BusTalk

[N4 Jamaica]

Q50 in Whitestone by sphoto33, on Flickr

Please note the brilliant route and destination sign.
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As I recall, shortly after Co-op City opened in 1968, the owners of Queens Transit recognized that they could enter a profitable short-haul market bringing residents to the Pelham Bay subway terminal. They requested a franchise from Flushing (their territory) to the Pelham Bay terminal and Co-op City, knowing full well that they could get more patronage and profit in the mile or two northern segment than long-haul. Am I correct in guessing that the scheme worked as Queens Transit hoped? In the 1970's, Queens Transit maybe offered frequent short-turns between subway and apartment houses. The current Q50 schedule does not show short-turns, as there are other MTA routes providing the service now. Traffic jams on the bridge and its approaches seem to play havoc with the schedules, written as 4 trips hourly in rush hour. I waited and waited for this bus's follower to come, but then thunder clapped and hail stones fell.