They
were an innovation that was intended to speed buses in rush hour to
make them a more attractive alternative to driving in congested
traffic. They were the bus lanes, a Barnes era innovation in
which the designated right lane of many arteries in Downtown and
midtown were restricted to the exclusive use of buses and vehicles
making right turns at the next intersection.
Their effectiveness was debatable, but by the late 1980's, the lanes
had largely been forgotten by auto and bus motorists alike, as well as
law enforcement personnel. The signs were gradually removed,
aside from a couple of survivors that persist to the present.
Here, then is a look at some of the remaining signs, as well as other artifiacts of old MTA bus operations...
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At Paca and Baltimore Northbound is this sign denoting use for buses
only. While in the heyday of the practice, the #7 bus along Paca
Street would have had a great deal of service, the line's headway is
only a shadow of its former self with the opening of the Metro Subway
in 1983.
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In front of the Greyhound terminal on Fayette Street, near Howard, is
this sign denoting curb use by right turns and buses only. For
years after the transit mall was opened, cars were not allowed to make
the right onto Howard Street off of Fayette, making the old sign even
more obsolete.
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The use of a Flxible New Look bus on this sign at York Road just above
42nd Street dates it to about 1976-1980. Unlike the
Downtown signs that run both rush hours including Saturdays, this sign
is restricted to weekday mornings.
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Interesting as well is this bus stop that isn't. At Paca Street
Northbound at Lombard is this MTA bus stop sign that is served by no
route at all. While buses on the #27 and #31 MAY use this stop on
an occasional detour, it seems odd that this non-stop warranted the
installation of a Viacom waiting shelter in 2002.
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