Bus users: some agree about how slow it is, others satisfied

“I walk to work and I get there before them,” Luis Pinales said of the MTA buses.

According to an analysis by the AMNY newspaper, buses operated by the MTA, or the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, traversed the streets of the Big Apple at a snail’s pace during the first 10 months of the year at an average of 8.18 miles per hour.

That is, just a little more than double what it takes the average person to walk about four miles per hour.

The study says that in 2022 buses were traveling at 8.21 and 8.3 in 2021, showing a continued downward trend.

Passengers in Washington Heights agree:

“When they are in the Manhattan area it seems to me that it goes a little faster, but when they are in the Bronx area it is horrible, horrible! is delayed. One day I remember that I left work at 3:30 and I got home at five and I don’t live, I don’t work very far away,” said Nancy Ensico.

“In addition to the fact that there are a lot of cars, a lot of traffic jams, they are very slow, especially those that go along Broadway, the 100, the 101 are very slow and you have to wait a long time, 15 minutes waiting for it,” added Luis Pinales.

Riders Alliance, a pro-public transportation user organization, reminds us that, by law, the city must implement 30 miles of exclusive bus lanes every year by 2026.

“We have been implementing this for two years now and fortunately we only have about seven miles that have been done currently in the five boroughs,” said Mayra Aldás, Riders Alliance. The other would be, obviously, to implement what is the cameras to penalize those people who use cars not to block the bus lines.”

Meanwhile, the MTA says it is redesigning bus networks and routes in all counties.

And on the streets, we also find those who are happy with the service.

Martínez.

“Mostly when I get on the bus they are quite, quite fast,” said Luis Martínez.

-So, are you happy with the bus system?

“Yes, very happy.”