With increased frequency over the past several months, Academy commuter buses have begun parking on the south side of Laight Street between Hudson and Greenwich leading up to the evening rush hour. Often the drivers have simply abandoned the bus with the engines running. This practice has further complicated an already highly congested area, especially given the water main construction project! Has the city expanded the “idling zone”  for commuter buses in Tribeca to include Laight Street? I recall the debate a few years that resulted in allowing buses to idle along West Street, however I don’t recall reading about any such regulation on any other streets in our neighborhood. Any insight? —C.

My guess is that they’re there illegally. I tried emailing Community Board 1, but I didn’t hear back (I only emailed the main address, so it’s not a huge surprise). But before I tried again, I figured that community members would have good memories about this issue, so I ran the question on a recent Seen & Heard roundup.

Lo and behold, Julie O’Donnell emailed: “I was getting quite aggravated with all of the tour buses and other buses parking in no standing zones in BPC. Sometimes the buses are on, sometimes they are idling, which is even worse. I got in touch with some agencies that all asked to be emailed (they were surprisingly receptive). They are working with the DOT to stop bus standing/idling in areas they shouldn’t be. I was told that a picture should be emailed showing the bus and location—and a picture of the license plate. Provide any relevant info: time and date of occurrence, location (with cross streets), license plate and bus company, phone number, or any other identifying information. I have been banging on bus doors and tell them they can’t be there or I will report them. Most leave once they see me taking photos—otherwise I report them.”

The folks Julie emails are:
Robin I. Forst, Director External Relations, Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center: rforst@lmccc.nyc.gov
Anthony Notaro, the First Precinct Community Council: anthonynotaro@gmail.com
Noah Pfefferblit, District Manager, Community Board 1: npfefferblit@cb.ny.gov

You already have the photos (and video), so you’re halfway there. My advice would also be to pass this info along to other buildings on the block. Businesses, too: The folks at Dylan Prime tweeted that they were curious about what I had heard about the issue. If I’ve learned one thing from community board meetings, it’s to make sure I have enough gin ready when I get home that the more people who complain, the more likely it is that the folks who can do something about it will in fact do something about it. Good luck!

UPDATE: I heard from CB1 (the contact was on vacation): “I sent an email to the DOT yesterday asking them to monitor the situation and perhaps issue fines,” he emailed. “The DOT regulates the drop off points for commuter buses.”

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

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