SFist: Buy the Numbers

Akit

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:09:42 -0800

sagitta100: I had a similar experience on the 29 when I used to go to City College from the Outer Richmond district. The 29 was so slow (and the drivers were complete a-holes), I would take the 38AX express to downtown, and either catch BART to Balboa Park (fastest ride), or take the "K" to CCSF and still make it in less time than the 29.

RobInSF

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:55:20 -0800

71.9% of my waking outdoor life is spent standing at a bus stop waiting for MUNI to show up. Gavin takes B.S. to a whole new level. Maybe if he left the limo in the garage and took the 45 or 28 to work he might actually have a clue.

theo

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:10:56 -0800

This post is really pathetic. I'm sure Muni is cooking the numbers *somehow*, but they were probably doing the same thing two years ago. If there's any new statistical manipulation going on, is it too much to ask SFist to look into it, instead of making a bunch of unfunny ad hominems? And in a post that's supposedly about statistical literacy, I find it amusing that so many SFist readers have decided to dispute data with anecdotes. The plural of "anecdote" is not "data." But I once was on an N Judah that was delayed by 1 hour!!! I can't remember what year that was, but I'm sure it's getting worse!!!

theo

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:02:02 -0800

It's a lot easier to have a high on-time goal when you're running fewer buses. No, it's actually harder, because fewer buses means more people crowding on each bus and the "bunching" of buses that inevitably results. Unless you're saying that it's easier to improve performance by cutting lines. This would be true if the most delayed lines were the ones being cut. It sure didn't look like that to me -- most of the lines eliminated last time (FY 2005-06) were very regular lines that no one happened to ride.

sagitta100

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:51:18 -0800

During rush hour or any traffic-causing event, Muni on the westside goes to hell. 50% on-time is probably being generous. 60+ minute waits for the 28 line are common. Taking the 29 line from the Sunset to the Richmond can take substantially longer than walking through GG Park. So, from my perspective, Gavin's presentation is 73.89% hot air.

paulhogarth

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:14:41 -0800

Newsom bragging that Muni has improved its "on-time" performance misses a basic point: Muni substantially cut service a few years ago. So he's really mixing apples and oranges. It's a lot easier to have a high on-time goal when you're running fewer buses. How to lie with statistics ... clear that Newsom read it well.

Akit

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:23:04 -0800

I remember reading "How to Lie With Statistics" at City College! Sure came in handy when reading those charts some odd years ago onboard muni (claiming they "improved")