Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bus Rapid Transit

Bx6 Riders Rave About Bus Lanes and All-Door Boarding

A new center-running bus lane and median island bus stop at East 161st Street and Sherman Avenue. Photo: TransitCenter

Dedicated bus lanes and all-door boarding debuted on the Bx6 earlier this month, and riders are noticing the difference.

Three weeks after DOT and the MTA launched Select Bus Service on this high-ridership route across Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, TransitCenter staff checked in with people who ride the Bx6. It looks like changes have made tangible improvements -- riders say their trips are faster and they're saving time:

The Bx6 is the ninth SBS route to debut under de Blasio. Similar improvements could be extended to dozens of routes in a relatively short amount of time.

TransitCenter and the Bus Turnaround Coalition are pressing DOT and the MTA to speed up many more bus routes via modern, faster fare collection and rapid roll-out of bus lanes and signal priority for buses at intersections.

It should be an easy call for Governor Cuomo, de Blasio, and the transportation agencies that report to them. Tens of thousands of people ride the Bx6 every day -- and they're getting more time for themselves and less aggravation thanks to these changes. Millions more New Yorkers stand to benefit from a systemwide turnaround of NYC bus service.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Gotcha-Heimer! Anti-Congestion Pricing Jersey Rep. With a City Speeding Ticket Drove to Manhattan on Wednesday

New Jersey's most vociferous opponent of congestion pricing parked illegally and once got a speeding ticket.

April 24, 2024

Under Threat of Federal Suit (Again!), City Hall Promises Action on ‘Unacceptable’ Illegal Police Parking

A deputy mayor made a flat-out promise to eliminate illegal police parking that violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. But when? How? We don't know.

April 24, 2024

Wednesday’s Headlines: Four for Fifth Edition

The good news? There's a new operator for the Fifth Avenue open street. The bad news? It's four blocks, down from 15 last year. Plus other news.

April 24, 2024

MTA Plan to Run Brooklyn-Queens Train on City Streets a ‘Grave’ Mistake: Advocates

A 515-foot tunnel beneath All Faiths Cemetery would slightly increase the cost of the project in exchange for "enormous" service benefits, a new report argues.

April 24, 2024

Full Court Press by Mayor for Congestion Pricing Foe Randy Mastro

Pay no attention to that lawyer behind the curtain fighting for New Jersey, the mayor's team said on Tuesday, channeling the Wizard of Oz.

See all posts