The Little Red Bus - Can't Beat It's 25¢ Fare

There has been talk that soon even the Red Bus, Roosevelt Island's other red painted transportation symbol, may have to raise it's fare above the current 25¢. We shall see if that occurs but in the mean time two bus enthusiasts (not me) took the below videos of the Red Buses and posted them recently on YouTube.


Direct YouTube Link by FL92002



Direct YouTube Link by FL92002



Direct YouTube Link by Eman2211

Residents Who Fear the Back of the Red Bus

What is it about the raised back section of our Roosevelt Island Red Buses that scares residents from walking up those two little steps on a normal week day morning?

The front of the local bus is jammed tight by the time the bus leaves the Good Shepherd Church stop but the back aisle remains empty and clear. Sometimes a simple request by the driver or fellow passengers seems to wake commuters out of their fear but more often pleas to move back go unheard as if taking those steps is the equivalent of crossing the River Styx.

I just don't get it.

The Red Bus: 13 Years at 25 Cents & Counting….

The last time Roosevelt Island residents saw a fare increase for the Red Bus was in June 1995 from a dime to a quarter. Before that it had been in May 1991 when the first fare of a dime was imposed ending years of free shuttle service.

According to Stephen Shane, President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, there are no current plans to increase the existing 25 cent fare but the possibility has been discussed. In today’s economy and the announcements regarding the proposed MTA service cuts and fare hikes one wonders how long RIOC can manage to keep the current 25 cent fare.

Some New Yorkers have stated the MTA should change the fare system to be distance based like Washington D.C. I can only imagine residents in Northtown arguing that their Red Bus fares should be capped at a quarter with Octagon residents being charged 50 cents.

Except for the Staten Island Ferry the fare for our Red Bus is probably the cheapest mass transit fare in the Five Boroughs. Let’s hope it stays that way for a long time to come.

__________________

Image pre formatting via Flickr by WireHead2501.

Can RIOC Buy a Few Double-Decker Buses?

The MTA started a 30 day trial run of a double decker bus around NYC. Perhaps the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation can buy a few for our morning rush hours or at least to take residents into Manhattan when the Tram is out next year.

How much can they really be? At least those residents that complain about the current quarter fare could no longer argue as everybody would get on and even get a seat!

Tram Circle Traffic Sign Update

As promised by Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director Keith Guerra a new sign has been added to the Tram Circle making it clear to drivers that they must bear right around the circle when looking to make a left turn towards the steam plant and beyond. I had reported on the shortfall in the prior signage last month despite the added street marking that PSD had put into effect.

In addition PSD has moved the sign out from the circle making it clearer to drivers and ensuring that the Red Bus drivers tighten their turns leaving no chance that they would ever hit a vehicle sitting behind the sign waiting for the bus to complete its turn.

Your Choice Leather or Nylon Straps

Last week I ran a post titled "The Last Straphanger" referring to a drawing made of an individual holding a hand strap in the Roosevelt Island Tram.

My post stated that the straps in the Tram are probably the last leather strap hand holds in the NYC mass transit system. In response to that post one commenter was left wondering if the straps in the Red Buses were also leather. The above picture demonstrates that the Red Bus straps are some sort of synthetic nylon material and certainly not leather.

So if leather is your thing come by and take the Tram now as its possible once the Tram is overhauled in 2009 these last leather straps will probably end up as souvenirs of a lucky few RIOC employees.

If the tram straps are ever replaced I would hope RIOC would allow them to be auctioned off with the proceeds benefiting a local charity. In truth I'd rather see them rehung into whatever new tram cabin is built to add a bit of continuity from old to new.

Tram to Reopen Early at 5pm Today

According to a RIOC Advisory issued this afternoon the scheduled maintenance work has been completed early and the Roosevelt Island Tram will be put back into service at 5pm this afternoon. The Tram had originally been scheduled to return to service tomorrow morning at 6am.

Free service will be provided to all riders through 2am tonight. Queens/Manhattan express bus service is being terminated. It is assumed this is effective as of 5pm as well.

Ridership Levels of Alternative Roosevelt Island Red Bus

Based on the below statistics it appears that Roosevelt Island residents have not been taking advantage of or see the benefit of taking the Red Bus during the morning rush hour periods, to Queens Plaza or during non-rush periods into Manhattan directly. I would expect that this weekend the numbers will spike higher as I recall weekends being a pretty high usage rate during the Summer of 2006 when the Tram was out and during Subway disruption weekends. But we shall see what happens.

Looking at these stats it would appear that RIOC may decide that the Red Bus option should not be repeated during the planned 2009 outage as they are using this outage as a gauge torwards resident usage for that later period.

My only thoughts are that I wonder if greater use would be made of this option if the Red Bus would to first loop around the Island as the Q102 does before it leaves the Island. Could it be that for many residets the added time to first get themselves to Gristedes is an added impediment to the use of this option?

A good question asked of Mr. Shane by Patrick Stewart, a member of the RIOC Board of Directors, is of the stats provided how many riders were seniors or disabled for whom the subway stairs / escalators / elevators may prove challenging. Mr. Shane has not responded to that question or may not have thta level of detail availabel to him if it was even captured at all.

I will admit for my purposes taking the bus to Queens Plaza puts me further away from my commuting goals distance wise and it makes no sense for me during rush our periods. If the subway goes out though this option will be imperative for all residents wishing to head off the island.

-----Original Message-----

From: "Stephen Shane"
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:32:23
Subject: Red Bus Ridership during Tram outage - Stats for 6/11/08:

From RI to Queens Plaza (6AM-9:30AM):
16 passengers 8 trips

From QP to RI (returns):
0 passengers 8 trips

From RI to Manhattan (10AM-2PM):
9 Passengers 5 trips

From Manhattan to RI (returns at 10:30 AM-2:30PM);\:
8 Passengers 5 trips

From RI to Manhattan (7PM-11PM)
9 Passengers 5 trips

From Manhattan to RI (returns at 7:30PM-11:30PM):
9 Passengers 5 trips

We shall see as the word spreads and/or sinks in. Hard to justify at this level! An experiment.

Steve

Stephen H. Shane
President & CEO
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp.

Tram Outage Day 2: Commentary

F Train Update

My Day 2 experience was limited to arriving before 8am and getting on a F Train within a few minutes without issue. My advice which applies any dayu of the work week is get tothe platform before 8am and your issues will be mininmized.

The Main Street WIRE is reporting that approximately 100 individuals were left on the Manhattan bound platform between the period 825am to 845am. Even on a normal operating day during that time period it is expected that a number of riders will not be able to get on crowded trains.

Red Bus Schedules - New Service to Manhattan During Non Rush Hours

RIOC President Steve Shane announced yesterday that RIOC decided to provide off hour service directly to 60th Street in Manhattan in addition to rush hour service to Queens Plaza. Just as the Roosevelt Islander applauded RIOC yesterday for this decision I too thank Mr. Shane for this added service as I am sure it will be an aid to residents who find the stairs at both the Queens Plaza and Lex / 63rd Street subway stations too much too handle.

A copy of the updated Red Bus schedule will be available throughout his outage in the left side bar to this blog. Just doble cvlick to link tothe schedule and then double click to enlarge the image.

Tram Out of Service Starting Tonight at 10pm

Starting tonight at 10pm the Roosevelt Island Tram will be out of service until Thursday June 19th at 6am. The below image, courtesy of the Main Street WIRE, lists the Red Bus schedule of service to Queens Plaza South / Jackson Avenue.

Double Click Image to Enlarge

Near Bus Accident at Tram Circle Turnaround

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Video For Location Only

This afternoon we had a bit of a scare riding on the Roosevelt Island Red Bus home from the Tram. I am a bit sketchy on what actually happened as I was sitting way in the back with my 4 year old daughter. Apparently while the bus was about to start his turn into the traffic circle a car heading South along the Riverwalk side of Main Street just cut off the bus causing the driver to abruptly stop short. No contact was made, to my knowledge, with the car but my daughter went flying into the aisle (she was sitting on the back bench seat) landing face down scaring the heck out of her leaving her crying hysterically. A number of other passengers also got tossed about including one other child who was sitting in the rear of the bus.

The driver stopped the bus and I believe tried to approach the grey sedan before it sped off heading South towards Goldwater along the Eastern side of the island. The driver got back on the bus and checked that we were all OK and that nobody was seriously injured. When the bus stopped across from Trellis and the PSD office he stopped to talk to some of the officers. At the same time my family entered the PSD office and gave a verbal report of the incident to the officers that were inside and giving the officers the license plate number of the car. We figured at that point the car was still on the Island as he had not yet come back North passing the bus.

By the time we got home my daughter had calmed down and was fine but it was quite scary for that initial moment or two seeing your child thrown down like that. Tomorrow I will follow up at the PSD office to see if anything else happened regarding this but I am assuming there was not much that PSD could do as no physical accident occurred. I am guessing at most PSD can issue a moving violation ticket or something. Either way everyone agreed that the sedan was reckless trying to get by a Red Bus. Perhaps PSD can install signs at the traffic circle that Red Buses have the right of way before cars to put cars on notice and to perhaps slow down.

RailFan Fantasy Proposal: Light Rail to Replace Roosevelt Island’s Red Buses & Provide Additional Access Off Island

A rail fan named Robert Marrero has drafted a rail based transportation map of NYC that includes the construction of two light rail lines on Roosevelt Island. The lines would be connected to Queens and Manhattan via stationary bridges at the North and South ends of the island. The proposed system as a whole is discussed on Subchat in his initial post and a follow-up which includes links to the full proposal maps.

"Roosevelt Island will have LRT service to replace both the Q102 and the Red Bus. Designated the Red Line, the line would run along the 57th Street Line, make all stops on Roosevelt Island, and end at the Queens Plaza TC. The schedules of the Red Line will be coordinated with the Tram (400 Main Street station), which will continue to operate as a local tourist attraction. A spur line to Coler Hospital might be used, but since the Octagon station is so close, the spur is deemed unnecessary at this point. Express trains would bypass all stops and run via the east shoreline of the island. The ramp to the South Bridge will also be on the east side of the island, and will join a line from Queens already on the bridge. It's unclear at this point as to whether the North Bridge will be stationary or lift-span. However, since the Octagon station will be near the bridge, a double-decked lift span seems to be the way to go. "

An interesting concept and a visit to the full map is something to see. I can’t imagine the City trying to build any new bridges, much less one that potentially would block free flowing river access to the numerous boats that travel the waters around Roosevelt Island. I also can’t see where the money for this would come from nor the craziness that would ensue trying to build two lines running the length of the island. Either the Eastern express would be in the East Channel or I can’t see it being built of the Eastern promenade as it would run too close to Eastwood, the existing apartment complex.

It always amazes me what people can come up with. After reading all thsi I don't feel to bad asking the NYC DOT to simply examine the possibility of peestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge.

May 1, 1991: When the Red Bus Stopped Being Free

To read the stories now you would think the end of the world was coming to Roosevelt Island seventeen years ago tomorrow. It was in fact the end of an era where the local Red Bus maintained and operated by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation was run for free. On May 1, 1991, RIOC started charging 10 cents for rides on the Red Bus.

One quote from an article regarding the change and the fact that many of the island’s young people either didn’t have enough dimes with them or did not want to pay the fare ended on a positive note:

"The kids are getting a lot more exercise," Ms. Neis said. "And the older people have more room on the bus."

Compared to the increases in the cost of the MTA token and now metrocard for a single fare over the years we certainly can’t complain that the Red Bus fee today is set at only 25 cents. Although over the two short years I have lived on the island I still hear plenty of residents who believe ardently that the fare should return to being free.

Photos - Roosevelt island Red Buses - Diesels

I posted a handful of Red Bus photos on BusChat this evening. The photos are of the diesels sitting in the bus lot behind MotorGate Garage.

With the addition of the Electric Hybrids on the Island. We have two sets of buses with Bus Numbers 1 through 4.

Cold Day, Long Wait, Lines, & Furry Friends

Today was one of those days when the Red Buses must have gotten bunched up so many residents, us included, found themselves standing at the bus stops waiting for buses to wrap around our one road to be picked up. It was a day when the natives were getting restless and testy at the Good Shepherd bus stop.

The fun continued from there as the buses were still bunched up leading to a back log of waiting Tram riders at the island Tram station. One comment posted to my prior Tram line post said the Tram lines are beginning to look like they did before the subway was completed and open for operation.

At least the morning ended with a quick tram ride with a furry friend, Mack Daddy, who was traveling with his owner John.

Red Buses - Say No to Exterior Advertising

I have often wondered why the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) does not sell advertising space on the exteriors of the Red Buses.

I am very glad they don't as we see these buses all day and the lack of advertising allows the buses to fade into the background of Island life (as much as that is possible) without the added "noise" of the ads.

Hopefuly this post does not put the idea into the minds of the number crunchers at RIOC but if it does I will appeal to our newly elected RIOC Board nominees (if confirmed) to vote nay if the issue ever comes up.

A 360˚ Video of Roosevelt Island’s Subway Station Plaza

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This video shot on January 26, 2008 is of the plaza outside the Roosevelt Island Subway Station and includes the Red Bus, a NYCTA Q102 bus, a view through Riverwalk Plaza allowing the viewer to see the KeySpan Ravenswood Energy Plant, the Duane Reade at 425 Main Street, a view of the Queensboro Bridge and the East River.

Q102 Bus Crashes into Column Outside Video/Hardware Store

[Updated 12:00 pm - Second Paragraph] Late last night, at approximately 10:00 pm, a NYC Q102 bus crashed into one of the columns outside the hardware / video / general store. The above picture is from RooseveltIsland10044.com where additional pictures can be found.

It is unknown at this time if there were any injuries to the passengers or driver of the Q102. The info that it was a Q102 (and not a RIOC Red Bus] is according to a member of Eastwood Maintenance staff. When Greg Goodman from RooseveltIsland10044.com was taking pictures and asked a PSD officer what happened the officer replied only that "a bus crashed" with no indication which bus type was involved. Upon calling the PSD office this morning I received a similiar response and I have sent an email into RIOC asking for additional information and confirmation.

Based on the view this morning it also looks like a portion of the ceiling above the column collapsed as well. According to the same maintenance staffer via the building super the residents of the Eastwood apartment immediately above did not need to be evacuated.

Update - 11:45 AM

According to Stephen Shane, President of RIOC, (1) the driver and passengers of the Q102 were uninjured, (2) according to MTA policy the driver was "taken away" for mandatory testing, (3) the NYC Department of Buildings examined the damage and determined that the damage was cosmetic as the column was not structural and the ceiling damage was also cosmetic.

The black and white photos are courtesy of RIOC.

Red Bus Series – The Riverwalk / Southtown Tram Loop

This set of videos are all of the same subject the Red Bus and provides three different views of the Red Bus, in the evening, as it leaves the Tram station and winds its way around the newly constructed Southtown traffic loop / circle.

The first video is of the Red Bus from the outside. The second is from the inside looking out from the rear seat. The third is from the rear interior exit door looking forward through the bus. Each video is about a minute or less.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Q102: Northtown's Transportation Safety Valve

Earlier this week there was another of those very cold days when we were waiting at the southbound bus stop outside the Church of the Good Shepherd when an Octagon Express went by barely half full. Sometimes you wish that on days like that that the driver be given the discretion to "go local" and pick up obviously frozen residents.

As much as Northtowners complain about Octagon Express buses they actually have a safety valve that Octagoners and residents of Manhattan Park don't have: the Q102.

The Q102 begins its Roosevelt Island run by heading South once it makes the turn off the bridge ramp. So except for a few passengers already on the bus it usually starts its run at Westview essentially empty and can be counted on for space on cold and rainy days for most Northtowners.

The Q102 after completing it's initial Southbound run from Westview all the way down to the Goldwater Hospital Campus only then threads its way North on Main Street to its Northern terminus at Coler Hospital. After departing Coler it only goes back down Main Street to 2-4-6 River Road and then exits the Island.

In effect, Octagoners and Manhattan Park residents are denied this safety valve.

So when I hear folks complaining about the Octagon Express I usually have to catch myself before joining them as I know if the Q102s are running Northtowners can always get on if their destination is the subway or Tram.

UPDATE & CORRECTION:

As pointed out to me in the comments I was not aware that the Q102's route on the Island switches between the bus (1) first heading to Coler then to Goldwater and then off Island and (2) first heading to Goldwater then to Coler and then off Island. Teaches me to not check the schedule first. Thank you for the comments and corrections. The main intent of the post stays the same that the Q102 does indeed provide an extra measure of service on the Island and at least half of the scheduled trips the extra service gives Northtowners the ability to enter buses not already filled by their Octagon neighbors.