The city will install dedicated bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn’s longest street, as soon as next year.
Mayor Eric Adams took the B41 bus to make the announcement with bus transit officials and advocates.
“Improving our bus system is about fairness,” the mayor wrote in a post on social media.
“Today, I drove down Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to hear from riders about how we can make it faster and more efficient,” the message continues.
Improving our bus system is about equity.
Today, I rode along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to hear from riders about how we can make it faster, and more efficient.
See what our administration has planned for our buses: pic.twitter.com/PLrdPvphSg
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 9, 2022
The bus lane will extend 10 miles of Flatbush Avenue from Kings Plaza to Cadman Plaza.
It will be part of the New York Streets Plan, which promises to create 150 new miles of bus lanes by the end of 2026.
The Riders Alliance organization was with the mayor during the announcement and asked him to keep his promise to be the “mayor of the buses.”
“Mayor Adams, today I implore you, sir, to ensure that riders get 150 miles of bus lanes,” Annette Collins, a member of the Riders Alliance, said, according to the text of an online message.
Mayor Adams today I implore you sir to make sure the riders get 150 miles of bus lanes -Riders alliance member Annette Collins pic.twitter.com/gYeM7fOsYW
— 🚇 Riders Alliance (@RidersAlliance) August 9, 2022
“Buses are the backbone of our city’s transportation. Flatbush is an opportunity for transformational change,” Adams said.
Transit advocates say bus lane rules will vary along the stretch depending on the number of lanes available for traffic.
Some residents, however, believe that a dedicated bus lane will cause more problems than it will solve.
But bus users say the route is plagued by slowdowns due to traffic and congestion. Passengers believe this will help improve bus service.
“In my opinion, the traffic is more fluid. I think it will be good as long as people respect the rules,” said a bus driver.
The Flatbush Avenue Bus Lane project is expected to be ready in the spring with installation next fall.
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