Uh? So how many is that?
Uh? So how many is that?
(OP)
This is just totally befuddling.
Quote (NY Daily News):
Approximately 2,000 of the MTA's fleet of more than 10,000 buses are more than a dozen years old. NYC Transit division buses traveled on average 3,377 miles before breaking down last summer - compared to 13% fewer than the year before, according to agency statistics.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
I can make sense of the numbers. I just don't know what is 13% fewer than last year, the breakdowns, or the miles before breaking down.
A breakdown every 3377 miles between breakdowns sounds horrible.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
Ben Loosli
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
1. 20% of MTA's fleet of 10,000 buses are well past their expected useful life. That part is fairly easy.
2. When bus breakdowns are averaged for the whole fleet, you get about 3,377 miles between breakdowns. That's bad, even the old, decrepit buses.
3. I have no idea what the 13% statement means. Maybe the previous year the average distance between breakdowns was 13% greater? Still no cause to celebrate.
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
The germane issue is apparently the frequency of breakdowns, stated (poorly) as averaging one every 3,377 bus-miles traveled. The previous year it was apparently one every 3,882 bus-miles (13% better performance).
I would have stated the germane issue first, then stated the bus age statistic and made a direct suggestion as to a link between the two. But then again, I get paid a lot more than the average Journalism major...
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RE: Uh? So how many is that?
I can't see how you get that.
My take is that the mean distance between failure was less last year. That is, last years MDBF was 3377 - (.13 x 3377) = 2938.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
I can't confidently predict which one the journo meant as I suspect that even the 'fact' of breakdowns every 3377 miles on average has been reproduced incorrectly.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
- Steve
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
Regards,
Mike
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
Also, it may be my ignorance to the area, but I'm not aware that NYC has a transit division. It has a department of transportation, which is apparently not synonymous with the MTA. So, just whose busses are they?
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
The DOT is the Department of Transportation. They fix the roads.
That data used to generate the "statistics" is hopelessly flawed. The statistics and underlying data are completely useless for trying to do any type of real analysis.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
It should be 'compared to 13% fewer the year before' or '13% fewer than the year before'.
Saying 'compared to 13% fewer than the year before' does not mean that the 3377 is 13% fewer, it is saying compare it to a number that is 13% fewer than the year before, which isn't defined anywhere.
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
It's unclear whether the breakdowns have decreased by 13%, which would suggest improved maintenance, or the interval between breakdowns has decreased, indicating the busses are getting worse due to age.
It reminds me of a banner I once saw, which read:
"In the USA, a drunk driving fatality occurs every thirty minutes. We must work to reduce this number!"
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
And being an MTA mechanic sounds like a life long opportunity!!!
RE: Uh? So how many is that?
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RE: Uh? So how many is that?
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