Day 11 - Not so Jersey (Transit) Sure?

Today I cut away from the family and went my own way.  I had researched and found these wonderful outlet stores in New Jersey, called the "Jersey Gardens", all I had to do was catch the 111 bus from the Port Authority (42nd Street) and I get dropped right at the door, how simple is that?....  Before I delve into the logistical specifics let me tell you about the outlet mall.

It is on two levels, and is massive, I didn't even complete the whole thing as the queues at the checkouts started to piss me off, so I knew it was time to leave. Now I've not been to a whole heap of outlet malls but I was very impressed with the selection of stores and variety. There were massive savings to be had in the post Christmas sales.  The kicker is, in the state of New Jersey there is no tax on shoes and clothes - BINGO!! Overall I'd say Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall is a winner, however New Jersey Transit is not a winner. Now for the logistical specifics.

At the Port Authority the queues at New Jersey Transit to purchase your tickets from the person in the booth are just horrendous. Off in the distance I noticed a lonely 3, yes 3 hole in the wall ticket machines. I make my way to these machines and purchase my ticket. At this time it is about 11.28am, next bus 111 to JG is at 11.45am.  Brilliant I think, heaps of time for me to find my way to the platform.  So I make my way up the escalator to the platform and the platform is FULL, there is no where to stand except right at the top of the escalator so any one to come up behind me has no where to go (and there is no down escalator, only up). Yep they had to stand at the bottom of the escalator and wait there. Unreal.  One bus turns up, that fills up (by this point i'm no where near the front of the queue).  We wait a few more minutes, the next bus 111 turns up, that too fills up (nope, I'm not on that bus either). Luckily a third bus pulls up and I make it onto that bus.  Half and hour later I am at JG. 

Shopping, wandering etc....  3.50pm I head back to the bus pick up area, next bus is 4.10pm, brilliant I think, 20 minutes early, I'll be on that one. 

Oh no you won't white girl.....

3.50 pm is almost pitch dark, it's cold, it's pissing down with rain, queue is massive and no bus shelters in sight, just stand at the designated pick up point and wait.  And wait I did until 5.05 pm. Yep, 1 hour and 15 minutes in the dark, cold and rain. Two buses came and went before I reached the part of the queue that I would make it onto the next bus. There was no option to catch a cab, as none were coming by, so I had no choice but to wait with the wet masses for the bus. New Jersey Transit clearly know that hundreds of people are wanting to get back to Manhattan, why they don't put more buses on to cater for the demand is beyond me.

I didn't wear my waterproof boots today, so at this point my feet and legs are wet. Finally when I make it onto the bus I am plonked in the seat directly behind the doors that are halfway down the bus. With the traffic, this bus ride time is doubled, 1 hour from JG to Port Authority. That is 1 hour of freezing cold draft air coming in from the doors in front of me and hitting my wet legs and feet.

Getting off that bus and into the Subway, I have never been so happy to be in the dirty New York Subway cause it was toasty warm in comparison to that bus.  Oh yeah I forgot to mention there were clearly issues with the gears on the bus, but the old girl chugged away and limped into it's destination "Praise you, sweet Lord Jesus" (you are to imagine that said in black ghetto!!)

In summary:

Jersey Gardens Mall is excellent

New Jersey Transit is not

 

I don't have any photo's of Jersey Gardens but here is their web site if you wish to explore. www.jerseygardens.com

 

I didn't take a single photo today, so I will share this snap of me Mackenzie took of while I was waiting in a queue, I don't remember which queue it was, there have been so many!!