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

Eyes on the Street: NYPD Shows Bus Lane Scofflaws How It’s Done

buslane.jpg

Thanks to Chris O'Leary at On Transport for posting the best documentation we've seen so far of NYPD's utter disregard for the 34th Street bus lane. He took this picture yesterday during the middle of the evening rush, around 6 p.m., a time when there's absolutely no excuse:

The shoulder lane is dedicated to buses only between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. But the eight empty police cars parked in the lane between 5th and 6th avenues would suggest otherwise.

As a result, buses had to load and unload in the one eastboundtravel lane, causing gridlock and leaving cars in the crosswalk of amajor pedestrian crossing.

Who will enforce the law when the enforcers won’t even obey the law?

We've seen traffic enforcement SUVs clog this bus lane before, but these are regular precinct vehicles, without a doubt. "At first I figured they were responding to an emergency," O'Leary said, "but there
was no police presence on the street or sidewalk, they were ALL
unoccupied, and the lights and engines were off."

The community affairs desk at Midtown South denied that officers from that precinct ever park in this bus lane. Perhaps officers from another precinct decided to make a pit stop and, just for good measure, mess with all the straphangers counting on Select Bus Service to get around town.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy ‘Has No Idea’ of NYC in Subway Photo Op with Eric Adams

He's still spreading lies. But this time, he didn't let anyone know where he'd be so he could field questions from friendly reporters and face no pushback from a compliant Mayor Adams.

April 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: It’s the ‘Shithole’ Super Bowl

We hear that U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy will be riding the subway today. Plus other news.

April 4, 2025

Fare Fares: Here’s How Much Outdoor Dining Costs Restaurants

Restaurant owners have to shell out big to serve outdoors.

April 4, 2025

US DOT Doesn’t Want to Fund Road Diets Anymore

The feds will look "unfavorably" on applications that reduce lane capacity for vehicles – despite their congestion and safety benefits.

April 4, 2025

Friday Video: Get Thee to Ghent

Clarence Eckerson revisits the Belgian city — and finds that everything is working exactly as planned.

April 4, 2025
See all posts