The Q28 is a wonderful, clean bus where you always get a seat, the people are friendly, and the driver takes every safety precaution... in bizzaro world!
Let's be honest. You get on buses like this, or the 13, or the 16 for one reason 0 because there's no f**king choice. Seriously, if the MTA or Bloomberg actually gave a shit about Queens they wouldn't be trying to extend the 7 train into another state where they already have adequate subway (PATH) services, they'd be extending it down Northern Boulevard to provide service to the people who actually live in this city and pay taxes and have only the buses to rely on. It's not like the MTA raises fares and cuts bus service to places that have no options. Oh wait, it's exactly like that.
During rush hour the bus service is semi frequent, enough so that you won't have to wait forever, but outside of rush hour, expect to wait a minimum of 15 minutes (read 30-40) if you miss a bus, and MUCH more late at night. You miss a bus and there's not another for an hour - IF you're lucky. Good luck trying to stay warm at 3am in the middle of winter or a rainstorm.
Every bus stop has a schedule that is never followed, and is only displayed by the MTA to fully express their apathy. Its not enough to make you wait, you need to feel the pain as you say HOLY SHIT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BUS HERE 20 MINUTES AGO! Have no fear, an overcrowded bus will be on its way, with enough room for you to stand, but not enough room for you to protect your pockets from thieves. Good luck.
Its ok though, because most of the time, these bus drivers speed though crowded traffic like taxi drivers on LSD, not fully aware they are driving an overloaded multiton machine of death down a road where people barely follow the rules of the road as is. Turns are taken at full acceleration, and on multi-level buses I've seen people thrown to the floor by sudden stops on more than one occasion.
And then there are the buses themselves. Back in the olden days there were long strings people would pull to call a stop. These were replaced by modern technology - long strips and buttons on poles which allowed the MTA to actually install large windows, giving people a nice view of the outside world. Apparently the view was too nice - the shitty 70's ropes are back because f**k your view.
But hey, we all take the bus, because WTF else are we going to do? read more