From Massapequa to Washington Heights via Howard Beach

Long Islanders arrived in Queens by the trickle early Monday, riding shuttle buses mobilized to replace LIRR trains.

One of those buses, from Hicksville, rolled into the Howard Beach-JFK subway station at 5:32 a.m.

Peter Caterina, 51, of Wantagh, said he ordinarily would take the LIRR to get to his job on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. This morning the bus trip took 52 minutes to Howard Beach and went smoothly, he said.

If the strike continues, though, he said it would become tiresome.

“As much as I want people to get fairly paid,” he said, it was time for the two sides to stop “haggling over half a percent.”

Maria Raniolo, of Massapequa, arrived in Howard Beach from Hicksville just before 6 a.m. “I was trying to figure out what I was going to do today and see how this went,” she said, adding she wasn’t thrilled with the bus experience, which she found less comfortable than the train.

Working remotely wasn’t an option for her. “I’m a teacher,” she said, “so I can’t stay home.”

She then headed for the A train to continue her trip to the school in Washington Heights.