About a month ago, we told you about “Save LES Streets,” a website launched by local residents fed up with the intercity bus glut in their neighborhood. They’ve been tracking bus companies roaming the streets of the Lower East Side and Chinatown – especially those operating without a license. Time for an update.
On site surveys and monitoring of bus schedule websites as of June 24, showed 55 bus companies using LES streets. According to the group’s observations, only 17 were properly licensed. Here are the revised numbers: 81 total operators – with just 18 in possession of permits from the city’s Department of Transportation.
The site has a whole section dedicated to logging violations. Some examples from the past few days:
July 29, 9 p.m. – Sands Casino – 10 Chatham Square – no permit
July 27, 7:45 p.m. – Harmonious Grand – 133 East Broadway – no permit
July 27, 8 p.m. – All Aboard USA – Bowery & Canal, northeast corner – no permit
July 27, 7:30 p.m. – Asian Travel Express – 160 East Broadway – no permit for location
As you probably know, the NYPD has not been enforcing a new state law requiring operators to load and unload passengers only in approved locations. On July 15, State Sen. Daniel Squadron and other elected officials put out a statement that read, in part:
Today, DOT and the NYPD committed to enforcing intercity bus permit regulations no later than August 15 at a meeting at State Senator (Daniel) Squadron’s office co-hosted by (State Assembly) Speaker Silver, (City) Councilmember Chin, (Manhattan) Borough President (Gale) Brewer, and Community Board 3… Our offices look forward to working collaboratively with the local police precincts, DOT, Community Board 3, and local bus operators to ensure the permit system is enforced properly and within the time frame DOT and NYPD have committed to. This is an important step to improving the quality of life of Chinatown and Lower East Side residents.
We’re looking into whether the city is on track to meet that August 15 deadline. We’ll have a story about that in the next day or two.
if you would like to contribute photos or info to LES Streets, click here.
Now the website indicates 85 bus companies with 22 having permits to pick-up and discharge passengers