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I really like knowing what the options are - even if I don't use all of them all the time. I might figure some of them out on my own but it's so much better to talk to people and get a better idea and investigate a little further . . .
For the people who think taking the B63 is a better option, let me tell you it's much worse. It took me and hour and a half to get from Park Slope to Bay Ridge with that bus last summer, which is embarrassing. I could probably walk and get there faster.
There's usually a cross-platform transfer, but I think it's more often at 36th than 59th. If you're going to Lower Manhattan, it's not that bad. R train your chance of getting a seat is high. Midtown, worse. I think there are worse train commutes in NYC, and it's still better than most suburban train commutes time-wise.
I'm a bit surprised the bus is faster at rush hour, sounds like it'll be stuck in a long BQE/tunnel traffic jam.
For the people who think taking the B63 is a better option, let me tell you it's much worse. It took me and hour and a half to get from Park Slope to Bay Ridge with that bus last summer, which is embarrassing. I could probably walk and get there faster.
Why'd you take the B63 over the R? I never really understood the point of that bus, when the R does the same thing much faster. Seems to be well used.
I'm a bit surprised the bus is faster at rush hour, sounds like it'll be stuck in a long BQE/tunnel traffic jam.
There's a bus lane on the BQE in the morning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nei
Why'd you take the B63 over the R? I never really understood the point of that bus, when the R does the same thing much faster. Seems to be well used.
Aside from the obvious elderly/disabled riders, a lot of people take the bus for shorter trips. For example, Bay Ridge Avenue to 86th Street, or 39th Street to 9th Street. (Or in this case, somewhere in Bay Ridge to 59th/60th Street).
Plus, now with BusTime, it makes it a little more predictable to catch, as opposed to the train which doesn't have any tracking app.
I believe what nei was asking was why take the B63 for a "long" trip from Park Slope to Bay Ridge. Unless the subway is not running, this is only for masochists.
As an experienced X27 bus rider I can say that the evening rush hour is not that bad most of the time. Plus, the problem is rarely the tunnel or the Gowanus; it's downtown Manhattan from Barclay Street to the entrance of the tunnel. It has taken 20 minutes or more to make it from Wall Street to the tunnel, which of course is right around the corner. The Broadway/Battery Place intersection is a bottleneck followed up by the bottleneck that is the Battery Place/West Street intersection a few yards up.
Are you afraid to leave your apt? Sunset Park aka South Slope questionable areas? Yeah beware of the hipster that might spill a hot latte in your lap!
Sunset Park in comparison to Bay Ridge has always been seen as seedy (though it has improved) and that's why many residents in Bay Ridge prefer the express bus. You are riding with residents from your neighborhood, so there is no seedy factor. That was the point I was trying to make. Given the fact that the op is a female it would make sense for her to use the bus at times if safety is a concern for her.
That seems an unreasonable fear, unless at night; but everyone's comfort level is different
Yes, but there is also a large elderly population in Bay Ridge, so yes, everyone's comfort level is different.
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I used to take the R from Bay Ridge to Manhattan and vice-versa.
I never really understood the point of that bus, when the R does the same thing much faster. Seems to be well used.
