Are Express Bus Blue Lights Illegal?

The MTA's newish Select Buses may be illegal because they use flashing blue lights which, according to state law, are only supposed to be used by emergency vehicles. Computer consultant Eugene Falik has made it his mission to hold the MTA responsible for its wanton misuse of blue lighting, and he tells the Daily News, "The reason for standardizing these things is so driver reaction becomes subconscious. When you take that way, overall, it endangers public safety." Two years ago, when the lights first appeared on the Bx12 route, Falik called a police precinct to hold the MTA accountable. He also voiced his concerns via the 311 hotline. But his complaining has fallen on deaf ears!

One source at the MTA simply passed the buck, claiming that the blue light decision was made by the prior NYC Transit administration. And the MTA's scofflaw spokesman Charles Seaton shrugs off Falik's warnings, insisting the blue lights "have helped SBS ridership grow in the Bronx and will do so in Manhattan. I doubt whether there's anyone out there who will mistake a 60-foot bus for a volunteer firefighter's vehicle." True, but what about all the confused bus riders trying to swipe their MetroCards to board a fire truck? This is anarchy!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 18, 2010 5:45 PM

Comments [rss]

demonyc

it's NOT AN EXPRESS, it's a SELECT.

Såkandulæredet

Can we get the spam guy off of here?

kevd

and the damn beeping at stops! ugh.

so damn loud. hey MTA - make your brakes less squeaky, and lower the beep.

the SBS branding isn't so well done.

Medium blue isn't that different from Light Blue. A whole other color - like red or silver or something should have been used.

and while I've never seen bright flashing lights, that just sounds stupid.

Petey

Who is going to enforce this law against the MTA buses?

dadoc

Legal or not, they are too darned bright! They should drop the flash and lower the intensity (esp @ night). They are glaring and distracting, and make it hard to see oncoming traffic.

ForrestWhitaker

Eugene, you really should just change your name to Norma. You're really changing the world.

uhh

Future 'bucket head'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJM6ULj4QLk

JacqueMehoff

who cares? yeah, who really cares?

so what, the buses use blue lights. they're not using them in conjunction with any red flashing lights. and, it's a giant bus. this will make it easier for passengers to spot a select bus.

1stephanie

Super. Another thing for the MTA to spend money on. I learned the blue-light thing in driver's ed, and remember it to this day, 20+ years later. Nice job, dudes.

colonelcasey

I don't remember any emergency agency using a blue light until the NYPD started adding them to their cars a few years ago.

What an attention whore.

jaycjay

It actually used to be illegal for police vehicles to have blue lights in NYS; they were restricted exclusively to personal vehicles driven by volunteer fire fighters. The law was changed to allow blue lights on police and fire vehicles but their supposed to be visible only from the rear. Technically, some police vehicles are in violation. So, without a doubt, are these buses. But who cares?

deviousb

In NYS volunteer fire departments use only blue lights to respond to their stations. In NYC we don't have volunteer Fire. And Hatzolah seems to be allowed to use red lights.