Annette Martínez was waiting for the bus on 14th Street, but due to a vehicle parked in front of the stop, the bus left her.
Liliana incised, she sees this every day…
“There are spaces or there are ‘parking’ places where you can park, but you park precisely where the buses come,” said Liliana. “And here we see, a bus is just arriving and this white vehicle is at the bus stop and the girl is texting on the phone while the bus, instead of arriving at its proper place, which has to arrive later. So, “People, as you see, walk to where the bus goes.”
A new contract costing $141 million will install smart cameras on at least 1,000 more buses through the end of this year.
And in a matter of three years, 2,000 buses will have this advanced technology.
These cameras can directly fine violators. In fact, since 2019, the cameras on 600 buses have fined more than 328,000 motorists who invaded bus lines.
“Well, it seems good to me, it seems perfect to me because, well, if someone is late for transportation, that’s why they stop where they shouldn’t,” said Nelly Perdomo Cortez. “Those lines are supposed to be just for the buses to go there. Apart from the fact that where we have to work the distances are too far and the trucks were blocking the way.”
Likewise, these new cameras will be able to fine vehicles parked at bus stops and also those who double park on the exclusive bus lanes.
Drivers will face fines ranging from $50 for a first offense and going up if they repeatedly ignore the rules and the law. Up to $250 if they repeat the offense five or more times in a matter of one year.
The implementation of more cameras on buses, to discourage motorists from traveling on the exclusive bus lines, will, say MTA authorities, ensure that users do not arrive late to their destinations.
“I’ve had my ears pulled a couple of times already for the same reason that I’m late for work and it could be because of that, because of that same situation. Of course, do the right thing, do the right thing, it’s not doing nothing, right?” said Abraham Molina.
So now you know, if you are a driver, avoid driving on the exclusive bus lines.
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