Proposed Res. No. 1710-A
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation requiring intercity buses to visibly identify the destination, operator, and operator's contact information on the exterior of each bus.
By Council Members Chin, Gonzalez, Brewer, Dickens, Dromm, Eugene, Fidler, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Richards, Rose, Vann and Williams
Whereas, The intercity bus industry in New York City has greatly expanded in recent years, providing often low-cost bus service between Manhattan and cities throughout the Northeast; and
Whereas, This industry has often prompted complaints from Manhattan's Chinatown community, from where many intercity buses operate, and elsewhere related to idling, congestion, pollution, and interference with pedestrians and businesses; and
Whereas, Until recently, the intercity bus industry operated with relatively little regulation; and
Whereas, In an attempt to improve oversight, while allowing the industry to continue to meet the growing demand of passengers, the New York State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, legislation in August 2012 authorizing the City to create the first-ever permit system for intercity buses and to designate bus stops in consultation with local communities; and
Whereas, Many intercity buses operate without obvious markings identifying either their operator or their destination; and
Whereas, The lack of these markings makes it potentially very easy for bus operators that have been shut down due to various safety or other violations to continue operating under a new name, and to use the very same buses in their attempt to circumvent authorities; and
Whereas, For example, in 2011, the owner of World Wide Travel, the operator of a bus that had crashed on I-95 in the Bronx killing 15 people in March of that year, continued to operate bus service through other companies using World Wide Travel buses, despite the fact that federal regulators had shut down World Wide Travel due to serious safety violations; and
Whereas, Every rider deserves clear access to information concerning a bus's operator and destination, and all community members should be able to readily identify the vehicles using the streets in their communities; and
Whereas, Displaying this basic information is a matter of consumer protection, passenger safety, and transparency; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation requiring intercity buses to visibly identify the destination, operator, and operator's contact information on the exterior of each bus.
LS#4077
4/29/2013
JM