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Acting Public Advocate Corey Johnson asks New Yorkers about their commutes.
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Subways
Delays
If you experience a delay greater than 15 minutes, while waiting for a train what are you more likely to do?
If you experience a delay greater than 15 minutes, while waiting for a train are you likely to…?
Among respondents, the most common alternative when a train is delayed is waiting for the next train. Using another train is a close second. Each answer was selected by almost 2,000 respondents.
The next most popular choice was using a for-hire vehicle, like a cab or ride share. This option was selected by more than 750 people.
Using buses, walking, or biking were the least frequently chosen alternatives. Each of these responses was chosen about 200 times or fewer.
Delays
If you experience delays, approximately how long are you delayed?
If you experience delays, approximately how long are you delayed?
Most commonly, people experienced delays of between 10 and 20 minutes, with more than 2,300 respondents choosing this option.
The second most common delay frequency was from five to 10 minutes. This option was select by just over 2,000 people.
Almost 600 people said they experience delays of 20 to 45 minutes.
Just over 60 people reported experiencing delays of more than 45 minutes.
Rides
What is the average length of your subway ride?
What is the average length of your subway ride?
Most people said that, on average, they ride the subway for 20 to 40 minutes. More than 2,000 respondents chose this option
Longer rides were also common, with more than 1,500 people saying they rode the subway fro 40 to 60 minutes, on average.
About 700 people reported average ride lengths of less than 20 minutes.
Even fewer people–about 600–reported rides lasting more than 60 minutes.
Delays
How frequently do you experience subway delays?
How frequently do you experience subway delays?
More than 2,500 of the people surveyed reported experiencing delays a few times a week.
Almost 1,500 people reported delays everyday.
Just over 800 people said they only rarely experienced delays.
Fewer than 70 people said they experienced delays never or almost never
Rerouting
How frequently do you experience service changes/re-routing?
How frequently do you experience service changes/re-routing?
Almost 2,500 people said they experience rerouting only on the weekends.
Over 1,500 people surveyed said they experience rerouting all the time.
About 1,000 people said they experience rerouting almost never or only at night, with responses being evenly split between these two groups.
Affordability
At its current rate do you feel the subway is affordable?
At its current rate do you feel the subway is affordable?
of the people who answered the survey, almost 3,000 thought the subway was affordable.
The remaining 2,000 or so thought that it was not.
Delays
If you are delayed on a train, what is the most common reason given by a conductor?
If you are delayed on a train, what is the most common reason given by a conductor?
More than 2,500 respondents reported that the most common reason for their delay was train traffic.
The next most common reason was signal malfunctions, being reported by just under 1,000 people.
About 1,000 people reported that most often no reason was given or that the train was waiting for a signal change. Responses were evenly split between these two groups.
About 300 people reported that the most common reason for their delay was a sick passenger, a police incident, or the weather.
Affordability
What do you think about the fare increases being proposed by the MTA?
What do you think about the fare increases being proposed by the MTA?
Most people, almost 3,000 of them, thought the MTA continues to find ways to take more money and reduce services.
About 800 people were worried that fare increases would make the subway unaffordable.
Just over 600 people thought fare increases were necessary.
About 700 people were unaware of the increases or had no opinion
Satisfaction
How satisfied are you with the subway service?
How satisfied are you with the subway service?
Most frequently, people said they were not satisfied with the subway. More than 1,800 respondents chose this option.
Over 1,200 respondents said they were highly unsatisfied with the subway.
Just over 1,000 respondents were somewhat satisfied.
About 750 people felt neutrally.
Fewer than 200 people responded that they were very satisfied.
Rides
What is the primary reason you use the subway?
What is the primary reason you use the subway?
Most of the people surveyed used the subway to commute to work, with more than 3,500 respondents choosing this option.
The majority of other people use the subway for a reason besides work or school. More than 1,000 respondents chose other.
About 200 of the people surveyed used the subway to get to school.
Rides
How frequently do you use the subway?
How frequently do you use the subway?
Most people–over 2,500 of them–said they use the subway everyday or almost everyday.
The next most popular choice was more than once a week. About 800 people selected this.
About 700 people said they use the subway Monday through Friday.
Just over 600 of those surveyed reported using the subway about five days a week.
Almost 150 respondents said they use the subway once a week.
Just under 100 of the people surveyed responded that they use the subway once a month.
Fewer than 50 people reported using the subway never or almost never.
Complaints
What are your concerns or complaints about transit service?
What are your concerns or complaints about transit service?
Most of the people surveyed complained about delays, with more than 3,500 respondents choosing this option.
More than 2,800 of people complained about overcrowded trains, followed by frequent route changes, with nearly 1,900 people choosing this option.
About 1,500 people complained about station infrastructure.
About 1,400 people complained about high fares.
About 1,200 people complained about customer service.
About 1,000 people complained about lack of handicap access.
Less than 1,000 people complained about crime/safety (685), old trains (470), and 445 people did not answer the question.
Buses
Rides
How frequently do you use the bus/buses you most often ride?
How frequently do you use the bus/buses you most often ride?
Most frequently, people who took the survey reported using the bus several times a week, with almost 1,500 respondents choosing this option.
This was closely followed by the over 1,200 people who reported riding the bus daily.
There were about 1,600 people surveyed who rode either almost daily or several times a month, with each response being chosen by around 800 respondents.
Just over 600 people reported riding the bus weekly, and under 300 people said they only ride the bus several times a year.
Rides
Over the last several years, do you think the reliability of the bus/buses you most often ride has…
Over the last several years, do you think the reliability of the bus/buses you most often ride has…
Most of those surveyed reported that reliability of buses has either stayed the same or gotten worse over time. About 2,000 people chose each response.
Fewer than 700 respondents said that bus reliability has improved.
About 400 people reported that they didn’t know if reliability had changed over time.
Rides
If you check bus schedules, how reliable/accurate is the information?
If you check bus schedules, how reliable/accurate is the information?
When asked about the reliability of bus schedules, about 2,500 people said they were somewhat reliable.
Just under 1,000 respondents reported that bus schedules were very reliable.
Just under 800 people felt that schedules were somewhat unreliable.
Around 500 respondents reported that these schedules were very unreliable.
The remaining 600 respondents either felt neutrally or don’t check bus schedules.
Satisfaction
If you require additional assistance while boarding a bus, how satisfied are you with the accessibility of your bus service?
If you require additional assistance while boarding a bus, how satisfied are you with the accessibility of your bus service?
Of those to whom the question did apply, over 500 people reported that they felt neutral about the bus accessibility services provided by the MTA.
Over 400 respondents were somewhat satisfied with bus accessibility.
Just over 250 people indicated they were very satisfied. A similar number of people felt somewhat unsatisfied by bus accessibility services.
Under 200 of those who answered were very unsatisfied with these services.
Satisfaction
How satisfied are you with your overall bus service?
How satisfied are you with your overall bus service?
Most frequently, people reported that, overall, they were somewhat satisified with the bus service they received. Over 1,500 people chose this option on the survey.
Almost 1,500 people indicated that they were somewhat unsatisfied, however.
The next most common choice, with over 1,000 respondents, was “very unsatisfied.”
Just over 750 respondents indicated that they felt neutrally about their bus service.
A little over 300 people reported that they were very satisfied.
Complaints
What are your greatest concerns or complaints about your overall bus service?
What are your greatest concerns or complaints about your overall bus service?
There were many responses to this question, with most people choosing several different concerns. The most frequently chosen complaint was that bus service was not frequent enough. Over 3,400 respondents chose this option.
Reliability was also a large concern for many people–over 3,000 chose this option.
Survey respondents also indicated that bus scheduling, crowding, and speed were large concerns. Over 1,700 respondents chose each of these.
Delays
If your bus is delayed more than 15 minutes, while you are waiting, what are you most likely to do?
If your bus is delayed more than 15 minutes, while you are waiting, what are you most likely to do?
The most frequently chosen action after fifteen minutes was to keep waiting. Almost 3,000 respondents chose this option.
The next most common response was to walk, chosen by over 2,500 of those surveyed.
More than 2,000 people said they take a for hire vehicle in this situation.
Over 1,700 respondents indicated that they take the subway when their bus is delayed.
After that, almost 1,400 people said they use a different bus.
Fewer than 500 people responded that they cancel their plans.
Biking, taking a van, and driving were all chosen by over 100 people.
Communication
How do you check bus schedule information?
How do you check bus schedule information?
The most common response was the MTA’s Bus Time app or website, chosen by over 3,200 respondents
The next most popular option was using the bus schedule posted at the stop. Over 2,000 people chose this option.
The MyMTA app was also a common response. More than 1,500 of those surveyed indicated they used the app.
The bus countdown clock at the bus stop was used by over 1,300 respondents.
Almost 1,000 respondents said they used a bus schedule posted online.
The “Other” option was chosen by just under 1,000 respondents as well.
More than 700 people said they used Google Maps.
Over 500 respondents indicated that they don’t check the schedule at all.
Finally, almost 200 people indicated they used a hard copy of the schedule.
Rides
What is the primary reason you use the bus?
What is the primary reason you use the bus?
Most of the people surveyed indicated that the primary reason they use the bus is to get to work, with 2,400 people choosing that option.
The next most popular primary reason for using the bus is to get to recreational or social activities, with about 1,000 people responding this way.
About 900 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is for other activities.
About 500 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is because buses are accessible.
About 400 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is to get to medical appointments.
About 300 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is to get to work and school.
About 300 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is to access services.
About 200 people responded that the primary reason for using the bus is to accompany a child or someone that they take care of.
About 200 people did not answer the question.
About 150 people responded that the primary reason that they take the bus to get to school.
Less than 20 people responded that the primary reason that they take the bus is because buses are accessible.
Rides
What has changed about buses you ride in the last several years?
What has changed about buses you ride in the last several years?
Most of the people surveyed indicated that the bus is more crowded now, with about 2,100 people choosing this option.
The next biggest change was that people’s trips are now slower, with about 1,900 people choosing this option.
About 1,500 people said that there have not been any changes.
About 900 people responded that they did not know what has changed.
About 850 people responded that their bus is now a Select Bus Service route.
About 550 people responded that their route now has dedicated bus lanes.
About 350 people responded that their trip is faster.
About 300 people responded that their route is less direct.
About 100 people responded that the bus is less crowded (134) or that their route is more direct (114).
Rides
Why do you take the bus?
Why do you take the bus?
Most of the people surveyed indicated that they take the bus to get from their origin to their final destination, with about 4,300 people choosing this option.
The majority of the rest of the people surveyed responded that they take the bus to the subway, with about 2,500 people choosing this option.
About 1,300 people responded that they take the bus to get to or from another bus.
About 450 people responded that they take the bus for reasons too variable to indicate.
About 250 people responded that they take the bus for other reasons.
About 100 people responded that they take the bus in conjunction with cycling.
Less than 100 people responded that they take the bus to get to and from the ferry (70).