Ridership Is Outpacing Bus Service, Report Says

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been slow to increase weekday bus service even as ridership has surged over the last decade, resulting in jam-packed buses that often have to pass waiting riders without stopping because they simply cannot accommodate more passengers, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Straphangers Campaign, an advocacy group for transit riders. Average weekday ridership across New York City public buses operated by New York City Transit, a unit of the transportation authority, rose to 2.45 million in September 2007 from 2 million in September 1997 — a 22 percent increase. Over the same period, weekday service, as measured by “revenue seat miles,” a variable reported by the transit agency, rose less than 15 percent, to 11.9 million from 10.4 million. “Crushed by crowds? Have to wait... [read full story]