By Joseph Morales

                 The Bronx Bus Network Redesign will make Bronx bus routes more frequent, reliable and faster for bus riders in The Bronx. The redesign is being done as many Bronx bus routes are extremely old, some are even carbon copies of old trolley lines. Since then, many job and recreational opportunities have created new travel patterns throughout the Bronx. One place that has seen an increase in trips in City Island in The Bronx. This is why the Bx29(the only Bronx bus route that enters City Island) will now have overnight service at 40 minute headways. This will allow bus riders to travel to and from City Island for more purposes and more often than ever before. Transit riders will now have a more equitable opportunity to enjoy The Bronx’s Summer Paradise.  The changes will take place on June 26th, right on cue for City Island’s peak summer visitor season.

                  The Bx29 is a bus route that runs between the busy Pelham Bay Park commute hub in The Bronx to nearby City Island. City Island is a dining and recreation hotspot for Bronx residents, the 1.5 mile island boasts around 30 popular seafood restaurants, bait and tackle shops, fishing and other maritime activities as well as a Nautical Museum. Bus transportation to and from the busy Pelham Bay Park hub allows large numbers of Bronxites to conveniently access the island by bus, as Bronxites can transfer to this bus from other  buses and the 6 train that transverse a large portion of the borough.As for City Island residents, this is their only access to public transportation outside of an express bus that goes directly to Manhattan, so City Island residents largely  use the Bx29 to go to Pelham Bay, where there is a variety of bus transfers as well as a transfer to a subway line to get around the Bronx. Many Bronxites also use this bus to commute to jobs in the maritime and hospitality sectors, many of whom work long hours that extend into the overnight hours, well after the Bx29’s last run of the night out of City Island at 1:10 AM on weekdays and Sundays and 2:11 AM on Saturdays. Many restaurants on City Island are open 24/7 and most are open into the late-night hours, so a lack of buses discourages  people from wanting to travel to the Island as well as from staying late at restaurants and other establishments. This results in less purchases for businesses on items like food and alcohol as well as less sales for companies running fishing excursions from the Island, since many Bronxites who ride the bus to City Island are not able to guarantee they can take the bus home. Many of those who still choose to travel must rely on other modes such as driving or rideshare, which are more expensive and have more negative effects on carbon emissions. The loss of sales from Bronxites who cannot ride the bus on and off the Island is particularly harmful for businesses right now, especially after many on City Island(particularly restaurants) were hit hard by the pandemic. Many sales from these restaurants such as JP’s come during the late night hours, which makes it even more crucial that buses can transport Bronxites off the Island following a late night meal.

                 These possibilities will truly be endless once this new travel option comes to fruition. This travel option will allow people to make more memories on City Island and improve livelihoods overall for years to come.

Bx29 on City Island Rd near City Island Bridge

Bx29 bus stop on City Island Av/Beach St

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