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Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Fri Jun 29 11:17:07 2018

From the NY Transit Museum Facebook page:

#TodayinHistory: Happy 10th anniversary to the #SelectBusService program! Launched #OnThisDay in 2008, the Select Bus Service (SBS) network offers off-board fare payment at bus shelters, front and rear boarding, bus lanes, traffic signal priority, and longer spacing between stops. The initiative aims to connect neighborhoods to subway stations and major destinations, and to improve reliability and service along high ridership #bus lines.

Phase 1 of SBS evaluated 80 bus routes and eventually decided on 5 services, a total of 1 in each borough. The first Select Bus Service route to be placed into service was the Bx12 running from 207th St/Broadway in Manhattan, along Fordham Road & Pelham Parkway in the Bronx to Bay Plaza Mall in Co-op City.

Today, the Select Bus Service program has 17 bus routes and is still expanding! Which Select Bus Services have you ridden on?



While some people here (I won't name names) don't seem to fully appreciate how SBS has created more reliable and faster trip times for many in New York City, I do think that despite some of its flaws, overall, SBS has been a net positive for the corridors where it has been implemented. On my past few visits to New York, the M79 and M86 have both run better than any time I can recall since artics replaced standard length buses on those routes 18 years ago. The M15 SBS has also been a very quick ride up and down the East Side when I've taken it, much faster than the limited stop service it replaced. Here's to the next 10 years!

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary! (XN60s On The Bx12 +SBS-10th Anniversary Of The Bx12 +SBS)

Posted by Transportation Hub on Fri Jun 29 23:38:51 2018, in response to Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Fri Jun 29 11:17:07 2018.

Ten years ago, on this day, back in 2008. The MTA & NYC DOT launched its inaugural (first ever) bus rapid transit route (known as +SelectBusService) as Phase I corridor. That route was the Bx12 Limited, which travels between Bay Plaza Shopping Mall in The Bronx and Inwood-Broadway/207th St, Manhattan, transitioned into the Bx12 +SBS. It was highly fun and interesting to see 2018 New Flyer XN60 "Xcelsior" CNG Artics 1001, 1007 & 1008 on the Bx12 +SBS route. Location was at Pelham Parkway and Eastchester Road. The MTA decided to run these new buses out on the Bx12 +Select Bus Service+ during rush hours. These buses were supposed to be for the Bx6 +Select Bus Service+, but because of various issues, they haven't made their debut on the line just yet. These buses will run on the Bx6 +SBS, Bx15, rush-hour Bx36* & Bx19* bus routes from West Farms Depot in the Bronx and in Fall 2018, on the B35* bus route from Jackie Gleason Depot in Brooklyn. *NOTE: Bx19, Bx36, & B35 routes are projected +SBS routes. Also featuring, my condolences to Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Always in our minds; forever in our hearts. Please enjoy the video and offer your heartfelt condolences to Lesandro "Jr" and his family during their time of grief. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.




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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary! (XN60s On The Bx12 +SBS-10th Anniversary Of The Bx12 +SBS)

Posted by Snilcher on Sat Jun 30 09:18:49 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary! (XN60s On The Bx12 +SBS-10th Anniversary Of The Bx12 +SBS), posted by Transportation Hub on Fri Jun 29 23:38:51 2018.

Those automated audio messages need some work.

"Bx12-S to Broadway in Wood" rather than "Inwood", indeed.


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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary! (XN60s On The Bx12 +SBS-10th Anniversary Of The Bx12 +SBS)

Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Sun Jul 1 10:59:27 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary! (XN60s On The Bx12 +SBS-10th Anniversary Of The Bx12 +SBS), posted by Snilcher on Sat Jun 30 09:18:49 2018.

I think that was a recording by the bus operator. She was just taking too fast.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Jul 6 11:32:10 2018, in response to Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Fri Jun 29 11:17:07 2018.

What is there to celebrate? A project that will cost over $2 billion over ten years just to save the average passenger five or ten minutes at the most for an average trip taking 45 minutes. Hardly seems worth it to me. Seems the money could be spent in a variety of other ways that would be more beneficial.

http://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/7599-the-great-select-bus-service-conspiracy-part-i



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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Sat Jul 7 22:41:20 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Jul 6 11:32:10 2018.

Service is much better on the M79 and M86 (the two routes I ride most when I'm in NYC) since they've introduced SBS there. It reminds me of the days before they introduced artics on those routes, which led to horrendous bunching and longer trips. My experiences on the M15 have also been good, and I've heard anecdotally from others who really like SBS service where it has been introduced. I think you need to face reality and realize that while not perfect, SBS is an overall positive.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jul 8 15:39:41 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Sat Jul 7 22:41:20 2018.

How many SBS routes are there now? You are basing your conclusions on only three routes you have had positive experiences on. That is hardly a scientific study. I didn't say service is now worse on every route where SBS has been installed.

Look at the B46. I have not heard one positive comment on it and loads of negatives. It has been in service for ver two years now and there has never been a progress report. What do you think the reason could be? It's because with all the slantic of statistics the MTA does, they still have not been able to find something positive to say about it.

The reality is that it is very expensive, has mostly been losing passengers, and has not been a success at all.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by Lord Vader on Sun Jul 8 17:16:33 2018, in response to Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Fri Jun 29 11:17:07 2018.

B46 SBS should have remained as a Limited. Does not operate all the way to Williamsburg Bridge Plaza(poor choice to terminate at DeKalb). Traffic on Utica Ave is horrendous, lack of parking or even respect of the bus lane. B41 should have been SBS first, B47 should have a Limited service, ditto the B3. B42 should be a SBS route too so service can speed up.

Vader

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Sun Jul 8 23:32:15 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jul 8 15:39:41 2018.

So just to be clear, you're allowed to draw all sorts of conclusions from isolated incidents, but that's verboten for the rest of us. I'll try to remember that next time...

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Mon Jul 9 12:23:42 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Sun Jul 8 23:32:15 2018.

My exposé in the Gotham Gazette was much more than a few isolated instances. It was a comprehensive look at many SBS aspects on many routes.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Jul 9 22:44:07 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Sat Jul 7 22:41:20 2018.

Those Xtown SBS routes don't have a companion local. The only advantage is the on street fare collection for shorter bus stop time.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Mon Jul 9 23:20:02 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Jul 9 22:44:07 2018.

And on the M86, the average time savings from end to end is less than two minutes.


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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Tue Jul 10 23:34:17 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by BrooklynBus on Mon Jul 9 23:20:02 2018.

But it results in a more reliable and more predictable service. Buses come at the scheduled headways, bunching occurs less often, and as a driver, the new traffic patterns, bus lanes, and parking restrictions on 79th Street make for a more pleasant driving experience overall. Are those not worth celebrating?

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 12 13:57:45 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Tue Jul 10 23:34:17 2018.

My comment was on the M86, and you responded with statements about the M79.

I never said that all SBS routes were bad. In my Gotham Gazette piece I wrote that many of the SBS advantages could have still been accomplished at a lower cost by not charging fares on the crosstowns as Bloomberg proposed, because 85 percent of the riders are transferring and already paying elsewhere. Fare machines would not be necessary.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Thu Jul 12 17:07:21 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by BrooklynBus on Thu Jul 12 13:57:45 2018.

I don't think I've driven a motor vehicle on 86th Street since SBS was introduced there. I'm not typically one to comment on experiences I can't speak to. However, I'm not surprised that you are nitpicking, especially when one considers the similarities between the 79th and 86th Street corridors. I don't consider it coincidental that artics were introduced to both routes and then both routes were converted to SBS within very short periods of time.

Fare free transit has other disadvantages that might weigh the advantage of assuming fares are collected on other routes. Under the current fare structure, 85% of crosstown riders are transferring, but if that bus is free my willingness to take it from 5th Avenue to Lexington Avenue if it happens to show up increases significantly, and I imagine I'm not the only one. Your proposal doesn't seem to account for the likely increase in (non fare paying) ridership that would result from having no fare collected on the crosstowns.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Jul 13 22:47:27 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Thu Jul 12 17:07:21 2018.

Let me tell you about my experience yesterday on the M34 SBS . Once a month I take the subway to 34th and 6th and then walk over to 8th Avenue. I look to see if an M34 is coming. Most of the time there is none in sight and I walk to 8th before a bus gets there or we get there about the same time.

Yesterday, I see an M34 SBS waiting at the traffic light so I get a receipt and get on the bus. There are only about 15 people on the bus and only about four got on or off, but rather than close the doors, the driver waits for about 30 seconds. I figured maybe he saw someone getting a receipt and he wanted to be nice. Then he starts moving no faster than five mph. I can't understand why he is going so slow but think maybe the signal mid block is red, so there is no reason to go faster. Once he passes it, he continues at the same slow speed.

At 7th Avenue he stops and waits at least 30 seconds although no one is getting on or off. Then a bus dispatcher and another bus driver come over and start talking to the driver of the bus I am on. The dispatcher says, "I have no buses so take it easy." The driver answers: "That's what I have been doing." The other driver then chimes in: "Plenty of OTO," My driver says: " That's right." (OTO means Overtime Offset.)

Then the driver continues again slower than 5 mph, barely moving. So I get up to see if cars or trucks are in the bus lane and I see the entire block to Eighth Avenue is 100 percent clear and the bus stop is on the near side, so it doesn't matter if the light is read or green and rather than getting there in 15 seconds or so, it takes him like two minutes.

So I finally say to him. "I thought SBS supposed to be fast, so why are you going so slow? He answers: "Do you want to drive the bus?" People cut in front of you all the time." I said, "but there are no people or cars in front of you right now." Then he says. " Have a nice day." Then I made several more remarks and he answered all of them with " Have a nice day."

Bottom line: with no waiting for the bus, a bus lane, zero traffic and a nearly empty bus. The two blocks from Sixth to Eighth Avenue took six or seven minutes, the same as walking speed. That is a far cry from a 15 minute river to river trip the MTA was initially promising when it first proposed SBS on 34th Street.

It was easy to see what is happening here. The MTA blames slow crosstown travel times on blocked lanes or traffic, when the reality is the drivers are in cahoots with the dispatchers for them to acquire needless overtime while the passengers suffer.

And you can tell me with a straight face that SBS is working? Well it sure wasn't working yesterday on 34 Street.



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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Mon Jul 16 23:07:04 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by BrooklynBus on Fri Jul 13 22:47:27 2018.

I thought you said anecdotal evidence based on one-off occurrences isn't valid evidence of anything? How come your anecdotes are worthy of consideration but no one else's are?

It is easy to see what is happening here. As usual, you have no idea what you're talking about and can't keep a straight story.

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Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!

Posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Jul 17 09:24:11 2018, in response to Re: Happy 10th SBSiversary!, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Mon Jul 16 23:07:04 2018.

I never said anecdotal evidence based on one occurrence is not valid of anything.You keep saying that, not me. I clearly stated that the M34 SBS was not working yesterday and drew no further conclusions.

I reported the incident to the MTA. They thanked me and promised to report back. If they do, I will tell you what they said.

On the other hand you DREW CONCLUSIONS regarding ALL SBS routes based on your experiences on three crosstown routes. My report in the Gotham Gazette referred to about a dozen routes.

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