MTA’s Bus-y Business

Between September, 1997 & 2007, bus riders grew 22% yet service was increased by only 15%. As one might have guessed, service in Manhattan and Staten Island fared better than bus service in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The New York City Transit Authority says ridership was depressed in the mid nineties. They think today’s service levels are at the correct levels. Gene Russianoff, of the Straphangers Campaign disagrees. He believes the surge in bus travel was not met with the proper increase in buses. So the question is, are today’s commuters riding comfortably on the bus … or being tossed in front of it?