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Times reporter C.J. Hughes rode the M60 bus to La Guardia a few days ago and describes a frustrating scene: The only direct public transportation link between Manhattan and the airport is horribly overcrowded and slooow. It took Hughes two hours to get from 106th and Broadway to La Guardia—twice as long as scheduled. During the trip he watched as "two dozen people" with luggage tried to squeeze on, but "a wave of exiting riders, shouting loudly, pushed them right back off." Ridership on the M60 has grown by 263% in the last 10 years, but a spokesman for the MTA explains away the overcrowding as simply a "one-day aberration" caused by delays related to "unusual roadwork" on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. And besides, riders like Ben Mitchell—who rode buses in Africa in the Peace Corps—points out that "you could easily fit 50 more people in here without a problem. This is nothing."
M60 Bus to La Guardia Airport: Worth the Stress?
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I've taken that god for saken bus to LGA from 125th/Lex and it SUCKS. I recommend anyone who takes it add another 30 minutes or 1 hour to their itinerary. Luckily since your flight will most likely be delayed leaving from LGA, you'll have a better chance of making your flight.
But there are lots of reasons for this:
125th/Triborough Bridge during rush hour is a mess. Even when there's NO construction.
There aren't enough M60 buses to support the demand.
People won't MOVE THEIR SHIT out of the way for other people to sit, stand, or whatever.
Find a cab, car service, or even a Gypsy and spend the extra money if you can. Its just not worth the aggravation.
The MTA's attitude towards buses is that it's all right if they're slow and overcrowded, because the important people, like the management of the MTA, drive cars, take taxis, or are whisked to the airport in their limousines.
The M60 wouldn't be so bad, though, if it only ran as often as it is scheduled to. Nothing can be done about the DOT's brilliant decision to do maintenance on the TRIBOROUGH bridge during the crowded holiday season.
"boarded the M60 at 2 p.m. on Tuesday to catch a 3:45 p.m. flight"
And he missed his flight? BIG Surprise! Didnt they say you should get to the airport 2 HOURS or so before your flight? Not get on the friggin slowass bus 15 minutes after he should have been at the terminal...
All so he can save $10? And I thought Columbia was an Ivy League school. How the FUCK did he get in???
It's an embarassment that a supposedly world-class city like NY has no decent direct rail links to the airports. That billion dollar monorail is a joke. How many people arriving at JFK require a direct ride to Jamaica, Queens?
On recent trips to London and Amsterdam I was able to easily hop on a train in the center of town and get off a short while later at platforms - AT the air terminals!!!
The MTA clearly has not grasped the concept of point A to point B.
Building rail systems to airports isn't that simple when there's nearly now ROW space left and with enormous NIMBYs to contend with. This is usually up to the PANYNJ anyways.
All great points I have a flight leaving from LGA next week. Taking that M60 is not even a option I rather take the bus from times square for 15 dollars or so than take the M60.
Saying that the M60 is the only direct public transportation option to La Guardia is blatantly false. The Q33 goes from the big 74th/Roosevelt subway station as well.
I once took a cab instead of the bus on arrival at LaGuardia. When the driver found out I was only going to Astoria and not Manhattan, he had a fit.
Bottom line: flying in or out of NYC sucks for many reasons.
When I lived in Astoria a few years ago, I used to take this to and from LGA via the bus stop at Astoria Blvd. That was annoying in terms of the suitcases, but it was pretty quick and mostly painless. I only did it when I had a small carry-on bag.
I've taken the m60 from Manhattan to get to Astoria when I had plenty of time to kill. But the TriBoro bridge is SUCH a mess with traffic most of the time, that taking it from Manhattan to catch a flight is not at all reliable.
Why no flat-rate taxi fare to/from LGA like JFK, just to simplify things?
It's sad that a city like this has no good public transportation to the airport except for AirTrain, which is a joke.
Even St Louis has a monorail to get from the airport to downtown without changing trains, paying two fares, or taking more than an hour.
My parents have taken the M60 to the airport... but only because they are retired and can budget an extra hour or two for the ride.
It really isn't that bad, but perhaps this reviewer was just on at rush hour times.
I do give 1 1/2 hours from Columbia to LGA, but for $2, it's the best option.
Bring a book and stop complaining.
Not to sound foolish, but what's wrong with LIRR from Penn to Jamaica, then monorail to JFK?
I'd rather have root canal than fly through LGA.
What do you expect for $2?
Sadly, the easiest airport to get to via public transport is Newark and it costs much more than $2 to get there.
Theres nothing wrong with The AirTrain to JFK as it is the BEST public transport option to any NYC airport other than the bus or cab. The AirTrain at Newark however is a Joke.
The AirTrain to JFK made sense because it connected not only Subway riders from the city, but for Long Islanders as well via the LIRR. I do think it charges too much (5 bucks a pop? bahh), but it works relatively well.
If you're going to La Guardia take the taxi or car service.
"one-day aberration"
EVERY Time I've ridden the M-60 it sucks not just at holiday time. Why don't they make this an express bus?
Part of the reason why it's so slow is people jump on it along 125th and get off 3-4 stops later. There are plenty other buses on this route to handle the non-airport passengers.
There could be a direct rail link if the MTA and LIRR weren't mortal enemies and would agree to collaborate. Unfortunately, it's the public that suffers for their childish antagonism toward each other.
The M60 is always a nightmare, what is the MTA spokesperson talking about? The only time I've ever had an easy ride on that bus has been very late at night.
New York's airport transportation is shameful. Why is it that other major American cities--Boston, Philly, Chicago, Los Angeles--can have direct rail links to the airport (or a near-direct link with a quick shuttle ride, in LAX's case) for the price of a regular mass transit ticket, while New Yorkers are stuck with the inconvenient and expenive AirTrain or the M60?
Why the Fack is this even a post?!?!
Hey Jenn how about this "The 4,5&6 are crowded on Monday mornings"
Granted the M60 is not for everybody, but if you live close enough to one of the stops its worth it.
Life is a balance of time, convenience and cost...
you can usually have 2 but sacrifice on the 3rd. choose which one is worth it to you.
I take the M60 regularly, and it is very often too crowded to take on extra passengers; it's not just a holiday issue. There are a few factors that seem common
*Riders crowd around the doors instead of moving into the bus; there is very often no room to enter a bus at the front and back doors but plenty of room in the back of the bus
*There is no good place for people to put their luggage, which takes up room that could be used for riders
*The buses are often delayed, which leads to crowding as more and more people need to get on each bus to get to their destination on time.
The MTA should really consider adding more buses to the route!
ides of march-
LIRR is a part of MTA = Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(perhaps you though it was Manhattan transit agency?)
The overcrowding was an aberration based on work at the bridge? As if people knew the bridge was under construction so took the bus instead of another method of transportation? Does that make any sense? Maybe the length of the ride but not the overcrowding.
Perhaps a solution would be to run a secondary, separate line along the same route as the M60 but with fewer stops, and at the express bus or Air Tran fare that is specifically for riders headed towards LGA, with luggage racks (like the rental car buses have)to alleviate passenger crowding. With the increase in fare, the MTA should be able to run additional buses, while not bogging down the route to the airport with commuters headed from Manhattan into Queens (and reverse).
I never take the M60, it just has never seemed like a good idea to me. I usually do the PA express bus from Grand Central or the Q33 from Roosevelt Ave if I'm runnin low on cash.
the m60 is great in the morning and late at night. don't try to go to the airport in the afternoon, you are going to hit traffic. yeah, it gets a little crowded, but its a great deal.
The AirTrain to JFK is a ripoff (Seriously, why do you pay $5 to take it to the subway when it's free to take it to a rental car location?) but at least it's reliable and comfortable. A direct rail link would be great, but what can you do?
The M60 is fine if you take the N to Astoria and get the bus there. But I'd never try to take it from the UWS across town and across the bridge.
Do they have bike racks at LGA?
When I bring my M60 on the bus I never have a problem getting a seat.
Build an AirTrain above Grand Central Parkway to the Astoria Blvd. station on the N/W.
I believe that a rail link from JFK into Manhattan was talked about (as was a monorail connecting LGA to a subway line... the 7?) but those are obviously both years away.
I have taken the M60 to LGA several times -- and have found that it's generally better to get on it at Astoria Blvd (i.e. once it's already done 125th St. and crossed the bridge) than getting on in the city. However, it's much more crowded at that stop.
And yeah, people do insist on getting off at the front and not moving to the back (slowing up the loading process considerably), but that's true of ALL the bus lines. Seriously, what is up with that??
Take the E train to 74th St/Roosevelt and then the Q33. It's A LOT faster and you always get a seat, since it's the start of the route. From Times Square the E takes only 20 minutes to 74th St/Roosevelt, and from there it's about 20-40 minutes to LGA, depending on traffic. Or you can jump into a gypsy cab for $10.
Local busses have never been a good option for airport travellers. It happens in Europe, too: the city busses are just not set up with the wide doors and expansive luggage racks necessary to move airport travelers. You're mixing two distinct transportation needs and expecting people to adjust - it isn't going to happen.
Airport pax don't want to wait while the bus makes 800 stops between downtown and the terminal. That's why cities need to invest in limited-stop express service. I'd pay 8/10/12 for a bus that made no more than 5 stops between LGA and mid-town.
And JFK? Puh-leese, give me Newark any day.
I live on West End-first stop on M60. Take bus to Metro North. Easy ride. Maybe a little crowded but if you have the extra 15 minutes, it's great and runs about every 15 minutes.
As far as the bus to LGA, I still think it is a great bargain-again, if you are not in a rush and account for the time of day.