MTA buses are in desperate need of improvement, according to the city comptroller.

Scott Stringer's office says when it comes to speed, New York City buses rank worst in the nation. 

Stringer calls it a crisis and points to a loss of some 100 million trips on city buses since 2008, with ridership in Manhattan dipping 16 percent. 

Speeds have plunged, too, with buses in Manhattan moving the slowest in the city at 5.5 mph. That's less than half as fast as those on Staten Island. 

Stringer blames the uneven service on bus routes that haven't been updated in about half a century. 

"The MTA is planning like we're still a 9 to 5 city," he said. "Twice more buses run at 7 a.m. as they do at 7 p.m, and that fails the increasing number of New Yorkers who work nights or off-peak hours."

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota agrees that the bus system is in crisis, saying, in part, "The proper and progressive way to deal with the scourge of traffic is for everyone to support a responsible congestion pricing plan. Traffic congestion is keeping the most reliable and advanced bus fleet in recent history from moving as efficiently as it can and should."