How is the M5 bus?

The ltd is pretty quick. Taking from 100th to 23rd/Bway it takes about an hour.

WHy not take the bus to the next subway stop that lacks an elevator and transfer there? That would be faster.

I like the bus idea. Shouldn't be too crowded, nice views and you can stay connected wiht your electronic devices.

"WHy not take the bus to the next subway stop that lacks an elevator and transfer there? That would be faster."

Because that would be all the way down at 116th.

Why NOT use the elevated platform? They have escalators (and often elevators.) I don't even understand the objection.

The limited is a bit faster above 86th than below, but it will still take twice as long, any time of day, for that long a distance.

The weekday-morning schedule at http://www.mta.info/nyct/bus/schedule/manh/m005cur.pdf says 50 minutes from 72nd and Broadway to 178th. 45, maybe?

why not do a test run or a few? also confused about why dealing with the elevator would be worse than an extra ~45 minutes/day of commute time.

If memory serves, I used to make it from 72nd St to the westernmost part of the medical center in 45 mins. The 168 St elevator is always crowded at peak times, but I never remember having to wait long to get on (there are 2 or 3 elevators, right?). It's definitely dirty, but I don't remember any rats making it past the platform and onto the elevators. I always prefer the bus to the subway, but buses fill up very quickly. Perhaps it's a better option.

45 mins starting from 72nd St subway.

Thansk uwsmom. Jason10016, the IRT runs deep underground in upper Manhattan. The only way up is an elevator, and they are notorious for getting stuck.

The M5 is great when it comes unfortunately it does not run as frequently as other routes

You could also take the A or C there. Its underground the whole way. And just walk or take the cross-town 86th street bus, which runs fairly frequently.. Still a lot faster than the m5, I get.

Also, i am not super familar but look up EXPRESS bus routes (NOT limited, EXPRESS). They cost more but make a lot less stops. And are more luxurious. Some of the Bronx-Manhattan ones might stop at 168th and 86th.

m5 is awful, i would not recommend it.

glad you understood my sloppy contribution.

i think the A train to 59th St is pretty fast. no elevators.

Good point uwsmom. It might be faster to take the bus or subway to 59th and then shoot up on the express A to 168th.

What's so awful about the M5?