New Report Critiques NYC Bus Reliability
A recent report reveals that the majority of New York City buses receive poor ratings for reliability and speed, with more than a million daily riders affected.
According to the findings, around 56% of bus routes in the city operate at speeds significantly below optimal, resulting in delays more than half the time. This report was published last week.
Notably, only seven bus lines received satisfactory scores, with just 8% of routes earning grades of B or higher.
“That’s just so unreliable,” remarked a 39-year-old nurse from Richmond Hill while waiting for the frequently delayed Q8 bus in Queens.
The analysis pointed out that some bus routes, like the M34 in Midtown, allow pedestrians to walk faster than the buses, averaging just 5.4 mph.
This study leveraged real-time MTA data collected from June 2024 to June 2025 to evaluate on-time performance and average speeds. It found that merely 144 out of 332 public bus routes met acceptable standards.
“The consequences of city and MTA shortcomings are evident; I watched as my neighbor in Brooklyn waited over 20 minutes while buses crawled toward Manhattan at a mere 5 mph,” stated Lander, a local advocate.
All five of the city’s worst bus routes were highlighted: QM5 (35.5% reliability), BM1 (36.2%), BM5 (37.1%), BM2 (38.2%), and QM6 (38.5%), with average speeds between 10.2 and 13.1 mph.
The worst local routes predominantly serve the outer boroughs, with the B74 being the top offender (40% reliability), followed by B32 (48.4%), BX20 (48.4%), BX32 (48.8%), Q8 (50.5%), and Q24 (50.7%).
“It’s tough to stand around, especially in winter, and the delays just keep piling up,” commented Lisa M, a Q8 rider. “I’ve resorted to taking taxis more often.”
Another frustrated passenger, a 66-year-old named Jerry, expressed his discontent over a 25-minute wait for the morning bus, lamenting, “We should go back to when we protested for better service.”
The routes that performed best included Q35, M60 SBS, BX29, B31, SIM26, B84, and S89.
Interestingly, bus lines designed to have fewer stops tended to do slightly better overall, with 16% earning A or B grades—compared to just 8% of regular routes.
Frank Farrell, a senior vice president of transit buses, remarked that the MTA is working on revamping services to substantially enhance bus speeds across the city.
“We truly need dedicated bus lanes to make a significant difference,” he emphasized.
The report also criticized the issue of “bunching,” where buses cluster together, causing inconsistent service. Seven out of 14 routes that frequently experience this problem are located in Brooklyn.
Lander noted that Manhattan routes, which often travel at painfully slow speeds of 4.9 to 5.4 mph, are severely hampered by constant traffic congestion.
While congestion pricing has recently improved bus reliability in certain zones by 9.2%, over 70% of buses in Manhattan still received D or F ratings.
“Routes operating outside these busy areas did not experience similar improvements,” the report indicated.
Mayoral candidates are making strong promises to enhance bus services, with various proposals ranging from increasing express bus options to expanding dedicated bus lanes. There’s ongoing support from current Mayor Eric Adams, as well as proposals from candidates like Curtis Three and Zohran Mamdani aiming for free bus rides and prioritized road lanes to expedite travel.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has also suggested expanding fare-free bus programs and advocating for better management of MTA services.
