Logistical Question | Main | Transition
April 12, 2006
You Do the Math
Arrival at bus stop: 6:25 p.m.
Wait at bus stop: 35 minutes
Number of B63's that pass: 4
Number of B61's in the other direction: 5
Arrival of B61: 7:05
When it should have arrived: 6:32, 6:42, 6:52
Status of bus at arrival: Too packed to board
Executive decision: Walk home despite wearing heels
Length of time to Atlantic/Columbia Street: 10 minutes (7:15)
Actions thereafter:
-Walked an 82 year old lady* back up Atlantic Ave. to the LIH stop (15 min; 7:30)
-In the process saw a B61 head down Atlantic Avenue
-Made sure that the grandma got on the bus safely
-Ran down Hicks Street to Warren
-CAUGHT THE BUS that had been inching down Atlantic Avenue (7:45)
-Saw some of the same people who had been waiting at the Atlantic/Court bus stop at 6:25
Summary: The B61 SUCKS. Seriously, what the hell is going on? It is worse that it has been in a long time.
*This woman had accidentally taken the B63 in the wrong direction. Instead of allowing the little old lady WITH A CANE to sit on the bus until the driver went off break and started the run again, the driver left her at the foot of Atlantic Avenue at dusk.
Posted by callalillie at April 12, 2006 6:59 AM | Rabid Rants , Red Hook
What time did you get home?
Posted by: beth at April 12, 2006 10:52 AM
Posted by: corie at April 12, 2006 10:54 AM
Ah, at last I can sound like an oldtimer :
I've been commuting to Columbia U. from King St. since 1997, and the B61 was never any better.
You can walk to the Carroll St. F via the Summit Ave bridge in 20 minutes easily (I walk now to Borough Hall 2/3 in 40 minutes) -- figuring in the wait for the bus, there is not much difference.
Posted by: Jonathan at April 12, 2006 11:43 AM
I've been doing the trip for a while-- the last two or three weeks has gotten really bad. It seems to ebb and flow. For most of the winter I got to work on time and with a seat. I wonder if I'm going to need to become one of those women in a suit and sneakers.
Who am I kidding? I never have to wear a suit.
Posted by: corie at April 12, 2006 12:07 PM
It definitely won't be the last time you have a B61 experience like this, unfortunately. I've been the occasional victim of the capricious B61 for almost two years.
Here's a (quasi) pallindrome that might help.
Get a bike. Bike to work. Work to Bike. Bike to get.
Seriously.
I dig callalillie. Great site.
Posted by: Ethan at April 12, 2006 3:11 PM
I know, it's always the one you don't need that passes by..
Seriously, there's something wrong these days.
On Monday, I had to wait 25 mins for the downtown 4 train to arrive at 59th, listening furiously to apologies on the delay of uptown express, which passed by TWICE while I was there. Then I figured I'd take the "forever taking" R to Court street instead, again, no train in sight for 15 mins. Furious, I walked out, found a cab, and paid $18 for a ride to Bklyn. Seriously, MTA should reimburse us for these things... Or at least fix up the stations to make waiting more bearable.
Needless to say, I am now - after much consideration - one of those suit/sneakers type of gals.
The bike idea sounds fab.
Posted by: Asli at April 12, 2006 5:39 PM
I still have not mastered my fear of riding to work every day. I am not a very coordinated person, nor am I very awake at 7am. While the ride uptown might not be that bad, it's still a hike to get from Red Hook to 117th Street-- doable by bike but not my first choice. We'll see, though.
Posted by: corie at April 12, 2006 5:42 PM
There are similar woes with the B38. You'll wait 10-15 mins, and then four busses come by, all too packed to get on. You'd think after decades of bus routes, they'd have something figured out.
And can anyone tell me why the B69 only runs every 30 mins??
Posted by: lesterhead at April 12, 2006 5:53 PM
And they ask me why I had no sympathy for Roger and his gang of brigands.
www.forgotten-ny.com
Posted by: Kevin Walsh at April 12, 2006 11:14 PM
