City officials outpace M34 bus in rush-hour challenge

City Leaders Celebrate Busway Plans

Local officials are expressing enthusiasm over new proposals to restrict vehicle access on 34th Avenue to support the development of dedicated busways along this heavily congested route. In a spirited event on Thursday evening, they even managed to outrun the M34 bus during rush hour.

A group of city lawmakers, including councillor Eric Botcher, Secretary Brad Lander, Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and mayoral candidate Sen. Zoran Mamdani, took part in a brisk speedwalk from 34th Avenue to 1st to 8th Avenue, successfully beating the bus by a margin of seven minutes.

This friendly race came right after the City Council’s subcommittee on zoning and franchise, along with the Land Use Committee, approved the busway as part of an extensive Midtown South Rezoning Plan, despite some reported complications along the way.

Initially suggested in May, this busway aims to limit private vehicles on busy Crosstown streets, attempting to improve the notoriously slow speeds of the M34 and M34A buses.

Some council members, however, expressed concerns about their mayor’s previous political struggles, noting a sense of uncertainty until a positive turn during the week.

“It has taken quite a few attempts, and people are dubbing it a miracle for 34th Avenue since it was previously on hold,” one official remarked.

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed the rezoning plan following committee approval, stating, “With today’s vote, we’ve made progress towards a more vibrant Midtown South for New Yorkers across all income levels.”

He further emphasized, “This agreement showcases our dedication to merging housing and infrastructure improvements, including the transformation of Broadway and the creation of the 34th Street Busway.”

The comprehensive rezoning plan is slated for discussion and voting by the full council next week.

Currently, around 28,000 commuters rely on the 34th Avenue bus each day, and reports suggest these buses crawl along at speeds slower than 5.5 mph during peak traffic hours.

During the Thursday race, Councillor Keith Powers, along with DOT Commissioner Idanis Rodriguez and approximately 30 volunteers, boarded the bus that unfortunately came in last.

The winning group, dubbed the “Pedestrian Prancer,” was ceremoniously awarded the “Busway Championship” medal after completing their rapid walk alongside 50 supporters.