PEDESTRIANS BEAT THE BUS: Transportation Alternatives, Riders Alliance, and Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers Host 34th Street Bus Victory Lap

Now that the 34th Street busway is moving forward, elected officials and advocates raced on the bus and on their own two feet to finally answer the question: is it actually faster to walk on 34th Street than ride the M34?

Buses along 34th Street average just 5.5 mph for 28,000 daily riders. The M34 is the third-slowest bus in New York City. 

The 34th Street busway has support from every elected official who represents the street and all three Community Boards. 

NEW YORK — Tonight, at the intersection of 34th Avenue and First Avenue, Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers hosted a victory lap bus race with Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Comptroller Brad Lander, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani. 

After several blocks of racing, Team Pedestrian beat Team Bus in the 34th Street victory lap! Pedestrians beat the bus by two blocks after over a mile of racing. 

“We’re ecstatic that there’s going to be a miracle on 34th Street — a car-free busway along the corridor — and a fully pedestrianized Broadway,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “The Midtown South rezoning proves just how critical new homes, great streets, and reliable transit work are to New York City. We’re excited so many elected officials and fellow New Yorkers are excited about speeding up the nation’s slowest buses. Now, the almost 30,000 daily bus riders along 34th Street will have a fast and reliable ride every time. The 14th Street busway has been a massive success, and it’s time to bring the same ideas to 34th Street today and 42nd Street tomorrow. We’ll see you on the bus!”

The 34th Street Busway project is finally moving forward as part of the Midtown South Rezoning, and is supported by every elected official who represents the corridor and all three local Community Boards. New York City has the slowest buses in the nation, and buses along 34th Street average just 5.5 mph for 28,000 daily riders. The M34 is the third-slowest bus in all of NYC; a single crosstown trip takes around 22 minutes. 

Just a mile south of 34th Street, the parallel 14th Street busway has transformed commutes along the corridor. After the busway was installed, bus speeds increased by as much as 24%, bus ridership increased by as much as 30%, and 86% of pedestrians reported feeling the same or noticeably safer along 14th Street — all while vehicle travel times on adjacent streets remained similar. 

“New Yorkers deserve fast, reliable, and world-class bus service, and that is why Mayor Eric Adams and our administration are building the 34th Street Busway to speed up commutes for riders and make this corridor safer and less congested,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Building on the success of the 14th Street Busway — where bus speeds increased by 24%, traffic congestion virtually disappeared, and crashes dropped by 42% — this new busway will prioritize buses and trucks while maintaining local access for pick-ups, drop-offs, and loading. Thank you, again, Mayor Adams, the City Council, and all the advocates and other supporters who have pushed for this project and for making our streets better, safer, and more equitable for all.”

"For years, midtown bus riders have been stuck on the slowest buses in the city. A busway on 34th Street will not only speed up thousands of commutes but transform the corridor into a vibrant public space for all. After nearly two decades of planning, the City is at last on the cusp of making this vision into a reality,” said NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.

“My office is racing for the 28,000 people who ride the bus on 34th Street every day and deserve faster, more reliable service. There's no doubt that we need to speed up the buses on this corridor - they often run slower than 5mph in rush hour traffic. Every day, this adds up to more than 750 hours of delays for all 34th Street bus passengers, all because the roadway is so congested. The 34th Street busway will speed up bus service, improve safety for pedestrians, and improve emergency response times across town. A win-win-win,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

"The 34th St. busway is a much needed addition to Midtown Manhattan, for riders, pedestrians, and drivers alike. NYC is a city of pedestrians, but it simply should not be faster to walk across town than take the bus. As a New Yorker that takes public transportation into Midtown almost everyday, I am proud to support this initiative, and I thank the transit advocates for their work in getting the Mayor’s office to move forward with this project. Go team bus riders!” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. 

"I commend the New York City Council for advancing the new 34th Street busway and expanding on the success we have seen at the 14th Street busway. With this investment, we’re not just making bus trips faster and more reliable for thousands of riders—we’re also shortening commutes, making crosswalks safer for pedestrians, and making Midtown a little bit quieter for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.  I want to thank our partners at Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance for their advocacy on this issue. Together, we’re showing the power of bold advocacy and partnership to deliver transformative improvements that put the needs of our communities first,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. 

“Today’s race is further proof that 34th Street is not serving New Yorkers as well as it could be,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “It took us more than 24 minutes to move 6 avenues on the M34. It’s time to get buses moving faster, and the busway will do just that. I’m proud to have fought for the busway, and I look forward to faster service on 34th Street!” said Council Member Keith Powers.

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