Comments on: Stringer: Bus Lane Blocking Rampant, NYPD Nowhere to Be Found

By: Ron Eldridge

Ron Eldridge — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:15:03 +0000

Regarding the quantity of tickets: the city of new york has issued a high quantity of tickets at bus stops. Very high. Not 1,700 or 17,000. Between ticket agents and NYPD the total tickets this year will be more than 11 million. Maybe 12 million and a large percentage are issued at bus stops, bus lanes, bus routes, etc.

NOW, BUS STOPS must be kept clear. No doubt about that. But there is a high demand for curb space. And the proper and fair thing to do is to SHARE THE SPACE. If a bus comes every 30 minutes……why should no one else be able to temporarily park their truck during the other 30 minutes? This is not a Fire Hydrant guys!

By: Eric McClure

Eric McClure — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:05:38 +0000

NYPD is too busy handing out 1.2 million summonses for moving violations to hand out any for non-moving violations.

By: Dan Berkman

Dan Berkman — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:49:40 +0000

Curbs! I’ve really lost my faith in paint. How about some nice ones with different paving int he bus areas? None of those vinyl/pvc things. They suck. They’re ugly and they look like crap pretty much instantly. If DOT and the MTA are really serious about improving bus travel times they’re going to have to face facts and create some physical barriers.

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:35:56 +0000

here is an idea, change the law to allow anyone to swear out a parking ticket for blocking a lane of traffic. Create a form to do it with and the problem will solve itself pretty fast.

By: johnq

johnq — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:12:33 +0000

That looks to me like an MTA service truck. Notice the blue stripe and yellow lights on top of the cab. It also looks like the blue MTA logo on the door. Though I could be wrong.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:43:33 +0000

“Curiously, the study makes no mention of police vehicles as bus lane blockers.”

I can’t really blame Stringer, if he expects to actually get something done. The NYPD is just realistically more likely to act on this if they aren’t being simultaneously called out on it.

By: Steven Higashide

Steven Higashide — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:39:20 +0000

I’m not sure the bus lanes are “almost worthless” without separation. In my (individual) experience, the 34th Street crosstown buses were slower than walking before the lanes were added, and are faster than walking now (which is the deciding factor in my choice to use them).

They are not nearly as fast as they should be (especially in the afternoon), but I would be interested in some hard numbers about whether speed has improved and to what extent.

By: I \v/ NY

I \v/ NY — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:42:07 +0000

bus lanes are almost worthless unless they have something between them and the travel lanes… a barrier, median, street trees, curb, poles, etc.

By: BikingViking

BikingViking — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0000

They shouldn’t just paint the lanes a different color, they should put up barriers plain and simple. White vinyl poles similar to what they use (and should use more often) for bike lanes will keep people in the right place.

By: ddartley

ddartley — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:07:49 +0000

To clarify and add something:
I meant bus passengers outnumber jerks blocking bus lanes with their individual vehicles.

I’m emailing the MTA to ask if there’s any rule against handing out flyers on board their buses, encouraging passengers to contact City officials to demand that bus-only lanes are kept clear when bus-only hours are in effect.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:04:35 +0000

In the alternate universe of The Post, it will be reported what an outrage it is that 1700 tickets have been issued to poor drivers just hopping out of their cars for a minute, just to fatten the city’s coffers. Oh, and MTA evil!!11!!!

By: ddartley

ddartley — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:52:37 +0000

Bus passengers outnumber inconsiderate jerks in individual vehicles. One jerk in a private vehicle can delay 20, 30, or more individuals on a bus.

By failing to keep bus lanes clear, NYPD exhibits an attitude that as people, bus riders are less impotant than people in individual vehicles.

Time for that @#$% to CHANGE.