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However, despite the worse than average performance of some Queens lines, the report’s conclusions were mixed, according to Gene Russianoff, senior attorney for the Straphangers Campaign.
“Overall, we document a mixed picture of the subways with fewer breakdowns, but dirtier cars and more irregular arrivals,” he said. Russianoff credited the improved reliability to newer cars with updated technology.
Other noteworthy findings from the study included the best chance of getting a seat is on the V line, where riders have a 91 percent chance of getting a seat during rush hour. It also found that the J and Z trains had the greatest regularity of scheduled service.
Asked about their personal experiences in the subways, Queens riders echoed the report’s mixed reviews. Queens Village resident Michelle Bussani said she takes the F train in Jamaica. “I never have a problem getting a seat at 179th Street, but I can’t ever get a seat coming back from Manhattan until Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights.”
As for cleanliness, Bussani said that riders contribute to dirty cars. “For the most part, the cars are clean. But sometimes people will leave their newspapers or empty cups on the seats or on the floor. I think more people should be fined for leaving their trash on the subway,” Bussani said.
One 66 year old Richmond Hill rider, who didn’t want his name used, said indecipherable on board announcements are among his subway pet peeves. “Sometimes you hear the announcements and sometimes you don’t. I think the P.A. system could be much better,” he added.
Kiro, a 31 year old waiter from Kew Gardens, called the E train “cool but smelly, adding that “the trains aren’t very clean.”
Kenyatta Johnson, 25, of Kew Gardens, had some complaints of his own about the E and F trains that were not covered in the Straphangers report. “I’ve been in a bunch of trains in the past few days that had no air conditioning,” he said. “And I waited almost 45 minutes for a train the other night.”
Johnson also said that the Union Turnpike station was particularly dirty with “rats as big as cats.” He added: “They jump up on the platform and just look at you.”
While many riders agreed with the findings in the Straphangers report, in a prepared statement, New York City Transit called the conclusions both flawed and inconsistent with other Straphanger reports. “Some of the data is inappropriately employed or simply incorrect,” the statement read.
For example, the authority asserted that the report doesn’t take into account that the No. 6 line is much more heavily traveled and as such has more frequently scheduled service than, say, the worst rated W line, with its far fewer passengers.
New York City Transit also said that judging seat availability during rush hour at the most crowded point on a line didn’t take into account other factors such as traveling in the opposite direction or other, less crowded parts of a line.
Russianoff countered that all the information used by the Straphangers is official New York City Transit data. “If any numbers are incorrect, it is the Transit Authority’s responsibility. As usual, Transit is trying to walk away from its own data,” Russianoff said.
