New York City - M60 bus (LGA / LaGuardia) going to three-door bus

Last night at LGA an M60 bus pulled up which was one of the new large three door buses. Since the Q33 was right behind it I did not take the M60 as the
Q33 takes me right to the E train. However, the three door bus looked like it had more than enough room for passengers and bags.

Then I noticied the next bus behind us was an M60 but was a regular bus. Does anyone know if the three door bus is being phased in for the M60 route?

Unfortunately with side streets this model of bus would not be practical for the Q33 route.

It'll be interesting to see how the drivers deal with attempted fare beaters. I haven't been on the M60 in a while, but back when I used to take it with some regularity, it seemed like there was almost always somebody who tried to get on the back door at some point during the trip to LGA, and the driver would have to yell and make them get off or come to the front. With a third door, I would think that problem would be exacerbated.

BTW, apparently those three-door buses are Nova LFS buses:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTA_Regional_Bus_Operations_bus_fleet

On Broadway I see one out of every 3-4 M60 buses is a new articulated ("bendy") bus. I think it's just a question of which bus is available at the 2nd Ave. (around 126th St.) garage, which also supplies the "select" buses for the M15,which are all "bendies." I also see "bendy" buses on the M116 (out of the same garage) now and then! The M60 was just recently equipped with new 2-door buses with large luggage racks for airport service, so I don't think they'll be generally replaced by the larger buses - or are the "bendies" used especially in rush hours?

3 door buses don't make me hate the M60 any less. Thank goodness for the Q33 and not living in upper Manhattan!

These buses have been on the M15 for a while now, long before the SBS. More seats. I like them.

On Broadway I see one out of every 3-4 M60 buses is a new articulated ("bendy") bus. I think it's just a question of which bus is available at the 2nd Ave. (around 126th St.) garage, which also supplies the "select" buses for the M15,which are all "bendies." I also see "bendy" buses on the M116 (out of the same garage) now and then! The M60 was just recently equipped with new 2-door buses with large luggage racks for airport service, so I don't think they'll be generally replaced by the larger buses - or are the "bendies" used especially in rush hours?

The SBS routes use dedicated buses that have the SBS livery "wrap" and I believe have their fare boxes removed so they're not swapped with the M60. The flashing blue lights may also be unique to those buses--I'm not sure.

According to the Wikipedia page, bus units #3877-3899 and #4020-4031 (all two door Daimler Orion VII hybrid buses) are equipped with luggage racks. The former are used on the M60, the latter are part of the MTA Bus fleet and are therefore probably used on the Q10, Q33, Q47 or Q72 (as the M60, Q3 and Q48 are operated by NYCT, not MTA Bus).

/rant

I hate those new bendys

There's so little room to move. Trying to get in or out is a nightmare. I prefer the old articulated ones.

/rant off

The farebeatering is still prevalent when the crowded bus gets to 125th heading Westbound. I don't think 2 or 3 doors will minimize it as just too many passengers.
Some passengers on the bus may have to get off the bus to allow those behind them to exit and they reboard but others casually join them as if they were on the bus previously.

The SBS routes use dedicated buses that have the SBS livery "wrap" and I believe have their fare boxes removed so they're not swapped with the M60. The flashing blue lights may also be unique to those buses--I'm not sure.The SBS buses on the M15 use the exact same 3 door bus as the 3 door buses on the local M15. The only difference is that there is no fare box up front and there are flashing blue lights. No luggage racks.

The SBS buses on the M15 use the exact same 3 door bus as the 3 door buses on the local M15. The only difference is that there is no fare box up front and there are flashing blue lights. No luggage racks.

It's the same model bus, but the SBS buses have a different livery, no farebox and the flashing blue light, so they have dedicated equipment.

Of course try telling that to a 4 year old. We had a brand new Nova LFS Articulated (the 3-door bendy bus) on the M14D this morning on the way to school (still had that "new bus" smell), and prekmicah was very excited to get a "select" M14D. Even though I kept telling him it wasn't really a Select bus. That kid needs a lesson in pedantry. ;)

Rode the new articulated bus from LGA today at 3:30. The bus was jammed with people by the time it left the central terminal. People did get on via the third door and didn't pay. The bus driver spent half the time telling people in the middle to move back (even more than normal). We get to 125th and 2nd and they take the bus out of service for some reason, so everyone piles into the M100. Another M60 had already passed us. I don't know if they have spread out the service with the bigger bus, but I have never seen a crowd of people like the one today trying to get on it at LGA.

On my first NYC trip, landing at LGA on a Tuesday in July 7:30PM, Term B, with DW, 2 kids and 4 carry-ons. Will be buying 7 day unlimited subway pass at LGA. How crowded can M60 be at about 8:00PM? Need to go to ALoft Harlem on 125th. Should I do M60 or just take a cab?

On my first NYC trip, landing at LGA on a Tuesday in July 7:30PM, Term B, with DW, 2 kids and 4 carry-ons. Will be buying 7 day unlimited subway pass at LGA. How crowded can M60 be at about 8:00PM? Need to go to ALoft Harlem on 125th. Should I do M60 or just take a cab?

It will likely be very crowded. Unless you are on a budget go for a cab or car service. A cheaper car service such as Carmel or Dial 777s may be about the same cost as a yellow cab. IIRC Manhattan rates apply from 125th street and south.

On my first NYC trip, landing at LGA on a Tuesday in July 7:30PM, Term B, with DW, 2 kids and 4 carry-ons. Will be buying 7 day unlimited subway pass at LGA. How crowded can M60 be at about 8:00PM? Need to go to ALoft Harlem on 125th. Should I do M60 or just take a cab?

What age are the kids? The distance between locations isn't major but the toll on the bridge will add to cost (6.50 if I'm not mistaken). I don't know if the cab will charge the EZ PAss or regular rate (others can chime in) but bus fare per passenger will be 2.25.

On my first NYC trip, landing at LGA on a Tuesday in July 7:30PM, Term B, with DW, 2 kids and 4 carry-ons. Will be buying 7 day unlimited subway pass at LGA. How crowded can M60 be at about 8:00PM? Need to go to ALoft Harlem on 125th. Should I do M60 or just take a cab?

I'd take a cab, or as the other poster suggested, call a car service. The M60 is almost always a PITA, no matter the time of day. (Unreliable, overcrowded, slow.) While the subway pass is a sunk cost at that point, unless you really love transit the car will be a much more pleasant experience.

The distance between locations isn't major but the toll on the bridge will add to cost (6.50 if I'm not mistaken). I don't know if the cab will charge the EZ PAss or regular rate (others can chime in) but bus fare per passenger will be 2.25.

Cab will charge the EZ Pass rate, which is a bit under $5. The total, including tip, shouldn't be more than around $30.

The bus fare is $0 since a 7-day card will be used.

I'd take a cab, or as the other poster suggested, call a car service. The M60 is almost always a PITA, no matter the time of day. (Unreliable, overcrowded, slow.) While the subway pass is a sunk cost at that point, unless you really love transit the car will be a much more pleasant experience.

Cab will charge the EZ Pass rate, which is a bit under $5. The total, including tip, shouldn't be more than around $30.

The bus fare is $0 since a 7-day card will be used.

Thanks for all the responses. The kids are 12 and 4. I think considering that they would have endured almost a whole day of travel due to weird AA miles redemption routing :) I think I will use the money I saved on the air ticket and take a cab. $30 including tax/total sounds great. Someone mentioned Manhatten rates apply beyond 125th. Any way to avoid having to overpay since we are at that boundary? Also any ideas of tax fare from ALoft to JFK for return? Sorry.. this is going off topic..

Someone mentioned Manhatten rates apply beyond 125th. Any way to avoid having to overpay since we are at that boundary? Also any ideas of tax fare from ALoft to JFK for return? Sorry.. this is going off topic..It's Manhattan. ;) Taxis from LGA do not charge more for going above 125th Street.

It's Manhattan. ;) Taxis from LGA do not charge more for going above 125th Street.

Thanks :) I need to learn to spell it before I go there!

Someone mentioned Manhatten rates apply beyond 125th. Any way to avoid having to overpay since we are at that boundary? Yellow cabs to/from LGA always use the meter, so it doesn't matter. I think the comment was related to the car services (e.g., Carmel). They might have a different rate for (regular) Manhattan and upper Manhattan (say, above 125th), but I'm not sure exactly. Their rates are fixed based on destination.

At 7:30pm there could very well be a long line for taxis (I just waited 15-20 mintues at 9:15pm this evening). This was by the "A" concourse of the Central terminal. The line mid-concourse was even longer. I'm not sure about the "secret" line down by the AA end, if it's even still there. I forgot to look.

Although even with a car service you probably have to wait 5-10 minutes for them to pull around. If you go for an inside meet-and-greet, they'll charge extra and then you have to walk 5-10 minutes to the car.

A yellow cab metered rate will be cheaper than a car service fixed rate to 125th Street. It's a straight shot across the Triboro (RFK) bridge. Aloft Harlem is actually at 8th Ave (Frederick Douglass) between 123rd & 124th anyways.

Arriving at AA Concourse D, head to the far right (past the baggage claims) before you exit - the cab rank on the side of the terminal usually has shorter lines than the one in the middle of the terminal.