Waiting for the bus is hot and miserable. Here’s why.
It’s been a hot summer — and it’s only getting hotter. Summer temperatures continue to break records, and heat waves are expected to triple in number by the 2050s.
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in New York City. At our city’s bus stops, more than a million New Yorkers endure long waits in the heat every day, with no protection from the sun in the form of a tree or shelter.
Cooling down hot bus stops is a critical but often overlooked need.
We worked with researchers at the NASA DEVELOP Environmental Justice Team to analyze summer temperatures at New York City’s bus stops.
Here’s what we found: The hottest bus stops are 14.5°F hotter than the coolest – and more likely to be located in Black, Latino, Asian, and high-poverty communities, in Queens and the Bronx, and in the communities with the most bus riders.
We used this data to identify 100 stops and three routes that city leaders must prioritize for urgent intervention.
Transportation is central to solving the climate crisis, and as our city leaders consider ways to mitigate extreme heat and emissions, public transit has to be a a central factor in planning.
Three things to know
Summer Streets returns this Saturday. Walk, bike, and roll from the Brooklyn Bridge to 125th Street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the final Saturday of Summer Streets in Manhattan. We’ll be out to highlight our campaigns and advocacy in the borough. Be sure to say hello! Then, join us in Brooklyn along Eastern Parkway and in the Bronx for Boogie on the Boulevard on August 24 for the final day of Summer Streets.
The fight for congestion pricing continues. New Yorkers cannot afford another “summer of hell.” We need to reduce traffic, clean our air, and invest in high-quality transit — congestion pricing is the only program that will deliver on all three of these goals. A new report from the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA makes this point crystal clear.
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
Read the New York Times’ coverage of our latest analysis on New York City’s hottest bus stops.
New York City is taking another step toward trash containerization, as they ordered 1,500 large bins for use in West Harlem starting in May, reports Gothamist.
Most of New York City’s land area is impervious to water, making flash flooding more common. Hell Gate has the story on how the City is designing streets to absorb water.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Are you a pedestrian princess? Then order our new hat. Let the world know you’re on your way, you’re walking fast, and you can’t be stopped with our new pedestrian princess hat. This camo hat is perfect for the workplace or the dance floor. Get yours today before they sell out.
Speaking of pedestrian princesses, tickets for the Pedestrian Prom are on sale now. Get your tickets now for our annual member party, the Pedestrian Prom, September 10 at Brooklyn Brewery. Member tickets are $10, non-member tickets are $30 and include a year-long membership!
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Tell Mayor Adams and the City Council: Make our bus stops cool and safe. Ask your elected officials to accelerate bus shelter installation and tree planting near bus stops to ensure all bus stops are safe and cool, and to minimize wait times on the hottest bus routes with car-free busways and protected bus lanes. Take action now.
Thanks for reading!
Jacob and the TA Team
