Relief for Riders: NYC Adding Seating to Nearly 9,000 Bus Stops

By Y.M. Lowy

New York City is investing $40 million to make bus travel more comfortable and accessible by adding seating to thousands of bus stops that currently don’t have it.

Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that benches or leaning bars will be installed at about 8,750 bus stops across the five boroughs. The project will begin in November, with seating added at roughly 875 bus stops each year over the next decade.

“To make New York City the best place to raise a family and grow old in, we have to take care of the big things and the small things,” said Mayor Adams. “This investment will ensure that every eligible bus stop gets seating, giving New Yorkers a break and transforming the bus-riding experience.”

According to the city, nearly two-thirds of eligible bus stops currently lack seating. DOT already maintains benches at about 2,600 locations and has seating at more than 5,000 stops citywide.