The piles, left over from last week’s snowstorm, have hardened into icy barriers that buses can’t navigate around, according to MTA officials. The problem is particularly severe along major routes in Queens and Brooklyn, where snow removal has lagged behind Manhattan.
“It’s like playing Frogger out there,” said Maria Santos, who takes the B46 bus from Flatbush to Downtown Brooklyn. “The bus driver has to weave in and out of traffic because half the bus lane is blocked.”
The Department of Sanitation said crews are working to clear the frozen debris, but the process is slow because the snow has turned to ice.
“We’re using smaller equipment to chip away at these piles without damaging the roadway,” said DSNY spokesman Joshua Goodman. “It’s labor-intensive work.”
The blocked lanes are adding 10 to 15 minutes to bus routes citywide, according to MTA data. The B44 in Brooklyn, Q44 in Queens, and Bx12 in the Bronx are among the most affected routes.
City Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said the situation highlights the need for better coordination between agencies during snow events.
“Bus lanes should be the first priority for snow removal, not an afterthought,” Brooks-Powers said. “Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers depend on these routes every day.”
The frozen piles also pose safety risks for cyclists and pedestrians, who are forced to navigate around the obstacles in bike lanes and crosswalks.
DSNY expects to have most bus lanes cleared by Friday, weather permitting. The agency is deploying additional crews to priority routes during morning and evening rush hours.
