leave on a regular and timed basis. I agree, too, with 2:03 trying to time the buses also to exactly when the tram leaves is too much of a beast to handle. The morning rushes are a good example of how that whole thinking is thrown to the wayside anyway - I look at it no different than just missing a train as it pulls out of the station.
I do think that the island is growing at a faster pace than RIOC can handle and I can only imagine how much harder it's going to be when all of the construction at Riverwalk is finished and as **hopefully** more businesses come in.
Being that I am sucessful in life I own an automobile ( A Jag ). I don't have to use public transportation like the rest of you common people. Ladies if you want to take a ride in my Jag, it is Ass, Grass, or Gas....no one rides free.
I still think it should go on a continuous loop. If there are enough people that two buses fill up immeidately let it go on its way. It still makes more sense that one leaving and one purposely being held back for scheduling. If the need is there add more buses. If need be raise the fare by a dime. Have 6 buses going around the island. There is no way someone would wait 30 minutes UNLESS buses are being held up on purpose. (I am neither a tram or subway commuter that takes the red bus)
And Mr. Jag, I also am lucky enough to have a car too on the island. You definately are NOT invited in mine under any circumstance. Your jag doesn't impress.
Post a Comment