City Officials Promise Seats at Every Bus Stop, A Human Right
In a bid to ease the suffering of New York City's bus riders, the transportation department has pledged to install seats at every single bus stop by 2035. The move is part of a $40 million agreement that will see 875 benches added annually over the next decade and a half.
The decision comes as a welcome relief for commuters who have long complained about the slow service provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). According to transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, adding seats at bus stops is not just a nicety but a human right that should be afforded to all citizens.
Rodriguez's comments echoed his emphasis on addressing the "small things" in city infrastructure. The benches are designed with arm rests to prevent passengers from laying down across them, a move aimed at curbing homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. Where possible, metal bars will be installed at bus stops that lack sufficient space for benches.
The slow pace of New York City's buses has been a persistent issue during Mayor Eric Adams' tenure. Despite repeated calls to expedite service, the mayor has rejected or delayed several proposals aimed at speeding up traffic through designated bus lanes. Additionally, Adams has yet to comply with a 2019 law requiring 30 miles of new bus lanes per year.
While the city's responsibility for street and traffic patterns will continue to affect bus operations, the introduction of seats at every bus stop marks an encouraging step towards improving the commuting experience. However, critics may argue that this development comes too late in the day, and more drastic measures are needed to address the underlying issues plaguing New York City's transportation network.
In a bid to ease the suffering of New York City's bus riders, the transportation department has pledged to install seats at every single bus stop by 2035. The move is part of a $40 million agreement that will see 875 benches added annually over the next decade and a half.
The decision comes as a welcome relief for commuters who have long complained about the slow service provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). According to transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, adding seats at bus stops is not just a nicety but a human right that should be afforded to all citizens.
Rodriguez's comments echoed his emphasis on addressing the "small things" in city infrastructure. The benches are designed with arm rests to prevent passengers from laying down across them, a move aimed at curbing homeless people from sleeping in public spaces. Where possible, metal bars will be installed at bus stops that lack sufficient space for benches.
The slow pace of New York City's buses has been a persistent issue during Mayor Eric Adams' tenure. Despite repeated calls to expedite service, the mayor has rejected or delayed several proposals aimed at speeding up traffic through designated bus lanes. Additionally, Adams has yet to comply with a 2019 law requiring 30 miles of new bus lanes per year.
While the city's responsibility for street and traffic patterns will continue to affect bus operations, the introduction of seats at every bus stop marks an encouraging step towards improving the commuting experience. However, critics may argue that this development comes too late in the day, and more drastic measures are needed to address the underlying issues plaguing New York City's transportation network.
, 40 million bucks for seats at every bus stop is a bit steep don't you think? I mean, I get where the commuters are coming from, but we're not exactly talking about basic human necessities here 
. We've got bigger problems to solve in this city, like the rising costs of living and stuff. Adding seats everywhere isn't gonna magically make our finances disappear 
. Plus, what's next? Gonna install toilets at every corner too? 
I'm not saying it's a bad idea or anything, but let's keep things in perspective here 
.
, adding seats at every bus stop is a no-brainer. I mean, have you ever tried standing on a crowded bus during rush hour? It's torture 
. And now they're actually doing something about it. 875 benches a year sounds like a decent start, but yeah, it's not enough to fix the whole MTA mess. I still think Mayor Adams should get tough on those traffic lanes, we need more options for people who can't just sit at home 
. Still, this is a good step in the right direction and I hope they keep pushing for more changes.
. In my day, we didn't even have bus stops with seats... we'd just stand on the sidewalk or hold onto a lamppost if we were lucky 
. And those arm rests are such a nice touch - my aunt used to get so annoyed when people would recline their chairs at the bus stop and block her view of the world TV 
... anyway, it's all good I guess. Can't wait to see these new benches pop up everywhere by 2035 
. I do think it's interesting that they're putting those armrests on the benches - I've seen some homeless folks sleeping in public before and it can be really sad 
. But overall, this is a great step forward for NYC commuters! 
I think its cool they're adding seats at every bus stop 
. Like, who doesn't love a comfy spot to rest while waiting for the bus? 
It's like, a small thing that can make a big difference in people's daily lives 
. And I get why they're doing it - slow buses are no fun 
. But, idk, maybe we should be thinking about how to fix the bigger issues too 
. Still, this is a win in my book 
? I'm not saying it's a bad thing but we need to see some real action here, not just a bunch of promises 
.
i mean i get that some ppl might wanna sleep or chill but come on it's not like we're asking for much just a lil comfort while we wait for our bus 
and 875 benches per year? that's a lotta seats! 
And yeah, the arm rests are a nice touch, no more people sprawled across the benches like they own the place. The homeless thing is kinda harsh but I guess it's better than nothing. Let's hope this marks the start of bigger changes for NYC's transportation system... maybe we can even get some faster buses on the streets? 
, especially for long waits. It's all about making our daily commutes more comfortable & enjoyable 
The arm rests are a genius touch too 
. It's time for NYC to get its priorities straight & make public transport more people-friendly. Now if only they could tackle those slow traffic issues... 
. It's not just about us commuters, it's about making our city livable again. And let's be real, 2035 is still a ways off, but at least we'll have some decent seats to sit on while we're waiting 
. I remember when I first moved here in the early 2000s, you could literally take a nap anywhere you wanted. Now, it's like we're stuck in some sort of weird game where the buses are always late and there's no seating 
. Good for them for taking steps to address this, and fingers crossed they follow through!
installing metal bars is just another way to keep people out. seems like a bunch of Band-Aids on a broken system if u ask me.
I'm starting to feel like I'm living in the past but at least this is something that's actually happening! 
. At least it shows that city officials are listening to commuters and trying to make things better. Now let's just hope they follow through on their promises 
and actually get those benches installed ASAP 
! Finally, someone's doing something about the lack of comfort on our daily commutes 
I'm not gonna lie, 875 benches a year might seem like a lot, but considering NYC's population and how congested they are... it's still kinda meh