NYC Expands Bus Lanes on Flatbush Avenue

Mayor Mamdani bans private cars from Flatbush Avenue sections for bus-only lanes

NYC Bans Cars on Half of Flatbush Avenue

New York City drivers will soon lose access to half of Downtown Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue as Mayor Zohran Mamdani implements sweeping policies to reduce car usage and expand public transit. Private cars will be banned from portions of the corridor to make room for bus-only lanes protected by physical barriers, transit officials said. The changes are part of a broader effort to transform the city's streetscape across all five boroughs, prioritizing buses, cyclists, and pedestrians over private vehicles.

Context

Mamdani's administration is moving faster than previous mayors to restrict car access throughout the city, transit advocates said. Most New Yorkers already use mass transit, bikes, or walk rather than drive, making the policies a reflection of how residents actually get around. The mayor, who doesn't own a car and uses mass transit or Citi Bike himself, has made fast and free public buses a signature campaign pledge. Long-stalled projects to give more space to pedestrians, cyclists, and buses in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens are being restarted citywide.

Details

Motor vehicles are expected to be completely banned from Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, returning the landmark to its original pedestrian design. The speed limit near every school will be lowered to 15 mph, and Mamdani wants to reduce the general citywide speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph. Approximately 6,500 parking spots could be removed for curb garbage-bin storage, and the administration hasn't ruled out installing meters on up to 750,000 currently free parking spots. Officials didn't provide specific timelines for when individual projects will be completed.

Timeline

The Flatbush Avenue car ban will take effect soon, officials said, though a specific implementation date wasn't provided. The administration is prioritizing projects that restrict cars from general purpose lanes across multiple boroughs. Officials said they'll release more details about individual project timelines as implementation dates are finalized.

Impact

Transit advocates have praised the changes as overdue improvements for the majority of New Yorkers who don't drive. Critics argue the policies are unfair to those who need or prefer to drive, particularly families. The measures will make driving harder and costlier while improving conditions for bus riders, cyclists, and pedestrians throughout the city. Riders can track bus routes and real-time service updates using Moovit's trip planning tools.