Skip the 'A' train and take the '6'

NEW YORK, July 21 (UPI) -- The Straphangers Campaign seventh annual poll of New York City subway riders finds the best performing line is still only worth $1.65 of a $2 fare.

The "State of the Subways" report ranks each line based on what a $2 ride is really worth, and is based on six criteria: cleanliness, scheduled service, regularity of arrivals, breakdowns, mechanical failures and chance of getting a seat during rush hour.

The No. 6 Lexington Avenue local ranked at the top, while the worst line is the N, nicknamed the "Never" by its passengers because of its poor service. The study found a ride on the N is only worth 80 cents, the New York Daily News reported.

John Holtz of Brooklyn told the New York Post the N stands for "needs a lot of improvement."

"It hasn't been a clean train since I was a kid," said the 55-year-old data entry worker. "That's when it had wicker seats. Now it is disgusting."

The survey said systemwide, subway cars with clean seats and floors increased to 83 percent from 78 percent.

Despite some of the complimentary findings, Transit Authority spokesman Paul Fleuranges said the agency disagreed with the Straphanger Campaign's survey "methodology and takes issue with how some of the data is used."