Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bill de Blasio

De Blasio “Placard Crackdown” Update: Placard Holders Monopolize Livingston Street Bus Lane

As many as 40 buses an hour are disrupted by public employees who have taken over the curbside lane on Livingston Street. Video still: @JarekFA

Nine months after Mayor de Blasio announced his big placard crackdown, it has yet to reach Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn, where bus riders stew in traffic while placard-holding government employees illegally park in the bus lane.

Streetsblog reader JarekFA took this footage at 11:30 this morning. The bus lane, on Livingston between Smith Street and Boerum Place, is supposed to be car-free from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This corridor, which got transit priority about seven years ago, sees more than 40 buses per hour during peak hours. The B41, B45, B67, and B103 all use this bus lane.

But as you can see, the lane -- in front of a courthouse and Department of Education building -- is useless to bus riders because it has been taken over by placard-bearing government workers who know there's little to no chance they will ever get a ticket.

Watch as JarekFA counts placard after placard:

Some incredible level of @placardabuse rendering this @NYCTBus lane completely useless. This is in the @NYPD84Pct. Bus lanes are for buses, right @patkiernan? cc @errollouis @JamieStelter. 7am to 7pm active bus lane which cars may enter for right turns only. Such disrespect. pic.twitter.com/sWnZLEl2CW

— JarekFA (@JarekFA) February 16, 2018

Years of Google images suggest a bus lane occupied by parked cars is the normal state of affairs.

De Blasio is allowing public employees to torpedo city efforts to improve bus service in Downtown Brooklyn -- further evidence that New Yorkers who rely on buses just don't matter that much to the mayor.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts