14th Street Car Ban
Department of Transportation
Last week courts finally approved the city's plan to speed up busses on 14th Street by banning cars – the policy went into effect this week.
Cars are now banned on 14th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues from 6 AM to 10 PM daily, with the exception of busses, trucks and emergency vehicles. Cars can drop a passenger off, or make a delivery, but can only travel one block, then must make the first right turn. Left lanes are banned at all times.
Department of Transportation
The ban, which has been in the works for two years, was supposed to go into effect over the summer but was stalled due to lawsuits from local residents arguing there was a lack of environmental review for the impact on nearby residential streets. The city hopes the ban will ease congestion and speed up busses during the L train shutdown.
After the first-week, riders stated the 14th Street buses – known for moving at a notorious 4.5 miles per hour – were moving much faster, some faster than walking.
Is this the solution to solving the NYC's bus problems? Should more Manhattan streets be bus only?