It was a little bit of the good, the bad and the stressed out amongst DeCamp strike refugees this morning. According to a NJ Transit conductor, ushering passengers onto the Montclair-Boonton train out of Bay Street at 7:03, ridership seems to be up 30 percent. But regular passengers on the 7:45 train out of Bay Street told us that there seemed to be about 50 percent more people.
Joe Truchan, the coffee slinger for Gigi’s Express at Bay Street, said he’d sold double the quantity of beverages and snacks this morning. Sylvan Meneses, Gigi’s owner observed that they’re seeing a lot of folks they’ve never seen before. One first-time train rider waiting on line for the ticket machine held up her robust looking muffin — purchased upstairs from Meneses — and said “we don’t get to buy muffins while waiting for DeCamp.” Another displaced bus rider on line behind her added, “Yeah, and if you had a muffin, the driver wouldn’t let you eat it!”
Despite the crowds, and beyond the muffin perk, some riders found the train experience an improvement on their regular bus ride. “NJ Transit much smoother experience than Decamp, busses actually ontime with seats!” declared one rider on Clever Commute. Vivian Marino, a Glen Ridge resident taking the 8:24 midtown direct, had an upbeat attitude about the change. “Although the bus is very convenient to my office, there are a lot of other alternatives to De Camp. It’s an adventure to try something different.”
When we asked regular train riders if they were worried about getting seats — with the potential influx of more than 7,000 new riders — most expected this week to be fine, but feared that post-holiday Tuesday would likely to be a problem. Daily NJ Transit commuter Ted Bongiovanni sent Baristanet this message:
On the 824 from glen ridge. Conductor notices that there are a lot more one ways and schedule questions up about 20%. Expects it to be much heavier after labor day.
“I may never take DeCamp again,” said Valerie D’Oyen, a Montclair resident who has been commuting by bus for five years and never took the train until this morning. DeCamp is geographically convenient but often unreliable, she said. She said she keeps DeCamp’s telephone number in her speed dial and regularly calls them to find out the whereabouts of her 6:30 a.m. bus.
But nerves were frayed by things like congestion at the ticket machines at Bay Street, where inexperienced users were fumbling with buttons and dollars that wouldn’t suck into the machines.
“DeCamp needs to settle this quickly or they’re going to lose their riders,” said a clearly irked Keena Pettiford, who’s been riding DeCamp for 20 years. Pettiford is unsympathetic with drivers, noting that many people haven’t gotten raises in this economy. Her feelings were echoed by many.
DeCamp needs to settle this quickly or they’re going to lose their riders…
Who will all come running back in DeCamp’s open arms once they’ve had their first Penn Station Armageddon experience, which is coming as surely as the sun rises. For all you bus virgins, allow me to give you a preview:
PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY… PLEASE STAND BY…
Has this turned into Walleroo-net?
Yes! (Don’t tell my boss.)
All in all – we’re just a -nother brick in the wall(eroo)
Very funny Walleroo!
Of course Armageddon happens regardless of commuting method, so for some trading “disabled tractor trailer on Route 3″ for “STAND BY” might be worth it. Especially since I think there’s still a big difference in cost per month in NJT’s favor. For me, NJT is further from home and further from the office, but I only take Decamp in an emergency. I’ll bet some other folks start doing the same if the strike is long enough for them to get used to it.
The train takes TWICE as long as DeCamp, isn’t nearly as comfortable or convenient. I can’t wait until DeCamp settles this strike!
The relative commute time depends on where you live in town (I’m guessing you live in the north). As does the relative value of NJT over DeCamp. For some people, having to ride the train may make them rethink their belief that the bus is better for them. Personally, DeCamp is closer but it takes longer and costs more. YMMV (literally).
Despite all the chaos with Amtrak and Penn Station, NJT is my choice. Its closer and cheaper.
On a side note, the subways are on the same level as the track entrances at Penn Station, versus 4 stories between Decamp and the subway. I’d imagine its easier to make a train last minute during rush hour.
I am both a senior and disabled. From what I can see, I can’t handle the train. I will have to take a 7:09 bus to get a 7:51 train to get to work by 9AM. That will physically destroy me. Posters act as if this is just a big joke. It’s not. It’s a disaster!
The Star-Ledger and other papers interview regular NJT train riders whose comments make it seem like there is no problem, but for the 7,000+ Decamp riders, it’s a NIGHTMARE. The union employees, the Decamp company, and the riders are all really caught in the middle of an economic disaster-the money really isn’t there. NJT is government subsidized, Decamp isn’t. NJT drivers make a lot more than DeCamp workers and have better benefits. But where is the money going to come from to make up the difference? Governor Christie would be happy to see DeCamp go out of business and the commuters lose their jobs-that would just create more cheap labor. The NY businesses would simply fire people who couldn’t make it to work and replace them with New Yorkers who they’d pay less. The public doesn’t know what is going on and they blame the drivers because they are the most visible. DeCamp runs busses every 10 minutes during rush-hour with only 78 drivers. How much better than that can it get! The bus riders who are staying home in hopes that the strike will end quickly, are really pretty dumb. Staying home and moaning accomplishes nothing. They should get out on the picket line with the drivers if they want fast results!!!
No, I think I will start my own picket line, for disgruntled commuters. I don’t side with the drivers, nor do I side with management in this case. Both sides are being pig-headed. As I wrote on another DeCamp thread, there are rumors that DeCamp has been sold. If this is a case, it will add another piece to the puzzle.
Now I, and some 7,000 other folks, are stuck with useless DeCamp tickets as well.
I am very curious to know how these drivers and other DeCamp employees can afford to be on strike. Here they are bitching and moaning about their pay, pensions, benefits, et cetera, but they can afford to take a week or more without pay? Explain, please.
Wow! I am surprised to hear the train takes twice as long as DeCamp! How do they do that? Levitation? Magical Knight’s Bus? I used to commute on Rt 3 to Secaucus and it was a mind-bending nightmare of traffic. Is there now a bus lane or something?
Kay: I think it depends where you live. Naturally, the further away from NYC you are, the longer it will take. I find that the train ride from Montclair is certainly quicker than DeCamp because you’re not at the mercy of traffic. But you also have to factor in that it’s more inconvenient to get to; I need a ride to the train station whereas I can walk to my bus stop.