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New York is a city built on walking fast, talking faster and occasionally… waiting. And if you’ve ever leaned against a busted pole on a windy corner, praying for the M14 like it was a miracle, good news: relief is coming. Eventually.
City Hall just committed $40 million to putting seating at every eligible bus stop across the five boroughs. That means benches or leaning bars at roughly 8,750 stops that currently leave riders hovering, pacing or crouching on a curb. The rollout kicks off in November 2025 and, in true infrastructure-timeline fashion, will take up to 10 years, with 875 stops updated annually.
The city says this is really about access. Older adults, parents juggling a stroller and a diaper bag, riders with disabilities and anyone who simply can’t stand long stretches on concrete will have actual support while waiting.
“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 Eric Adams in an official statement. He added that the plan “will ensure that every eligible bus stop across the five boroughs that lacks seating will be fitted, every year over the next 10 years, with either a bench or a leaning bar.”
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez framed it as comfort with a side of dignity. “For many New Yorkers, having a place to sit at the bus stop is more than just a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of whether they can take the bus at all,” he said in an official statement.
About one-third of bus stops already have seating, mostly thanks to the city’s street furniture program and privately managed shelters. This expansion covers the rest, using sidewalk-friendly designs like city benches and leaning rails. The DOT will install and maintain the new seats and keep existing ones in good condition.
Advocacy groups have been pushing for universal seating for years, emphasizing safety and basic respect for riders. “Bus riders deserve a seat at the table and a seat at every bus stop,” said Riders Alliance senior organizer Jolyse Race in an officil statement.
The city’s push for universal seating also lands as transit accessibility remains under the microscope. A March report from Comptroller Brad Lander found that riders with disabilities are still routinely failed on express routes, noting that “the MTA must provide drivers with adequate training, equipment, oversight and proper staffing to deliver reliable and equitable service to all.”
New Yorkers can expect to see the first new benches pop up before the end of next year. And while the full build-out is a marathon, not a sprint, this is one civic upgrade that feels overdue. After all, standing around shouldn’t be part of the commute.