Hi,
I'm working on an app that measures and reports MTA Bus performance based on data from the MTA Bus Time API. So far, I'm able to determine on-time performance. However, I'm now working on reporting headway variance - a much more involved process for which I need to account for buses having non-functioning GPS equipment.
To approximate the proportion of MTA buses with non-functioning equipment, I've been manually recording buses that I notice while walking around New York and later seeing how many weren't reported by the Bus Time API. However, my sample is limited to buses in Manhattan/my neighborhood and other places I frequent, which could skew the results if, for example, GPS equipment is repaired more often in some areas than others.
It would really help me out if I could have some samples from other parts of the city. So, if you're interested in supporting my project, you could make a note of a few buses you spot while going about your day. If I only get a few reports from a few people, that would help a lot.
Please send reports to mtagps@nathan9.com. I would prefer an inline (not an attachment), comma-separated list in the order date, time, bus, route. "Bus" is the four-digit number painted in blue on the front, back, sides, and top of each MTA bus. The time needn't be exact. For example:
12/26/14,17:40,1234,B6
12/26/14,17:45,2345,B15
12/26/14,18:00,3456,B35
I'd really appreciate any contributions and will, of course, report back on the results.
Thanks,
Nathan