Mamdani aims to undo the controversial bus-lane decision that ended under the former administration
Mayor Zohran Mamdani used a Bronx briefing on Friday to foreground a bold plan: reverse some of the transit-killing moves attributed to his predecessor and push forward a street-redesign agenda that prioritizes buses again. Standing alongside MTA Chair Janno Lieber, Mamdani unveiled a proposal to install an offset bus lane on Fordham Road in the Bronx. The lane would be painted red and placed beside parked cars to reclaim bus priority that had been scrapped in the past.
The former mayor, Eric Adams, drew sharp criticism for aborting earlier efforts to give Fordham Road’s buses more room to move, after pushback from local businesses and institutions. Mamdani’s plan would aim to lift bus speeds on the corridor by about 20%. Today, the Bx12 Select Bus serves Fordham Road and averages roughly 9.2 miles per hour; Mamdani wants to raise that to at least 11 mph.
Transportation Commissioner Michael Flynn indicated the city may pursue an even stronger redesign if Fordham Road buses remain stubbornly slow.
City data show Fordham Road serves four bus routes and carries about 130,000 riders. Bus ridership in the Bronx fell by 33% during Adams’ first three years in office.
This presentation marks Mamdani’s first major transportation overhaul since taking office. The plan is part of a broader package that also includes additional bike infrastructure—such as extending a two-way protected bike lane on Ashland Place in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, where the current layout forces cyclists onto a busy two-lane street after the lane abruptly ends. Adams had resisted adding that bike lane amid local business pushback. He also faces calls to expand bike lanes in East Flatbush, Flatbush, and Ditmas Park.
Mamdani announced the package from a Bronx bus depot, where a bus was outfitted with a podium in the rear for the event.
“As a Valentine's Day gesture, we’re showing our buses and bikes some love,” Mamdani quipped, standing on the bus that wouldn’t be moving much faster than before.
The mayor highlighted Hillside Avenue in Queens as a precedent, noting that converting to an offset bus lane yielded a 28% speed improvement and expressing optimism that Fordham Road would follow a similar trajectory.
“We expect to see a comparable level of success on Fordham Road,” he said.
Riders on Fordham Road welcomed the plan. Desean Ming, a 29-year-old regular rider, argued the move could relieve the notorious gridlock during peak hours. “It’s a huge help, especially around rush hour,” he said.
Nicole Pankin, a 50-year-old Bronx resident and special education teacher, expressed guarded hope. While she remains skeptical about timing and weather, she emphasized that any measure easing commutes is worth pursuing.
The bus-lane plan will not be implemented overnight. Mamdani’s team said it is engaging with community stakeholders and working toward a more detailed roadmap in the coming months.
