The Taxi & Limousine Commission-approved private van service designed to replace bus routes lost to the June service cuts launched yesterday with one van along the former Q74 route, and Rebecca White of The Times went along for the ride. First, she feels in some gaps: The commuter van pilot is set to last one year, but operators can pull out after 90 days if the routes prove to be unprofitable or if ridership is too low. Then, she gets on board the van, and that’s when the first signs of trouble emerge.
Naresh Guness, driver of the van running in Queens, found that few people knew about or boarded his shuttle. Only eight people paid to go to Queens College early in the morning, and his second run was empty. Guness tried to remain optimistic. “I wasn’t expecting to make money this week. I am making a sacrifice, but it is going to pay off. It always takes time to build.”
Yet, a comment from one of his potential riders hints at why this service doesn’t work in a city with an integrated transit network. “Two dollars? That’s not bad,” Queens college student Laura Diaz said. “But I buy a MetroCard, so there’s no point in paying more.” It’s that MetroCard-based sentiment that could doom these vans. New Yorkers like to pay for their transit in bulk and use the same fare cards for all of their rides. It’s cheaper and more convenient than a pure pay-per-ride system, and it’s going to take a lot to convince people used to New York City Transit buses with MetroCard readers to shell out even more for their bus-like service. With a year left on the pilot, these first 90 MetroCard-less days are going to be the telling ones.
6 comments
For those who ride very seldomly or use only one bus route this is a great idea. I only ever use the van on Flatbush and love that I never need to worry about my metrocard balance.
Unless installing metrocard reader in these vans is too difficult, this would seem to be a large oversight. Perhaps it would be easier if the MTA switched to contactless smart cards.
Maybe they should look at other cities with similar service (say, Hong Kong) and do what they do. Yeah, it’ll never happen but it’s a thought.
The city did not release the service’s pickup points until yesterday.
I bet the city provides no marketing assistance.
The van companies have been stigmatized by the city and MTA personnel for a long time and are perceived as a lesser form of transportation.
With three posted stops, no one will know they even exist. Technically, they are only allowed to pick up at these locations, but may drop off anywhere. The folks on Vleigh Place will have no “official access” to these vehicles.
I would be surprised if it continues 30 days.
Well, these illegal vans somehow make a living without being approved by the city, so I’m sure this project will work out fine, especially in areas where the city has infrequent bus service.
Not all of the vans are illegal. The corridors that the vans are in now organically know of the service being provided. My fear is that the new corridors won’t be able to find any information on them or how to use them.