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What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013

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I noticed in the most recent Bronx Bus Map that the Bx55 has been further reduced. It no longer runs on weekends. The schedule is now apx. 4:30am to 8pm weekdays only.

The Bx55 is one of those bus lines that were put in place when the MTA tore down a rail line. Another is the B42 bus, that replaced the L line to Canarsie Pier. And there's the Q53 line which replaced a section of the Long Island Railroad in Queens. The Bx55 and Q53 were limited buses before the term Limited was even used, because they replaced rail service, and only stopped at certain corners.

When the Third Avenue El was operating in the Bronx, it followed a route up Third Avenue, then onto Webster Avenue, terminating at the Gun Hill Road 2/5 station. To this day, that's the route the Bx55 follows. Originally it ran 24/7, as frequently as the El ran, every few minutes on weekdays, every ten minutes or so on weekends and every 20 minutes overnight.

Some years ago, the MTA stopped running the Bx55 overnight. After all, it paralleled the Bx15 anyway. And when Request-A-Stop became the late night rule, the Bx55 was making many of the same stops as the Bx15. At least the MTA has made sure the Bx15 runs every 20 minutes overnight in the Bronx, even though it runs only once per hour into Manhattan.

They also reduced the number of Bx55s going the entire route. Only half go to and from Gun Hill Road, up Webster Avenue. (The Bx41 now goes along Webster Av. 24/7. It originally didn't run overnight.) Half the Bx55s terminate at Fordham Road.

The MTA has never reduced service on the B42. To this day, it runs exactly as the L train runs, including 20 minute service overnight. It may be one of the shortest bus routes in NYC but it is also one of the most frequent at night.

The Q53 also runs quite frequently. It doesn't run overnight because the LIRR line it replaced never ran overnight either. It now has a partner route, the Q52, which follows the same limited stop service on Woodhaven Blvd. but has a different terminal in the Rockaways and doesn't go all the way to Woodside. I guess it was started when the A/S trains to the Rockaways were knocked out by Hurricane Sandy. I haven't heard whether it will be continued now that subway service is restored.

Maybe the city council members in the Bronx aren't as powerful as whoever represents Canarsie? The MTA never tinkers with the B42, even though it keeps reducing service on the Bx55.



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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by mike nash on Wed Jun 12 13:18:23 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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where have u been over the last few years. since the 2010 service cuts slowly but surly service has been reduced. as of 6/30 the route is being aborbed by the bx15.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by AMoreira81 on Wed Jun 12 13:21:10 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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The parallel with the Bx15 and the introduction of MetroCard are what happened...the Bx55 is now slated to be eliminated completely with the introduction of the Bx41 SBS and the Bx15 Limited.


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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Kriston Lewis on Wed Jun 12 13:37:20 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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Q53 overnight service will be running before the fall.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by WayneJay on Wed Jun 12 18:45:29 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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The Bx55 has been reduced to practically nothing, and will be permanently gone very soon. Unlike the B42, the Bx55 operates alonside the Bx15 and the Bx41 is a near duplicate.

Even going back to it's original days most Bx55 buses operated between 149th-3rd Ave and Fordham Road. On southbound trips it always seemed like one out 3 Bx55 buses would terminate at 161st-River Ave.


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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by WayneJay on Wed Jun 12 18:47:28 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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Also, in the early days bus stop signage identified the Bx55 as an express and Bx29 (now Bx15) and Bx41 as locals.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Jun 12 23:01:02 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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The B42 runs that frequently at night because IINM the route is so short that the route can be served by a single bus. Making the headway longer would require unnecessary layovers.

As for the Q52, it predates Hurricane Sandy.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by AMoreira81 on Thu Jun 13 01:23:13 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by Spider-Pig on Wed Jun 12 23:01:02 2013.

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The Q53 will also be going 24/7 starting summer pick.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Bounad Hanhic on Thu Jun 13 05:13:27 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by AMoreira81 on Thu Jun 13 01:23:13 2013.

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Fall pick

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by checkmatechamp13 on Fri Jun 14 16:16:49 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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Wow, where have you been?

* The Bx55 had weekend service cut in 2010.

* The Q52 was created before Hurricane Sandy. It's just that after the hurricane, it proved to be very useful in providing extra capacity to get from the Rockaways to the (A).

In any case, the Bx41 SBS will effectively be the new Bx55. It'll run from The Hub up to Williamsbridge, and have quicker boarding (no dipping in a MetroCard) just like the old Third Avenue El did. Of course, the difference is that it runs on Webster, which doesn't fill in the gap in Central Bronx subway service the way the Third Avenue El did.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Joe on Tue Jun 18 15:40:30 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by checkmatechamp13 on Fri Jun 14 16:16:49 2013.

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Today, 6.18.2013, the MTA website has a special page announcing the Bx41 SBS beginning June 30. However, the page makes no reference to local service on the same streets. If a person obtains a machine receipt at Bedford Park Blvd southbound, then discovers that a local arrives without any sight of an SBS, can the receipt be used as proof of payment to board the local?
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The local BX 41 schedule on the site is dated 2011. Will locals outnumber the SBS or vice versa?

Thanks.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by B53RICH on Tue Jun 18 15:50:52 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by Joe on Tue Jun 18 15:40:30 2013.

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From the FAQ/ Questions section of the MTA SBS site:

Can I use my SBS receipt on other bus routes? Can I use my SBS receipt to transfer to another SBS route?

Your SBS receipt is valid only on the SBS route and bus stop where you purchased it. You cannot use your SBS receipt to board any other local, limited or SBS bus. For example, if you purchased a receipt for the Bx41 route, it cannot be used to transfer to the Bx12 SBS. You must obtain a new receipt from the Bx12 SBS bus stop where you plan to board. Insert the MetroCard you used to pay to board the Bx41 SBS as your free transfer is encoded on it; a receipt will be issued automatically. Or, if you paid with coins on the Bx41 SBS, you must have a transfer that was issued to you, upon request, by the Bx41 SBS operator. Insert that transfer into the Bx12 SBS MetroCard Fare Collector and a receipt will be issued automatically.



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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Jun 19 01:09:27 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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The Q53 [was a] limited buses before the term Limited was even used

In fact, the Q53 was referred to as an express bus. No stops between 63rd Drive/Queens Blvd and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge visitor's center. The reroute via Woodhaven Blvd, as well as all those extra stops, were added after MTA Bus took over.

The B103 in Brooklyn was also referred to as an express, though its express section was much shorter than the Q53's.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Gotham Bus Co. on Wed Jun 19 05:50:19 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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Basically, the Bx55 has suffered from "subtraction by addition."

The Bx55 used to be something special, with transfers only to/from subway lines. Then it got transfers to/from other buses. Then all other bus routes got transfers to/from the subway. With all those "improved" transfer privileges, the Bx55 was actually reduced to being "just another bus line" instead of something special, and the ridership has refelected that.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Far Rockaway A Train on Wed Jun 19 10:25:32 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Jun 19 01:09:27 2013.

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Not only was the Q53 an express route, it was a premium fare express route (although the fare was lower than express routes to/from Manhattan) and did not issue or accept any transfers.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 19 10:25:35 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by B53RICH on Tue Jun 18 15:50:52 2013.

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Is that how it works on other Select Buses? I thought the receipt allows you to transfer between Select and local buses on the same line at least.

Let's say you take an M14 from Ave. C to First Ave. Then you use your MetroCard again to get an M15 Select receipt to go uptown to 86 St. Can't you just use that M15 Select receipt to get on an M15 local if you want to go up to 92 Street? Do you have to dip your MetroCard again to finish your trip, getting charged a second fare?

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Kriston Lewis on Wed Jun 19 11:14:15 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by B53RICH on Tue Jun 18 15:50:52 2013.

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Officially, yes. I believe this was an issue when the M15 SBS started up. Operators were instructed to accept receipts (within reason) on local service.

I've witnessed this to be the case multiple times.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by jasonbellamy on Wed Jun 19 14:08:06 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by B53RICH on Tue Jun 18 15:50:52 2013.

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"You must obtain a new receipt from the Bx12 SBS bus stop where you plan to board. Insert the MetroCard you used to pay to board the Bx41 SBS as your free transfer is encoded on it; a receipt will be issued automatically. Or, if you paid with coins on the Bx41 SBS, you must have a transfer that was issued to you, upon request, by the Bx41 SBS operator. Insert that transfer into the Bx12 SBS MetroCard Fare Collector and a receipt will be issued automatically."

Who's the ignoramus who created this bureaucracy?

If you buy an SBS receipt with coins, you still have to get a transfer from the driver? I thought the whole point of SBS was that you didn't have to waste time doing any fare-related activities while boarding. And after that, you need to obtain a third piece of paper to ride the second bus?

Why can't the SBS receipt *be* the transfer, and work on a second SBS route (or a local route, or the subway)?

London got this right more than 10 years ago. *Every* bus is pre-pay at Central London stops, and once you buy a ticket, it's good on any bus until it expires. Some stops outside the center are pay-when-boarding, and the two methods are not incompatible.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Jun 19 16:02:12 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by Joe on Tue Jun 18 15:40:30 2013.

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how is THIS line starting BEFORE the Brooklyn SBS?

Unbelievable..

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by the Silence on Wed Jun 19 18:20:14 2013, in response to What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 12 12:46:45 2013.

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The Q52 was created in January of 2012 as the Q21 Lmtd when it was rerouted to terminate at Averne on Sea instead of Rockaway Park. It was completly seperated as the Q52 that July and the 21 local cut back to being a twin to the Q11 and not crossing the bay.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by merrick1 on Wed Jun 19 18:51:42 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by jasonbellamy on Wed Jun 19 14:08:06 2013.

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I can't understand why someone with an unlimited MetroCard has to use the ticket machine at all. The biggest convenience of a proof-of-payment system should be that an unlimited pass-holder can just get on the vehicle. The fare inspectors should have a hand held scanner to confirm unlimited MetroCards.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Far Rockaway A Train on Wed Jun 19 21:12:14 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by the Silence on Wed Jun 19 18:20:14 2013.

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When the Q21 was rerouted to Arverne by the Sea, it was a local all day. During rush hours in peak direction only, there were additional Q21s that operated as limiteds.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by b1bus on Wed Jun 19 21:31:21 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by nh153 on Wed Jun 19 10:25:35 2013.

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I have heard drivers announce when local buses are behind them and to just show the receipt.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by b1bus on Wed Jun 19 21:33:48 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by the Silence on Wed Jun 19 18:20:14 2013.

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Q21 headways used to be 2 buses RH 36min and 1 bus other times, 72min apart.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Thu Jun 20 08:59:39 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by b1bus on Wed Jun 19 21:33:48 2013.

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And it was only Liberty Ave to Rockaway Park Boardwalk.

And the Q53 did not run enough buses, so at certain points in the AM rush you got on at B 116th or you didn't get on at all.

The MTA takeover really helped transit on the Rockaways, big time!

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by Tony Clifton on Thu Jun 20 10:42:50 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by merrick1 on Wed Jun 19 18:51:42 2013.

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It is beneficial for ridership tracking purposes and also to enforce the 18-minute lockout. Makes total sense. Also, looking at paper receipts is presumably much easier than dealing with a handheld scanner for the current Metrocard media.

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Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?

Posted by jasonbellamy on Fri Jun 21 17:17:01 2013, in response to Re: What Has Happened to The Bx55?, posted by Tony Clifton on Thu Jun 20 10:42:50 2013.

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If the unlimited Metrocard is the proof of payment, there's no way a second person could be riding on the same pass. So there'd be no need for the 18-minute lockout.

Ridership tracking is secondary to providing efficient service. And there are plenty of ways to track ridership without making people swipe for every trip.

How about this: You would only have to swipe an unlimited Metrocard at an SBS machine once. You'd get an SBS receipt valid for the whole month/week. You'd have to show both to the inspector, who would match the serial number. They could make the serial number bigger on the card to make this easier.

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