Press Release
Citizens Taking Action for advancement of transit and trains
August 20, 2011
For Information:
Harry Brooks (773) 731-0608 hrry_brooks@yahoo.com
Kevin Peterson (773) 896-8126 transitcatt@hotmail.com
Transit Group Finds Evidence of Bus Bunchng on 65% of Routes,
CTA Says 3%
Transit Group Refutes Claim by CTA that Bus Bunching Is Not Happening
According to an interview recently published by RedEye, of Forrest Claypool, CTA President, it is stated that:
"Bus bunching—in which buses appear close behind each other after gaps without service—still exists, though the CTA was well within its monthly target of 3 percent in May, the most current data available."
This statement raised some immediate doubts, and altogether disbelief, among members of Citizens Taking Action, a transit advocacy group, at their last monthly meeting.
An informal survey was then conducted which had somewhat different findings, at considerable variance with the claim of Mr. Claypool and CTA.
Below is a list of routes on which bunching (2 or more buses running together) has been witnessed by members of the organization.
Bus bunching according to the group has not been evident on 34 routes, is not possible on or likely to take place on 18 routes, and has taken place on the other 84 routes. This results in a tally of bus bunching taking place or evident on 65% of the routes in which it can take place, 63% if one includes all routes.
Charles Paidock, Secretary of the organization, said that the absolutely worst took place on Friday afternoon on August 5th, when the Lollapalooza was being held. After waiting and waiting for a bus, I ended up taking the el to get home from downtown, which I haven't done in 25+ years, only to see fleets of five and six buses in a row arriving at the station when I got off. At other times I must say CTA has done a very commendable job with large crowds, but this time it was an absolute mess in terms of scheduling buses."
Harry Books, who conducted the study, along with Keven Peterson, recommends that "anyone who doesn't believe us to go to the CTA's website, look up Bus Tracker, and amuse themselves by following in live time the buses traveling together on a particular route. It is best to do it during the rush hour." http://ctabustracker.com/bustime/map/displaymap.jsp
Mr. Paidock added that: "One can certainly dispute our results, and I am certain CTA will, however it is clear that there is significant incident of bus bunching taking place, and considerably more often than 3 percent of the time or trips."
Y = Yes, bunching, N = No bunching NP = Not possible (i.e. not enough service to bunch)
Indiana/Hyde Park - N
Hyde Park Express - Y
King Drive - Y
Cottage Grove - Y
South Shore Night - N
Jackson Park Express - Y
Harrison - Y
Halsted - Y
Ashland - Y
Museum of Science & Industry - Y
Licoln/Sedgwick - Y
Roosevelt - Y
Jeffery Express - Y
Jeffery Local - N
Westchester - NP
16th/18th - N
19. United Center Express - Y
Madison - Y
Cermak - N
Clark - Y
Wentworth - N
South Shore Express - Y
Stony Island - Y
X28 Stony Island Express - Y
State - Y
South Chicago - Y
Mag Mile Express - NP
South Michigan - Y
35th - Y
Broadway - Y
Pershing - N
43rd - NP
Wallace/Racine - Y
47th - Y
South Damen - N
Western - Y
South Western - NP
North Western - N
Damen - Y
51st - N
Kedzie/California - Y
South Kedzie - N
Pulaski - Y
South Pulaski - Y
Cicero - Y
North Cicero/Skokie Blvd. - N
South Cicero - Y
Garfield - Y
55th/Austin - NP
55th/Narragansett - N
Milwaukee - Y
North Milwaukee - NP
Laramie - N
59th/61st - Y
Blue Island/26th - Y
Archer - Y
Archer/Haerlem - N
63rd - Y
West 63rd - NP
Foster/Canfield - NP
Grand - Y
Chicago - Y
67th/69th/71st - Y
Northwest Highway - N
Cumberland/East River - NP
Division - Y
71st/South Shore - Y (with a 24-minute headway)
North - Y
Armitage - Y
Fullerton - Y
74th/75th - Y
Diversey - Y
Belmont -Y
Montrose - Y
79th - Y
Irving Park - Y
Lawrence - Y
West Lawrence - N
Kimball/Homan - Y
8Peterson - Y
Central - Y
8North Central - NP
Narragansett/Ridgeland - N
87th - Y
Higgins - N
Harlem - N
North Harlem - NP
Austin - Y
Foster - N
California/Dodge - N
South California - Y
93rd/95th - Y
95th - Y
Lunt - N
Skokie - Y
Avon Express - NP
Jeffery Manor Express - Y
West 103rd - Y
East 103rd - N
Halsted/95th - Y
Pullman/111th/115th - N
Vincennes/111th - Y
Michigan/119th - Y
Ogilvie/Wacker Express - N
Union/Wacker Express - N
Illinois Center/Ogilvie Express - Y
Illinois Center/Union Express - Y
Navy Pier - Y
Water Tower Express - Y
Jackson - Y
Soldier Field Express - N
West Loop/South Loop - N
Museum Campus - N
Stockton/LaSalle Express - Y
Clarendon/LaSalle Express - Y
Sheridan/LaSalle Express - Y
Stockton/Michigan Express - Y
Marine/Michigan Express - Y
Wilson/Michigan Express - Y
Inner Drive/Michigan Express - Y
Outer Drive Express - Y
Clarendon/Michigan Express - Y
Sheridan - Y
Addison - Y
Wrigley Field Express - N
Devon - N
LaSalle - Y
Streeterville/Taylor - Y
West 65th - NP
69th/UPS Express - NP
U of C/Midway - NP
U of C/Hyde Park - NP
U of C/Kenwood - NP
1U of C Hospitals Express - NP
Central/Ridge - N
Central/Sherman - NP
Chicago/Golf - N
Evanston Circulator - NP
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