Why the 34th Street Bus “Race” Was a Publicity Stunt — Not a Serious Transportation Discussion

The much-publicized “race” between a Midtown MTA bus and a group of elected officials on foot may have made for flashy headlines, but it did little to advance a meaningful conversation about public transit in New York City. Framed as a triumphant example of how inefficient the current bus system is — and therefore a justification for the controversial 34th Street busway — the event was, in truth, a carefully staged publicity stunt that sidestepped facts, misrepresented data, and ignored the practical needs of real riders.

Our elected officials are supporting a transportation alternatives policy group that is pushing to ban cars altogether, favoring a future where private vehicles are eliminated rather than improved or balanced with other forms of transit.

Let’s break down why this so-called “race” was misleading at best, and a distraction from real solutions at worst.

Excluding the People Who Actually Need the Bus

The race ignored reality: 28,000 daily bus riders on 34th Street include seniors, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and workers — people who can’t always simply speed-walk a mile and a half during rush hour in August. This wasn’t a race for real transit users; it was a photo op for politicians.

The group that “beat” the M34 bus consisted of able-bodied politicians and Transportation Alternatives activists in good physical condition, including Councilman Erik Bottcher, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Comptroller Brad Lander, and mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani. They speed walked from First Avenue to Eighth Avenue and finished seven minutes ahead of the bus.

But what exactly does this prove?

Only that this was a race no person with a disability, chronic condition, or caregiving responsibility could have won — or likely would have even been invited to participate in.

The Real Problem: Not Speed — But Frequency

Officials repeated the talking point that 34th Street buses move under 5.5 mph during rush hour — but this number is only part of the story, and in most cases, misused. When compared side by side with the 14th Street buses, the buses on 34th Street are virtually the same in speed! The biggest problem is that the buses on 34th Street are only a small portion of the buses on 14th Street at any given time. This leads to the issue of not just how fast buses move when in motion, but how long passengers wait for them, and how many are available at peak times.

It’s not a speed issue — it’s a supply and frequency issue. You don’t fix that with PR stunts or banning cars alone. You fix it by investing in more buses, better schedules, and enforcing the existing bus lanes.

No Data, No Study, No Transparency

The 34th Street busway plan has moved forward with no real traffic analysis, community input, or clarity on its impact. Residents raised valid concerns about access, congestion, and emergency services — that have been largely ignored in favor of quick headlines.

At public meetings, residents have voiced deep concerns — only to be brushed aside, and today it will be given the green light by the mayor. It has been politics over process from the start.

Transit Theater Isn’t Good Policy

The bus race — complete with “Busway Champion” medals and cheering Transportation Alternatives volunteers — was staged to generate headlines, not solutions. It was a symbolic photo-op, not a policy argument. Aimed more at optics than outcomes, it offered nothing in terms of real transit improvements for the majority of daily riders.

If city leaders were serious about transit equity, they would prioritize:

• More buses 
• Better scheduling
• Enforcement of existing bus lanes
• Inclusive planning that includes residents of the neighborhoods they are affecting

Instead, they staged a race with medals.

If New York City’s elected officials want to improve its transit system, the city needs more than slogans and stunts. We need serious investment, honest data, transparent planning, and community engagement — not medal ceremonies after beating a deliberately slowed bus.