People are eager to uncover the facts.
The New York State Legislature is advancing a bill that mandates the MTA to inform passengers on trains and buses about any bed bug infestations within a 24-hour timeframe.
This legislation, backed by Rep. William Colton (D-Brooklyn), would require the MTA to either post a notification on its website or send emails or texts to alert the public following an incident.
“The MTA has resisted, without good reason, warning customers when an intrusion is detected,” Colton stated.
He emphasized, “Millions of New Yorkers rely on our essential trains and buses. You shouldn’t have to worry, ‘Am I bringing bed bugs home?’ in addition to your daily concerns.”
A previous iteration of this bill passed in the House but ultimately stalled in the state Senate. The current version made it through Congress last month and is now on its way to the Senate Transportation Committee.
Although these small insects, roughly the size of an apple seed, don’t transmit diseases, they can feed on blood and cause uncomfortable, itchy welts, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The last noted incident involving the MTA occurred back in 2018, when six buses in Manhattan were taken out of service after a passenger reported an insect on a seat. However, the MTA’s investigation found no evidence of bed bugs.
In 2020, bed bugs were reportedly discovered at a control tower in Queens, leading to an evacuation and fumigation that caused delays during rush hour.
Statistics from the city’s health department, dating back to 2014, reveal around 327,000 bed bug cases reported across the city, with 125,000 found in Brooklyn alone.
Colton added, “This is crucial for New Yorkers and those living nearby who worry about encountering bed bugs on public transportation since they are notoriously difficult to eliminate once established.”
