Comments on: RPA: Cut bus fares on crosstown routes

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:39:41 +0000

Get three times as many buses one third the size and there is less of a wait while everyone boards the bus.

This will requires three times as many bus drivers. The reason trains have a better farebox recovery ratio than buses is in large part that you can run ten-car trains with just one engineer and one conductor, whereas running ten buses requires ten drivers.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:38:22 +0000

I’m pretty sure NYC buses are the only instance in the world where the bus stops, people line up and pay the fare, and the bus waits while people do that. Its not the only reason why buses here are so slow but its one of the main ones.

There are lots of alternatives to this, but one I like is that you don’t pay the fare to get on the bus, you pay the fair to get off. Move the fare collection to the middle of the bus, you can get on the bus without paying the fare, then once the bus starts moving you pay in the middle of the bus, then move to the back where they let you off. Don’t pay the fare and you stay on the bus until the end of its route, where the transit police are waiting.

NYC buses are also much too big. Get three times as many buses one third the size and there is less of a wait while everyone boards the bus. Even two times the buses one third the size will be an improvement, though more people would have to stand.

By: Marc Shepherd

Marc Shepherd — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:19:02 +0000

There remains, of course, the amount of revenue generated from the farebox of those numerous crosstown lines, that would have to be replaced.

Well, the whole premise is that the net revenue of those buses is close to zero, which would be true if most of the riders are transferring to north–south routes anyway.

Then again, if you make them free, perhaps ridership goes up. After all, when you change price, you change behavior.

By: Mike G

Mike G — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:35:50 +0000

sounds like a brilliant plan. open both doors at every stop and lengthen the bus stops. very very rarely do you see people pay their fare in coin, so the logic must be that either most people transfer or already have a monthly.

it also can’t hurt to try this for a trial period and see what happens.

By: David F

David F — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:55:11 +0000

It sounds like a real no brainer, considering the MTA collects you fare when you purchase your metrocard, long before you actually use the fare why not?

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:37:50 +0000

Demand may very well go up, too, potentially offsetting any increase in efficiency.

By: Frozen Panic at the Trader Joe’s - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Frozen Panic at the Trader Joe’s - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:36:58 +0000

[...] closer look at the Regional Plan Association’s suggestion that making crosstown buses free will save money in the long run. [2nd Ave [...]

By: Gil

Gil — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:39:47 +0000

This is genius.

50% of the time of a ride at the 23rd street crosstown bus is waiting for people to swipe their metrocards. Imagine if people could enter and exit–no swiping–from the front *and* back of the bus.

Genius.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:46:28 +0000

It is absolutely true that its quicker to walk. I walk from the UN everyday at First Avenue, along 42nd Street to Grand Central at Lex. I outpace the M42 each time.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:55:32 +0000

Why not allow full exterior advertising on all buses?