83% of survey takers said it is overall easy to get around the city via subway and bus. In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that New York actually boasts one of the best public transportation systems in the world … at least according to a Time Out survey of more than 20,000 city-dwellers across 50 cities.

In 2026, NYC bus reliability is a tale of two systems: "Select Bus Service" (SBS) and local routes. Under the MTA's "Queens Bus Network Redesign" and similar borough-wide overhauls, reliability has improved on major corridors thanks to dedicated bus lanes, signal priority, and all-door boarding via OMNY. Statistically, the MTA aims for a "Customer Journey Time Performance" of about 80%, but actual reliability can fluctuate wildly based on gridlock, double-parked delivery trucks, and the notoriously slow "boarding" process on non-SBS lines. While the BusTime app and digital countdown clocks at stops have made the system more "predictable," NYC buses remain among the slowest in the world, averaging just 7–8 mph in Midtown Manhattan. For the most reliable experience, travelers should prioritize the "Limited" (LTD) or "Select" (SBS) routes, which skip minor stops and use camera-enforced lanes. In 2026, the transition to an all-electric bus fleet has also improved mechanical reliability, but "traffic-based" delays remain the "blood-pressure-raising" reality of transit in the five boroughs.