Hi all. I just started a job where I need to go from Parkchester over to Flushing a couple days a week. My default has been the 6 down to Grand Central, then the 7 out to Main St. But a coworker told me to just take the Q44 SBS from Hugh Grant Circle. I looked at the map and it looks like it’s just a limited bus with extra stops? Also, do I need to use a sidewalk kiosk before boarding, or can I just tap OMNY at the back door like the regular buses? I don’t want to be the person holding up the line at rush hour.

I take the Q44 SBS more than I trust the 7 on certain days. It’s not just a limited — the SBS part means all-door boarding, and the OMNY readers are at every door. You don’t need the kiosk unless you’re paying coins or a MetroCard. At rush hour, the bus can move pretty well on the service road, but once it hits the approach to the Whitestone and then Flushing, it can bunch. If the 6/7 are running clean, that might still be faster, but one delay at Grand Central and you’re tired. I’d say try the bus once before you commit.

Agree with 7train_rita. The 6 from Parkchester to GCT is usually okay but that walk from the 6 to the 7 at Grand Central feels longer every year. Q44 midday is a no-brainer if you’re near Hugh Grant Circle. Rush hour? Eh, I’ve sat on that bridge approach too many times. If you see red on the traffic map, take the train. If it’s green, the bus can be weirdly smooth.

Welcome to the two-boro commute. A few corrections and caveats because the Q44 SBS can be great or miserable depending on the exact time.

First, the fare: The Q44 is Select Bus Service, not a limited. That means you can board at all doors when you pay with OMNY or have a valid MetroCard transfer. The sidewalk kiosks exist mainly for people using coins or who want a paper proof-of-payment. If you use OMNY, just go to any open door, tap, and sit down. Don't stand at the front unless you need the driver.

Second, the route: From Hugh Grant Circle, the bus usually runs over the Cross Bronx service road to the Whitestone Expressway, then over the bridge and down Parsons Blvd toward Main St. The bus lane helps for part of the Bronx side, but the bridge merge can undo all that in a single accident. Once you’re in Flushing, the last stretch around Main St is its own slow-moving mess, especially with delivery trucks and cabs.

Third, train vs bus: The 6-to-7 option works best when you time the 7 well and you don’t mind the transfer. The bus works best when you start within a short walk of Hugh Grant Circle and you’re traveling off-peak or just before the worst of morning rush. If you’re already deep inside Parkchester near the 6, the bus may not save as much time as the map suggests. Check Bustime for live arrival before leaving, and don’t judge the route by one bad trip—it varies a lot by day.

I’m never up there, but the Q44 talk always sounds like gambling. Some days it’s the best bus in the boroughs, some days you’re watching the same delivery truck from the bridge to Main St. If the 7 is running express, I’d lean that way. If the 7 is local and you’re already at Hugh Grant Circle, I’d roll the dice on the bus.

Flushing side here. The Q44 is faster than the Q20 because it’s SBS and stops less, but once it gets to Main St and Roosevelt, it can just sit. If your destination is northern Flushing, get off at Parsons/41st or Northern and walk a bit instead of riding to Main St. Last few blocks are the slowest part.

Thanks, this is super helpful. I didn’t realize the kiosk was just for coins/MetroCard. I think I might have been standing at the wrong pole the one time I tried it, because a bus went by without stopping and I just assumed it was too full. Is there a specific sign color for SBS stops? I was near the regular Q44 stop on Westchester Ave, so maybe that was the issue.

Yeah, that’s a classic. SBS stops are usually blue with the route number and they’re spaced out way more than the local stops. The local Q44/Q20 stops are white and usually say LOCAL. If you’re at a white pole, the SBS bus won’t stop, even if the local bus uses that same stop. On Westchester Ave you probably were at the local. Walk toward Hugh Grant Circle and look for the blue SBS sign.

That happened to me too. At White Plains Rd I stood at the old local pole like an idiot while two SBS buses sailed past. I thought they were just flagging because the bus lane was full, but nope—wrong sign. The driver isn’t being rude; they’re not supposed to pick up at local stops. Once you get the right pole, it’s fine.

Correct on the sign colors. UptownUnfamiliar, in the Parkchester area the Q44 SBS stop is typically on Hugh Grant Circle near the Cross Bronx service road, not on Westchester Ave at the local stop. The SBS signs are blue and say “Select Bus Service.” The bus can come quickly, so don’t hang back too far from the stop.

One more caveat: in the morning, the bus may be full before it reaches Parkchester, so you might watch one pass or be standing for the first few minutes. At night or midday, it’s calmer. If you’re trying the bus for a job start time, build in a buffer for the bridge. Being 10 minutes early is better than standing on the sidewalk wondering if the bus is stuck.

Also, if you’re using OMNY and transfer from the bus to the 7 later, the transfer should apply automatically, but keep an eye on your tap history. Sometimes the readers at the back door take a second to register, especially when sunlight hits the screen. If you don’t hear the beep, tap again.

Unrelated but has anyone done Parkchester to Flushing by bike over the Whitestone? I assume you can’t, which is insane. Anyway, carry on. I’m just here for the sign color lore.

WestVillage_W, there is no bike/ped path on the Whitestone, so unless you want to swim or detour through the Bronx/Throgs Neck (which no), keep the bike fantasy for the Q44. The bus lane is the closest thing to a bike path there.

Quick update: I tried it last night after 7pm, and it was almost peaceful. Found the blue SBS sign, tapped at the back door, got a seat, and it took about half an hour once we cleared the bridge. I can definitely see how rush hour would be different, though. I’m going to keep the 6-to-7 as my morning option and use the Q44 for off-peak trips. Thanks again for the sign tip—that was the missing piece.