Been doing the Q69 northbound for like three mornings now. The official detour notice says buses are turning right on 21st, left on 41st, regular route. Fine. But the stop at 21st St/41st Ave is dark: no sign, no cone, people standing by the bank. Meanwhile the app shows next pickup at 41st Ave/29th St? Yet this morning a bus popped out of 21st past the old Mobil and blew right by. Nobody knows whether to run up or stand still. Anyone actually catch it this week? Or are we just chasing ghosts?

Caught it once on Tuesday. The driver wouldn't stop at 21st/41st either. He said temporary stop is around 41st Ave/27th St, by the new chipotle side. But the pole still says Q100. The signage is trash. If you're at the bank you'll get skipped, that's why. Pro tip: refresh the Transit app once you're past Skillman, it usually updates to the temp pole. Or just walk up to 27th and look for the pile of other annoyed people. Also the 4:10 usually runs as a ghost bus until 4:30.

Wait, so the stop is not where the paper sign says? I just moved here and tried to use the printed schedule taped inside the bus shelter near Queens Plaza, but it just says 'all stops on detour'? I stood at 21st/41st for 20 mins and saw two buses on the opposite side only. I finally gave up and walked to Steinway. Thanks for the tip about 27th, I'll try tomorrow. Do they announce the temp stop on board? The BusTime on my phone kept saying 'approaching' but no bus anywhere, almost thought I was hallucinating.

Same but worse. I tried to catch it after a late shift and came up from Queensbridge at night. The sign had been knocked down and someone wrote 'Q' in chalk on a mailbox. I walked to the next corner and a Q69 just sailed past with lights off. Is that allowed at night? I thought buses had to stop if you wave? Maybe I was at the old Hailstone stop? I can never tell because the new curbside extensions all look the same. Does anyone know if the temporary stop has a light? I don't want to stand on a dark corner and get skipped again.

To @overwhelmed_owen: no announcements, the operators are too busy trying not to hit delivery bikes. And @DykerNewbie they can skip if you're not at an active stop; if the chalk is gone, that's not active. Go to the one Gowanus_G said. I did it today: 41st Ave/27th St, by the old laundromat, not Chipotle (that's 29th). A bus showed at 5:12 and picked up like 8 of us. BusTime still showed it down by the bridge until it was 2 minutes away. So keep your head on a swivel.

Tried it this morning! Waited at 41st/27th and a Q69 stopped, but then the driver announced the next two stops are 'when you see me put my hand out'? Something about the detour changing midday because of construction. Thank you all, I did make it to work only 10 min late. Is it always like this during track work or is the Q69 special? Also, do you wave at every bus or just wait at the pole? Sorry, still learning.

Nah, the midday switch is new this week. Normally the detour holds for the whole block. But if Con Ed or film trucks show up, the dispatchers reroute on the fly and the app is basically a suggestion. At night, always wave and step to the curb, especially near the old stop. That chalk marker thing is a trap. Welcome to Astoria bus lore — you're not a real resident until a bus drives by and you have to decide whether to chase it like a maniac. @overwhelmed_owen, glad you got to work. Don't apologize for questions, half of us only know because we got burned first.