2002 Muni Ridersí Survey Results Summary
Rescue Muni conducted its sixth annual survey (seventh total) in March of 2002. This year, 67 volunteers recorded 2,464 bus and streetcar rides, noting how long they waited and how long the trip took. Some volunteers also stood at fixed points and recorded all vehicles that came by; 1,004 of the 2,464 trips were recorded that way. As we have done since 1997, we compared riders' actual waiting times with the headways advertised on Muni's Street and Transit Map (posted in all bus shelters) and service bulletins. Riders who waited more than the full headway are considered delayed ñ this is a fairly liberal measure, but one that is consistent with riders' expectations. We also asked riders to record crowding on a scale of 1 to 5, and whether a vehicle was clean or not.
Based on the percentage of riders delayed, we assigned letter grades to the lines for service reliability. Lines with less than 10 percent of riders delayed got an "A" grade, less than 20 percent got a "B" grade, and so on.
On-time Service Improved Systemwide
Muni earned a "B" grade in the 2002 Muni Ridersí Survey, its best grade yet. Delays are down for the fourth straight year, with 14% of riders experiencing a delay in this yearís survey; this was 3.3 percentage points better than in 2001 and just over half the number of riders delayed in 1998, the year of the infamous "Muni Meltdown."
Best and worst lines
The following is a table of the five best-performing and worst-performing lines in the Muni system. (A complete table of results by line is available at the end of this summary.)
Best Lines:
| Route | % Riders Delayed | Grade | Change 02-01 |
2001 % Late |
2000 % Late |
1999 % Late |
1998 % Late |
1997 % Late |
|
47 |
4% | A |
-12.8% |
17% |
14% |
|||
|
49 |
5% | A |
-15.3% |
21% |
29% |
23% |
29% |
|
|
38 |
6% | A |
-26.9% |
32% |
52% |
33% |
26% |
27% |
|
2 |
7% | A |
7.3% |
19% |
9% |
|||
|
33 |
7% | A |
-6.6% |
14% |
8% |
12% |
Worst Lines:
| Route | % Riders Delayed | Grade | Change 02-01 |
2001 % Late |
2000 % Late |
1999 % Late |
1998 % Late |
1997 % Late |
|
KLM |
35% | D |
6.9% |
28% |
18% |
22% |
14% |
7% |
|
L |
30% | C |
2.1% |
28% |
28% |
26% |
53% |
22% |
|
M |
28% | C |
-1.4% |
29% |
25% |
26% |
31% |
30% |
|
22 |
23% | C |
-3.7% |
26% |
21% |
22% |
29% |
55% |
|
10 |
22% | C |
The following lines experienced the most improvement since 2001 survey:
| Route | 2002 % late | Grade | 2001 % late | change 02-01 | Total responses |
|
38 |
6% | A |
32% |
-26.9% |
85 |
|
49 |
5% | A |
21% |
-15.3% |
59 |
|
21 |
15% | B |
29% |
-13.5% |
68 |
|
J |
16% | B |
30% |
-13.1% |
88 |
|
47 |
4% | A |
17% |
-12.8% |
26 |
While the lines below experienced the worst decrease in reliability since 2001:
| Route | 2002 % late | Grade | 2001 % late | change 02-01 | Total responses |
|
43 |
13% | B |
3% |
9.9% |
39 |
|
2 |
7% | A |
0% |
7.3% |
34 |
|
KLM |
35% | D |
28% |
6.9% |
80 |
|
6 |
9% | A |
4% |
4.6% |
81 |
|
F |
13% | B |
9% |
4.3% |
84 |
Variation in performance by line
The following chart shows the distribution of reliability by line, from best (at left) to worst (at right). This curve is much flatter than in previous years, when many lines were graded "D" or worse; this year, only the KLM subway (between West Portal and Embarcadero) is graded "D," and no line is graded "F."
Normalized wait time
Even as overall reliability of the system improved, the average riderís wait increased from 76.4% to 81.0% of the official posted maximum wait time. Ideally, average riderís wait should be around 50% of the posted time. (These figures are reported for all lines at the end of this document.)
Delays by Mode
Express and Light rail lines experienced the most improvement in service between 2001 and 2001. But the best service was again by diesel buses - motorcoach lines were delayed only 11% of riders. Light rail was late 16% of the time and historic streetcar 13%.
Within light rail J, K, and N showed significant improvement, while performance of KLMN, L, and JKLMN became worse.
Crowding
Muni vehicles were much less crowded this year than the year before. The proportion of riders reporting seats available (1 ñ2 crowding rating) increased from 40% in 2001 to over 54% this year.
Most and Least Crowded Lines:
| Least Crowded: | Most Crowded: | |||
|
Lines |
Ave. Crowding |
Lines |
Ave. Crowding |
|
|
17 |
1.25 |
31AX |
3.92 |
|
|
28L |
1.38 |
30X |
3.23 |
|
|
K |
1.50 |
47 |
3.12 |
|
|
12 |
1.70 |
KLM |
3.03 |
|
|
28 |
1.96 |
N |
2.99 |
Cleanliness
Overall, 20% of riders reported vehicles being dirty. This is a slight improvement over 21% of vehicles reported to be dirty in 2001. However, between the modes there were significant changes. Historic streetcars and especially "limited" buses have seen a decline in cleanliness, while metro light rail cars became cleaner.
Cleanest and dirtiest lines:
Best: |
Worst: |
|||||
|
Line |
% Clean |
Grade |
Line |
% Clean |
Grade |
|
|
28 |
100% |
A |
2 |
11% |
F |
|
|
31 AX |
100% |
A |
12 |
33% |
F |
|
|
1 |
98% |
A |
K |
57% |
F |
|
|
30 |
96% |
A |
10 |
59% |
F |
|
|
14 |
93% |
A |
38L |
60% |
D |
2002 Muni Ridersí Survey: Complete Results
| Route | Total Responses | % late | Grade | Change 02-01 | Avg Wait | Norm Wait | Avg Crowd |
% Clean | Clean Grade | * |
|
47 |
26 |
4% | A |
-12.8% |
0:04 |
53% |
3.12 |
72% |
C |
|
|
49 |
59 |
5% | A |
-15.3% |
0:04 |
53% |
2.90 |
76% |
C |
|
|
38 |
85 |
6% | A |
-26.9% |
0:05 |
67% |
2.47 |
70% |
C |
|
|
2 |
34 |
7% | A |
7.3% |
0:15 |
87% |
2.35 |
11% |
F |
|
|
33 |
44 |
7% | A |
-6.6% |
0:09 |
53% |
2.12 |
80% |
B |
|
|
6 |
81 |
9% | A |
4.6% |
0:09 |
68% |
2.17 |
86% |
B |
|
|
N |
419 |
10% | A |
-5.5% |
0:06 |
65% |
2.99 |
87% |
B |
|
|
28L |
22 |
10% | B |
0:11 |
101% |
1.38 |
||||
|
JKLMN |
56 |
11% | B |
1.1% |
0:01 |
54% |
2.63 |
68% |
D |
|
|
71 |
49 |
11% | B |
1.3% |
0:11 |
96% |
2.26 |
83% |
B |
|
|
1 |
44 |
11% | B |
-1.4% |
0:02 |
45% |
2.95 |
98% |
A |
|
|
30X |
35 |
11% | B |
-9.4% |
0:03 |
58% |
3.23 |
88% |
B |
|
|
31AX |
26 |
12% | B |
-38.5% |
0:05 |
55% |
3.92 |
100% |
A |
|
|
12 |
22 |
12% | B |
-5.1% |
0:10 |
91% |
1.70 |
33% |
F |
|
|
K |
22 |
12% | B |
-7.7% |
0:10 |
68% |
1.50 |
57% |
F |
|
|
44 |
50 |
12% | B |
4.2% |
0:07 |
47% |
2.31 |
86% |
B |
|
|
7 |
53 |
12% | B |
12.4% |
0:12 |
101% |
2.38 |
86% |
B |
|
|
9 |
65 |
13% | B |
-1.5% |
0:10 |
98% |
2.15 |
79% |
C |
|
|
43 |
39 |
13% | B |
9.9% |
0:10 |
90% |
2.21 |
92% |
A |
|
|
F |
84 |
13% | B |
4.3% |
0:09 |
99% |
2.54 |
91% |
A |
|
|
28 |
28 |
14% | B |
14.5% |
0:11 |
98% |
1.96 |
100% |
A |
|
|
38L |
45 |
15% | B |
-10.1% |
0:06 |
116% |
2.42 |
60% |
D |
|
|
31 |
53 |
15% | B |
-10.1% |
0:12 |
92% |
2.53 |
77% |
C |
|
|
24 |
40 |
15% | B |
0.5% |
0:06 |
47% |
2.65 |
82% |
B |
|
|
21 |
68 |
15% | B |
-13.5% |
0:11 |
89% |
2.04 |
71% |
C |
|
|
17 |
21 |
15% | B |
0:22 |
113% |
1.25 |
||||
|
J |
88 |
16% | B |
-13.1% |
0:09 |
87% |
2.67 |
91% |
A |
|
|
5 |
104 |
17% | B |
-9.1% |
0:08 |
110% |
2.48 |
83% |
B |
|
|
15 |
21 |
17% | B |
0.5% |
0:09 |
93% |
2.28 |
88% |
B |
|
|
30 |
48 |
18% | B |
2.6% |
0:06 |
100% |
2.09 |
96% |
A |
|
|
14 |
34 |
18% | B |
2.3% |
0:06 |
100% |
2.13 |
93% |
A |
|
|
29 |
37 |
18% | B |
7.9% |
0:13 |
84% |
2.26 |
75% |
C |
|
|
45 |
39 |
21% | C |
18.8% |
0:07 |
102% |
2.00 |
63% |
D |
|
|
10 |
26 |
22% | C |
0:08 |
72% |
2.11 |
59% |
F |
||
|
22 |
85 |
23% | C |
-3.7% |
0:09 |
100% |
2.75 |
62% |
D |
|
|
M |
59 |
28% | C |
-1.4% |
0:14 |
138% |
2.13 |
90% |
A |
|
|
L |
63 |
30% | C |
2.1% |
0:14 |
147% |
2.52 |
80% |
B |
|
|
KLM |
80 |
35% | D |
6.9% |
0:05 |
98% |
3.03 |
91% |
A |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
18 |
16 |
0% | A |
0.0% |
0:03 |
24% |
2.69 |
44% |
F |
* |
|
90 |
12 |
0% | A |
0:09 |
33% |
1.25 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
108 |
10 |
0% | A |
0.0% |
0:06 |
25% |
3.11 |
44% |
F |
* |
|
16BX |
10 |
0% | A |
-7.1% |
0:01 |
16% |
3.40 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
4 |
7 |
0% | A |
-16.7% |
0:01 |
15% |
1.71 |
86% |
B |
* |
| route | total responses | % late | Grade | change 02-01 | Avg wait | Norm wait | avg crowd | % clean | clean grade | * |
|
37 |
7 |
0% | A |
0.0% |
0:07 |
30% |
1.80 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
67 |
4 |
0% | A |
-28.8% |
0:01 |
5% |
2.00 |
75% |
C |
* |
|
1AX |
4 |
0% | A |
0.0% |
0:06 |
53% |
2.25 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
52 |
2 |
0% | A |
0:11 |
37% |
2.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
54 |
2 |
0% | A |
-33.3% |
0:01 |
5% |
2.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
16AX |
2 |
0% | A |
0:06 |
65% |
2.00 |
50% |
F |
* |
|
|
1BX |
2 |
0% | A |
0.0% |
0:01 |
25% |
3.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
K-Bus |
2 |
0% | A |
0:03 |
35% |
2.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
27 |
1 |
0% | A |
-4.5% |
0:00 |
0% |
4.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
35 |
1 |
0% | A |
0:07 |
47% |
0.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
14X |
1 |
0% | A |
0:01 |
10% |
2.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
2/3/4 |
1 |
0% | A |
0:00 |
0% |
3.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
S |
1 |
0.0% | A |
0:05 |
50% |
0.00 |
* |
|||
|
53 |
5 |
2% | A |
0:25 |
86% |
3.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
3 |
14 |
3% | A |
3.3% |
0:11 |
76% |
1.46 |
80% |
B |
* |
|
31BX |
10 |
10% | A |
-4.3% |
0:07 |
62% |
3.38 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
71L |
12 |
10% | B |
1.2% |
0:06 |
68% |
3.30 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
38BX |
16 |
13% | B |
0:03 |
41% |
2.38 |
81% |
B |
* |
|
|
14L |
5 |
13% | B |
0:23 |
117% |
0.00 |
* |
|||
|
48 |
18 |
16% | B |
-17.2% |
0:13 |
113% |
4.00 |
* |
||
|
19 |
4 |
25% | C |
25.0% |
0:08 |
66% |
3.25 |
75% |
C |
* |
|
26 |
4 |
25% | C |
5.0% |
0:08 |
44% |
2.00 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
9x |
11 |
25% | C |
25.3% |
0:13 |
113% |
2.13 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
66 |
7 |
29% | C |
28.6% |
0:07 |
33% |
2.80 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
38AX |
3 |
33% | D |
0:09 |
64% |
2.67 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
C |
3 |
33% | D |
33.3% |
0:07 |
93% |
2.33 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
41 |
8 |
38% | D |
0:05 |
83% |
3.50 |
63% |
D |
* |
|
|
47/49 |
5 |
40% | D |
0:02 |
60% |
2.80 |
100% |
A |
* |
|
|
|
||||||||||
| Grand Total | 2464 | 14.0% | B | -3.3% | 0:08 | 81% | 2.55 | 82.3% | B |
Notes:
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Last updated 6/5/2002.