By way of comment on Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal and, perhaps, in response to Transportation Alternatives’ recent bike vs. subway vs. taxi commuter contest, the author of Queens Crap, a blog focused on local development issues, conducted his own rush hour comparison test. Here are his results:

8:00: left house, walked to bus

8:03: arrived at bus stop

8:07: bus scheduled to arrive

8:23: bus arrived, packed*

8:55: bus deposited Crapper at subway

8:56: Crapper boarded Manhattan bound train

9:10: Crapper switched for uptown express

9:25: Train arrived, Crapper boarded**

9:40: Crapper emerged from subway and walked

9:45: Crapper arrived at work, 45 minutes late (and was out 3/4 hour pay)

Total commuting time: 1 hr, 45 minutes

Transit cost: $4 (including return home)

Wages lost: $32

Total cost: $36

Number of times Crapper was late this month because of the MTA: 6

Alternate route taken by Crapper’s neighbor:

8:00: Left house

8:10: Arrived at Queens Midtown Tunnel

8:25: Got to other side of tunnel

8:40: Arrived at parking garage

8:45: Had breakfast

9:00: Arrived at work

Total commuting time: 40 minutes

Transit & parking cost: $27

Wages lost: $0

Total cost: $27

Number of times neighbor was late this month because of traffic: 2

Yes, congestion pricing will improve the average New Yorker’s commute and quality of life.

The Crapper will now be carpooling with neighbor and splitting cost.

* Reason bus was late: driver called out sick and there was no replacement for him

** Reason train was late: it was announced, but God knows what was said on the PA system

Perhaps Mr. Crapper wants to consider skipping the bus altogether and riding a bicycle to the subway station?