Queens Blogger Runs His Own Commuter Contest

By way of comment on Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal and, perhaps, in response to Transportation Alternatives’ recent bike vs. subway vs. taxi commuter contest, the author of Queens Crap, a blog focused on local development issues, conducted his own rush hour comparison test. Here are his results:

8:00: left house, walked to bus

8:03: arrived at bus stop

8:07: bus scheduled to arrive

8:23: bus arrived, packed*

8:55: bus deposited Crapper at subway

8:56: Crapper boarded Manhattan bound train

9:10: Crapper switched for uptown express

9:25: Train arrived, Crapper boarded**

9:40: Crapper emerged from subway and walked

9:45: Crapper arrived at work, 45 minutes late (and was out 3/4 hour pay)

Total commuting time: 1 hr, 45 minutes

Transit cost: $4 (including return home)

Wages lost: $32

Total cost: $36

Number of times Crapper was late this month because of the MTA: 6

Alternate route taken by Crapper’s neighbor:

8:00: Left house

8:10: Arrived at Queens Midtown Tunnel

8:25: Got to other side of tunnel

8:40: Arrived at parking garage

8:45: Had breakfast

9:00: Arrived at work

Total commuting time: 40 minutes

Transit & parking cost: $27

Wages lost: $0

Total cost: $27

Number of times neighbor was late this month because of traffic: 2

Yes, congestion pricing will improve the average New Yorker’s commute and quality of life.

The Crapper will now be carpooling with neighbor and splitting cost.



* Reason bus was late: driver called out sick and there was no replacement for him

** Reason train was late: it was announced, but God knows what was said on the PA system

Perhaps Mr. Crapper wants to consider skipping the bus altogether and riding a bicycle to the subway station?