Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetfilms

Name That Bus Route: SKIRT Takes the Shirt

dsc058511.jpgThere weren't a lot of entries, but what contestants in Streetfilms' first-ever t-shirt contest lacked in quantity, they made up for in pithiness. 

Inspired by the Boulder, Colorado transit system, Clarence Eckerson challenged the Streetfilms audience to come up with zingy names for New York bus routes. He writes:

For sheer ferociousness, I really loved Susan Donovan's JUGGERNAUT. It made me want to ride that bus and become all powerful. Rex's dig at Speaker Silver's SHELLY was particularly inventive; as for CjStephens calling the M15 BREATHLESS, I could feel the air literally escaping my lungs.  

But in the end as our winner, I am going with galfromdownunder's SKIRT -- as a bus that would run in the Garment District. Something about that felt so right when I read it - entertaining, descriptive, playful and very much fit the mold with the way Boulder names its themed-buses. Congrats to Lynette Chang who is behind the galfromdownunder moniker.

We agree with Clarence on the overall quality of entries, but we were especially impressed with Rex, who not only gave us The Shelly ("The silver buses on this route are instantly recognizable since the
buses do not have any doors, they only provide the illusion of service."), but also The Brodsky ("These 1950's style buses only operate in reverse."), The Wiener ("These buses make a tremendous amount of noise and smoke, but don't actually move."), and The Bloomberg ("Buses on this route can move very quickly, but they
have no fixed route and you cannot find out where they are going until
you get there."). Priceless.

Looking forward to the next contest, Clarence. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

SEE IT: Cops Violently Arrest Teen Riding Citi Bike in Alphabet City

Three cops slammed a teenager to the ground, pulled his hair and knelt on his head — for allegedly riding a Citi Bike "in a reckless manner."

August 29, 2025

‘Pedestrianize’ the Financial District, Lower Manhattan Council Member Says

Downtown Council Member Chris Marte says the city refuses to launch a $500K downtown pedestrianization study funded by his predecessor.

August 29, 2025

Friday Video: The Problem With … ‘Friday Video’?!

The urbanism YouTube sphere is thriving — but who's getting the views?

August 29, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Menace of Prosperity

Daniel Wortel-London on his new book, "The Menace of Prosperity: New York City and the Struggle for Economic Development, 1875–1981."

August 28, 2025

MONEY TALKS: Business Interests Call the Shots in Eric Adams’s New York

Forget the bribery charges — you don't have to break the law to buy influence in the Big Apple.

August 28, 2025
See all posts