Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced yesterday what he hails as the future of bus riding — but New Yorkers aren’t buying it.
The new M15 Select Bus Service takes the place of the M15 Limited, the busiest — and slowest — route in the city. Bloomberg and the MTA promise faster travel, since the bus only stops about once every 10 blocks. Riders swipe their MetroCard at turnstiles on the street, and get a paper receipt.
“There’s no way this is going to work,” said Nina Zoota, 46, aboard a new M15 yesterday. “The way you get on is just a mess. You have to get an extra little piece of paper, it will go much less smoothly.”
“This is needlessly complicated!” shouted Joan Krieg from the back of the bus. “Thanks, MTA!”
Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan pointed to success of the Bx12 along Fordham Road in the Bronx, where select bus service in place since 2008 has increased bus speed 20 percent and ridership 30 percent.
The next bus the city is eyeing for SBS service is the M34 on 34th Street, and after that, Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, said Sadik-Khan.
It’s not just the confusion of a new fare method: The light blue M15 SBS also skips major stops on its new route, such as E. 8th Street.
“They’ll have to change that, that’s a major destination,” said rider Molly Hickok, 50.
