Now Straphangers Are Happy With MTA Service?!

Flickr user ianqui

Apparently, city subway riders can't make up their damn minds. First it's all bad service this and unfair fare hikes that, but when it comes to sticking it to the man in a survey, everyone is having a grand ol' time in the tubes! According to a survey taken by the MTA, 71% of subway passengers felt satisfied or very satisfied with service, and 77% of riders were happy with the the line they use the most. The MTA itself said over the summer (when this survey took place) that service is declining. So, is the MTA being selective with its numbers, or has Stockholm Syndrome finally taken hold?

There were a few survey points that sounded like the cranky straphangers we know and love. Just 62% of riders were satisfied with bus service compared to the value of a ride, and just 44% were ok with rush hour crowding. There were also typical complaints about cleanliness, reliability and getting working elevators. "This has obviously been an extremely tough year for our transit system and for our customers, but the survey results show that our customers appreciate the improvements we have been able to put into place, like countdown clocks,” said MTA Chairman Jay H. Walder. 95% of riders said they liked the countdown clocks, even if they are spoilers.

In other MTA minutia, 79% of customers are satisfied with temperature of subways. Which is good, because if we're going to be stuck underground because of "train traffic ahead of us," we might as well get comfortable. Maybe they should use some of this fare hike money and install some massage chairs?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on December 14, 2010 2:03 PM

Comments [rss]

Ragingsemi

If I have to read the word "Straphangers" one more f-ing time....

MetroGypsy

Get THE HELL OUT! No ONE is HAPPY with the service!! 2 1/2 hours for whats supposed to be a 25 minute ride?! HOURS of delay EVERY day on the 7, R and Q25 lines?! Who the fuc* took this pile of shit survey?!?!

whitecastlerock

The stench of fresh baked bum's ass, crowded platforms and trains, graffiti, scratchitti, mariachi bands, doo woppers, pan handlers, kids selling stolen candy to keep themselves off the streets, human feces, urine, dried blood, overflowing trash bins, air conditioning in the winter, heat in the summer, endless mind numbing robotic announcements, crumbling platforms, leaking ceilings, broken escalators, countdown clocks that don't work-everything is as it should be.

Guest

i'm risking my life and limb to say this, but i'm a little happier with the subway system ever since they put those timers in the stations. if it says "15 min", i go grab some pizza and come back and still make it in time!

longacre

From my experience, those timers are often very inaccurate.

jlocke

From my experience, Gothamist commenters are often very inaccurate.

boogpowell

This seems fabricated. The MTA conducts a survey and somehow it shows them in a good light. How about have a 3rd party conduct a survey and actually survey real commuters. Ive personally had to take the 7 to qboro and then switch to NQ to get to ditmars 5 times in the last 2 months bc NQ wasnt running into queens. So if I commute about 22 days a month, thats about 10% of days where there are problems causing the NQ to be unable to go btw manhattan and qns. Service has gone marketedly down hill in the last year while the cost has skyrocketed. I cant imagine anyone would say they are happy with the subways unless they dont ride them.

Nyctini11

MTA Fabrication??...NEVER!!
Now on the other hand if they conduct these surveys in Times Sq. stations targeting tourists, well, hmmm, that might shed some light on their favorable review.

ab1080

When we did surveys in 7th grade the first thing they taught us was that you needed to publicize how many people took your survey, where you surveyed, and what was the method of response. I think we should send send the MTA back to visit my 7th grade teacher.

The only figure I see is 103 people rated the email responses...please don't tell me this entire survey is based off 103 people...