Been doing the Bx15 from 125th/Lex up to 149th/Grand Concourse for about two years now. Most mornings I aim for the 7:42, but this week that bus just didn’t exist three times. Instead I got a three-bus caravan at 7:51, with the front bus short-turning at 3rd Ave/149th and the second driver acting like the first one was the problem. Then the third bus was nearly empty, which would be great if I hadn’t missed my 4 train by ten seconds.

Is this a new pattern with the articulateds? Half the 'Limited' buses I see are stopping at every other block anyway, so what exactly is the limited saving? I just want to know if I should keep gambling on the bus or start taking the 4/5 from 125th and eat the extra stair climb at 149th.

Wait I just started doing almost this exact commute a month ago and thought I was an idiot. I see Bx15s signed 'Limited' but they don't skip much? I also got ghost buses on the BusTime app—three little bus icons then none of them show up. Are there two different Bx15s? I get on whichever comes because if you wait for the 'right' one you're late. Is that bad? Also does the 7:42 usually not show? I thought I was bad at reading the schedule.

Not an MTA dispatcher, but I’ve been riding this corridor long enough to recognize the pattern. The Bx15 does have local and limited variants, but in practice the limited only skips a handful of stops once it gets into the Bronx and it’s not consistently enforced in Manhattan because of traffic. The big problem at 125th/Lex isn’t the destination sign: it’s that the entire route sits in crosstown traffic on 125th, so buses leave the West Harlem terminal already off schedule. When one bus gets delayed enough, the next catches it, and drivers sometimes short-turn the leader to even out the gap. That’s why you’ll see a caravan and then nothing for 15-20 minutes.

For firstbodega: no, boarding whichever shows up isn’t bad. Just check the front sign and listen for ‘short turn’ announcements. If a bus is short-turning at 149th and you need to go further, it’s not the bus you want, but from 125th/Lex to 149th/Grand Concourse it doesn’t matter much because the terminal is right there.

For EastHarlem_E: if you’re able to climb the stairs at 149th, the 4/5 is usually the safer bet from 125th/Lex. The Bx15 is an alternative when it’s raining or when the Lexington Avenue line is a mess, but not a reliable primary if you’re trying to make a transfer. I’d use BusTime only for real-time bus location, not the countdown at the stop, and even then trust a bus only when it’s two or three stops away.

I'm new to NYC and take the Bx15 around 145th/Concourse? Is that even the same route? I have seen three buses come together too and everyone sprints to the front. Also what does 'short turn' mean exactly? The driver said something over the intercom once and everyone groaned but I didn't catch it. Do I have to get off right then? Or are there signs outside the bus? Sorry if this is obvious.

The stop at 125th/Lex after 8 a.m. is such a wall of people. I tried waiting for the limited once and it didn't even slow down, just zoomed past with the sign saying 'Next bus please.' Now I just get on the local and accept the 20-minute ride. I work near Yankee Stadium, so I thought limited would be better? But I can't tell which stops it actually skips. Also why does everyone crowd by the front when the back is empty? I'm new and too scared to push through, but I also don't want to miss my stop.

For the new folks asking what short-turn means: it’s when a bus doesn’t run to its normal last stop. The operator may announce ‘this bus will short-turn at 3rd Av/149th’ or a similar point, meaning everyone going past that stop has to get off and wait for the next bus. It usually happens because the bus is running so late that the dispatcher wants it to start the opposite trip on time, or because two buses are bunched. Some signs may say ‘short turn’ or have the limited destination, but often you only know from the operator’s announcement, which is easy to miss.

smalltown_steph, if the driver says it over the speaker, you should get off at the short-turn point if your stop is beyond that point. If you’re already past that point, you’re okay. big_city_beth, the ‘Next bus please’ sign means the bus is too crowded or the driver has been ordered to pass stops, so waiting for the next one is normal but frustrating. The front-crowding thing is a mix of people not realizing the back has space and people wanting to be near the door for their stop. If you can, move toward the back and use the stop request strip.

This kind of multi-stop confusion is especially bad when you have a job located somewhere unexpected. There’s a related earlier discussion in the thread Offer says 'NYC office' but my first day is in LIC and one day in Jersey City—normal? Offer says 'NYC office' but my first day is in LIC and one day in Jersey City—normal? —where the office address didn’t match the actual commute. It’s the same principle: learn the terminal and short-turn points before you trust the sign.

Thanks astoria_arch, I’m not sure why I was loyal to the Bx15. I tried the 4/5 from 125th this morning and yes, the stair climb at 149th is real but I made the 7:58 4 train with time to spare. That never happens with the bus.

One thing I’ll add for the newer people: when the BusTime map shows three buses, zoom in before you leave. Half of those are often scheduled trips that are running empty to the depot or not actually picking up. If the little arrow is greyed out, don’t stand there.

landmark_lina, that short-turn speaker announcement is impossible to hear unless you’re right behind the operator. I wish the front sign said it more clearly.

Hi, I just moved here and have no frame of reference, so sorry if this is dumb. I tried to catch the Bx15 at 3rd Ave/138th yesterday and the bus flew past me with people pressed against the windshield. The driver pointed backward like 'next one.' Is that allowed? Should I just walk to 149th from there if the next bus is far? Also how do I know before getting on if a bus is going to short-turn? The front sign said '149 St' and then everyone had to get off at 146th. I was lost.

firstwinter, if the bus passes because it’s full, the operator isn’t being rude—they’re already over capacity and can’t safely let more people on. It feels personal, but it isn’t. From 3rd Ave/138th to 149th/Grand Concourse is roughly 0.8 to 1.0 mile depending on your exact block, so in decent weather it’s often faster to walk than to trust the next bus. If you’re carrying a lot or it’s raining, wait, but keep an eye on BusTime.

The short-turn problem is harder: the destination sign sometimes still says ‘149 St’ because the change is made while the bus is already on the road. Your best move is to ask the operator as you board, especially if you’ve been burned before. A simple ‘are you going all the way to 149th?’ works. Not every driver will answer, but many will.

To EastHarlem_E: I use the Bx15 as a weather backup or when the 4/5 is having a signal issue, not as the primary. The 4/5 has its own delays, but the Bx15's crosstown variability is worse for a timed transfer. One caveat: if you have limited mobility or a lot of bags, the stairs at 149th are not a minor thing, so keep the bus as a fallback.