Councilman David G. Greenfield introduced legislation during today’s Stated City Council meeting that would increase parking and reduce the number of tickets drivers receive by requiring the city to clearly delineate where each bus stop specifically begins and ends. The proposed law was motivated by the stark need for additional parking spaces, especially in Greenfield’s Southern Brooklyn district, and the number of constituents who have reported receiving a parking ticket after unknowingly parking in bus stops – especially in cases when the bus stop extends all the way to the end of a block. The legislation is part of Greenfield’s continuing efforts to make owning a car a little easier and less frustrating by eliminating instances of unfair tickets and providing additional parking to drivers who are often forced to endlessly circle the block in search of a legal parking space.
“The city should make parking regulations as clear as possible to avoid tricking motorists into receiving tickets for violations they did not even realize they were committing. This common-sense legislation will help create additional parking spaces while making it clearer to drivers exactly where a bus stop begins and ends. This will in turn also increase the safety of those individuals who are taking mass transit on a regular basis,” explained Greenfield.
Currently, when only one sign is posted at a bus stop, the ‘no parking’ zone occupies the remainder of the block in the direction the arrow on the bus stop sign is pointing. Subsequently, because many drivers are not familiar with that law, motorists are frequently and unfairly issued tickets for unwittingly parking in extra-long bus zones. The legislation would require the city to install signs at the beginning and end of each bus stop in order to make ‘no parking’ and ‘no standing’ zones clear and to increase safety for bus drivers and passengers by preventing motorists from parking in or obstructing MTA bus stops.
Finally, this legislation will force the MTA to reevaluate whether it actually needs to take up as much space at each individual location that has a bus stop, especially those that use an entire block.
“The end result of this legislation will be more available parking for drivers, increased safety around bus stops and a reduction in the number of unfair tickets drivers receive. I will continue to seek new and creative ways to improve the quality of life for all of our residents,” concluded Greenfield.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the City Council’s Transportation Committee for hearings.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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8 Responses
Bloomy will veto this law
I’ve got a better idea; buses should have cameras mounted on them, that can take pictures of cars standing at bus stops when the bus comes. Every time a bus driver is blocked by a car illegally standing at the stop he should take a picture and the car’s owner will get a certain ticket. But that should be the only way to get such a ticket. Ordinary parking police should not be authorised to ticket for bus stop violations; if the bus isn’t there, then you’re not harming anyone, so why should you get a ticket? So long as you have moved before the bus comes you should have the right to use the space; but if you’re still there then you should know that the ticket is certain, with no excuses, even if there’s no cop around.
Can anyone explain why they can’t have bus stops at fire hydrants?
I assume that everyone realizes that unless marked otherwise the bus stop extends to the first sign permitting parking or to the end of the block. The extra long bus stops are designated to allow multiple buses to pull up to the curb for passenger safety.
As all New Yorkers should know unless parking is clearly permitted, don’t even try.
Ok this may be too simple for Mayor Duneberg, but how about painting yellow lines along the bus stop curb??
Naaa, too simple.
This one is a little much. The signs are easily understood, and the cost to add a second sign to each stop is too high. Perhaps the law cluld simply state that any bus stop that extends to a corner require that its existing sign, when next replaced during normal maintenance, must include the phrase ” from here to corner.”
I once got a ticket in Williamsburg for being parked in a bus stop I got a email from the dot commissioner stating there’s no law governing how far from the sign you need to park I sent it in with pictures and got the ticket off
Greenfield is such a breath of fresh air. Thanks!