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NYC buses are a paradox. Citywide they move slower than pedestrians, but occassionally they move fast enough to kill people. Although we've never ever been in danger of a speeding bus––nor has anyone as long as we've been riding them––the city has an interesting idea to get bus traffic moving. Sidewalk bulbs, or extensions, are being built that extend from sidewalks; planners hope that the non-median traffic mediators will pick up the pace of taking the bus.
In a program intended to help buses move more speedily down the traffic-and-construction-clogged streets of lower Broadway, the city is building a series of extensions to the sidewalk that should make it easier for buses to load and unload. In the taxonomy of traffic engineers, these extensions are known as bus bulbs.Although the Broadway bulbs are rectangular, not bulbous, the term actually comes from the fact that in other parts of the world where bus bulbs have been used, like London, they tend to be rounded extensions near a corner.
The Broadway bulbs are concrete islands set just off the sidewalk. They are about 130 feet long and 9 feet wide.
If smaller streets and closer sidewalks are the solution to NYC's traffic problems . . . well, the implications are just mind-boggling. We personally like taking the bus when we have the opportunity because it makes us feel younger. When we're sure we've been travelling for at least 20 minutes, a glance at our watch assures us that we've been on the bus for over an hour.
(Bus, by specmotor at flickr)
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As a biker, I'm concerned about these new bulbs. I was riding southbound on Broadway last night when all of a sudden - instead of a street, there was sidewalk. 'Holy crap, bulb!' Obviously, I didn't say that at the time, because I didn't know that is what they're called, but now I do. Thanks Gothamist! So my point - how many cars/bikes are going to blow tires on these sidewalks (which are actually quite tall).
Daniel, I had the EXACT same experience as you over the weekend. Bus bulbs might improve the flow of traffic over the long run, but there's probably going to be a transitional period when people don't realize they're there and ride/drive into them. (And also it'll take time for people to adjust to having fewer lanes of traffic.)
Why are they 130 feet long? I can't imagine that buses are that big.
This would seem like a good idea for bus lines that actually move at a reasonable clip and significant proportion of the delays are due to lane changing.
However, the buses on Broadway are at a standstill most of the time and aren't slow due to pulling over. As the article details, the buses are having more difficulties due to cars and the lack of "bus lane" enforcement. The bus that was subject of the article was blocked by double parked cars and taxis dropping off passengers.
They may save 4 seconds a stop with the bulbs, but the traffic is costing 10 minutes a block.
This is just a band-aid on a problem that requires major surgery.
This is pointless ! The bus stops aren't the problem here, It's all the other traffic they have to navigate on the road ! Here are some simple changes that the city could make . On narrow streets restrict parking on the buses route during say [8]am till about [6]pm . This would give buses a real lane too run in, & Cutting the time it takes for the bus to maneuver into & out of each stop . If possible lengthen bus stops between businesses that are notorious for blocking traffic . If possible reroute buses too other streets to avoid clogging up traffic, I know in the city this is damn near impossible a feat to accomplish but on some routes it would work .
While I was living in Milan, they actually converted my "normal" bus stop to one of these "bulb" stops. The major effect, which was quite nice, was that the bulb basically extends as wide as the parked cars on either side, so that cars can't as easily park/stop in the bus stop, forcing the bus to go to the middle of the street to stop. Rather than a yellow line, it's a physical reminder of the no parking/standing zone.
Of course, they also had certain roads that had physical barriers between the bus and car lanes, which probably helped more than the bulb.
I have to voice an opinion in support of the bus bulbs. anything that can get bus traffic moving faster is great for this city. This includes bus bulbs and congestion pricing. However, one simple law could make buses move faster: requiring traffic to yield to all buses pulling in and out of bus stops. It only works if the cops enforce it though.
we have one by my job and traffic has been at an all time high and the noise of honking never stops. at times it is unbearable.
it just causes serious congestion b/c no one knows to get over until its too late to.
why not equip busses with some sort of ram bumper and allow them to "nudge" cars parked in front of bus stops or double parked. I think that would keep traffic moving.