Dear Editor,

I received an email recently from a QM 16 express bus rider, concerning news that, in order to accommodate more parking they have moved the terminus of the QM16 to Riis Park and stopped all service to Beach 169 Street. She was furious at this and took it as a personal attack on our community.

Nowhere else in Rockaway are commuters expected to drive out of their way to get this bus or any other. They get to go to their corner bus stop within walking distance of their homes. Beach 169 street, even though it is over two miles away for some in the extreme west end, is still the “corner” bus stop and the community has adapted to that.

The rider states that if the MTA wants to provide an alternative for better parking that is great, but she does not understand the logic in stopping service to Beach 169 Street. Instead, she suggests, just add the Riis Park stop to the route.

And she asks what about anyone from the extreme west end of the peninsula who does not have a car?

In addition, she notes that Beach 169 Street provides access to the Q35 as an alternative and many QM16 riders use that alternative regularly because the express bus schedule is somewhat limited and does not work in every situation especially if you have to work late and miss the last bus.

This rider, and I’m sure many others, would rather deal with our local parking issues than be shipped off to a deserted location in Riis Park. They do not want to leave their cars to be stolen, vandalized or broken into because the car was left unattended for 12 hours in a deserted parking lot. It is also dangerous for riders – especially for women commuting alone – to walk to their cars all alone in this deserted area.

What happens in the summer when they start charging for parking? Did anyone think of that?

This rider, and most likely many others, just wants the Beach 169 Street stop reinstated.

I agree wholeheartedly with these sentiments. Readers sharing these concerns are urged to email the MTA Bus Company at Jim.Harding@mta busco.com.

ELLEN MCCARTHY