B’s Results Showcase More Bogus Improvement
Bedford Park Blvd. bound B train speeding by Neck Rd. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
I started off last year’s entry for the 
train’s “Rider Report Card” results with a sarcastic “BREAKING NEWS”. This stemmed from the fact that the line like its peers achieved an overall average or just below average grade.
I could have honestly started this year’s entry off in the same way considering the results have been more of the same. In the ‘s case, the line showed a “slight improvement” as it finished with an overall grade of C compared to 2007’s C-. Lets get straight to the breakdown:
B Train Riders’ Top 10 Priorities; 2007 priority rank will be in ( ):
01. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 2 )
02. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 3 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 1 )
04. Station announcements that are easy to hear ( 9 )
05. Train announcements that are easy to hear ( 10 )
06. Cleanliness of stations ( 12 )
07. Cleanliness of subway cars ( 6 )
08. Sense of security on trains ( 18 )
09. Sense of security in stations ( 17 )
10. Working elevators and escalators in stations ( 8 )
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Now here is the entire order of B train riders’ priorities 2007 priority rank will be in ( ):
01. Reasonable wait times for trains ( 2 )
02. Adequate room on board at rush hour ( 3 )
03. Minimal delays during trips ( 1 )
04. Station announcements that are easy to hear ( 9 )
05. Train announcements that are easy to hear ( 10 )
06. Cleanliness of stations ( 12 )
07. Cleanliness of subway cars ( 6 )
08. Sense of security on trains ( 18 )
09. Sense of security in stations ( 17 )
10. Working elevators and escalators in stations ( 8 )
11. Station announcements that are informative ( 5 )
12. Comfortable temperature in subway cars ( 7 )
13. Train announcements that are informative ( 11 )
14. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel ( 4 )
15. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines ( 20 )
16. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way ( 15 )
17. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars ( 21 )
18. Signs in stations that help riders find their way ( 13 )
19. Ease of use of subway turnstiles ( 14 )
20. Lack of graffiti in subway cars ( 19 )
21. Lack of graffiti in stations ( 16 )
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Now here is the graded breakdown for all 21 categories; 2007 grade in ( ):
01. Minimal delays during trips C (C-)
02. Reasonable wait times for trains C- (D+)
03. Adequate room on board at rush hour D+ (D+)
04. Sense of security in stations C+ (C)
05. Sense of security on trains C (C)
06. Working elevators and escalators in stations C- (C-)
07. Signs in stations that help riders find their way C+ (C+)
08. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way C (C)
09. Cleanliness of stations C- (C-)
10. Cleanliness of subway cars C- (C-)
11. Station announcements that are easy to hear D+ (D)
12. Station announcements that are informative D+ (D+)
13. Train announcements that are easy to hear D+ (D)
14. Train announcements that are informative C- (D+)
15. Lack of graffiti in stations C+ (C+)
16. Lack of graffiti in subway cars C+ (C+)
17. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars C (C+)
18. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel C (C)
19. Comfortable temperature in subway cars C+ (C)
20. Ease of use of subway turnstiles B- (B-)
21. Availability of MetroCard Vending Machines B- (B-)
I once again have to question the overall grade for a line. How could the have shown improvement when the top 3 priorities are exactly the same albeit in a different order? Also of the top 10 priorities, 3 of them were outside of the top 10 in 2007. Overall 70% of the top 10 priorities featured a higher rank from 2007. These results do not show improvement at all.
The fact that 70% of the top 10 priorities rose in rank is bad enough. However what is really alarming how the 2 highest ranking climbs involved security with 8 & 10 point jumps respectively. What is going on along this line nowadays to cause such a sudden jump up? I do not ride the line daily or much at all nowadays so I can’t say firsthand why the change has occurred or appear that way to riders.
When it is all said & done I will continue to breakdown these “Rider Report Card“. However I would like to see the grades be more accurate. Having 70% of your top 10 priorities rise in one year & only 1/3 of your grades go higher does not equal improvement. I guess the 10 point swing from 4 (in 2007) to 14 (in 2008) for “Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel” really put it over the top. Whatever…..
xoxo Transit Blogger
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That is an excellent photo. Thanks for reporting about our train.
From Sheepshead Bites.