Since it is a big city, like New York, many people rely on the transit system instead of their own vehicles to get to where they need to go!
Typically, the metro system in Madrid is one of the fastest in Europe. With a high frecuencia (frequency) of the Metro and los trenes (the trains), transfer times are typically short! Usually Madrileños (people from Madrid) only complain when there is a strike and reduced service on metros and trains. The buses are a different story, however! Because of traffic on the highways, they are often delayed, which is frustrating to citizens as these delays often can make them late to work or school. During strikes, this issue is amplified because the buses will run on a reduced service, meaning it can take twice as long to get to where you need to go! The community of Madrid usually works quickly to make sure bus, metro and train strikes are resolved.
