By Joseph Morales

                  University Avenue in the Bronx, is a major street with many connections. The current amount of high traffic makes it difficult for buses to efficiently complete their runs and also causes dangerous conditions for cyclists. Currently, there are bus and bike improvements being made that will improve riding University Avenue and create a safe, smooth and reliable trip for everyone.

                 University Avenue is a high density residential and commercial corridor in The Bronx. In addition to its connections to major Bronx streets as well as Manhattan, the roadway can also be used to access the Cross Bronx Expressway and George Washington Bridge to New Jersey. The two main buses on University Ave(Bx3 and Bx36) cross the Washington Bridge to connect riders to Washington Heights, Manhattan, which is one of the most popular transit links in the Bronx. According to The Bronx Bus Redesign Existing Conditions Report, the travel pattern Burnside to Washington Heights had the 6th most trips between two TAZ’s (Transit Analysis Zones), and the travel pattern Morris Heights to Washington Heights ranked 20th which are both trips that are made via the Bx3 and Bx36 buses.

                Unfortunately for bus riders as per a presentation from the NYCDOT in October 2021, bus speeds along University Avenue during peak hours average 4 to 8 mph. These slow speeds result in a slow and unreliable commute for many, as the Bx3 that runs primarily on University Avenue received TransitCenter’s Schleppie award for being the Bronx’s most unreliable bus route in 2019, as 19.2% of buses arrived simultaneously due to delays on one of the buses. This makes it extremely difficult to get around the avenue and forces many residents to be late for work, school and other commitments.

                       This is set to change as a result of a bus priority project by the NYCDOT as part of former NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio’s Better Buses initiative. The plan includes offset bus lanes between the Washington Bridge and W Kingsbridge Road, bus lanes with protected bike lanes between West Tremont Avenue and West Burnside Avenue and bus lanes between West Burnside Avenue and The Washington Bridge. These bus lanes might help speed up buses and make commutes more convenient for everyone.                           

                       Despite the project being part of the Better Buses Initiative, the project will have a profound impact on cyclists as well.  Even though University Avenue already has some bike lanes, the lanes are not clearly marked and labeled, and their size pales in comparison to the rest of the street, causing safety issues for the cyclists. As part of this project, some bus lanes, as well as both traditional protected bike lanes and parking protected bike lanes have already been installed between W Tremont Ave and the Washington Bridge. The addition of protected bike lanes between West Burnside Avenue and the Washington Bridge will create a safe cycling environment and provide cyclists connections to the protected bike lanes on Edward L. Grant Hwy, West Tremont Avenue Bike Lanes and The Highbridge. The new protected bike lanes will also provide a connection to the Future Fordham Area Bike Network, which will provide cycling routes to the Fordham, University Heights, Tremont, Claremont and Crotona sections of The Bronx.

                      However, bike lanes north of West Burnside Avenue will be removed to make room for bus lanes and instead will be replaced with a direct link to the Aqueduct Walk, which is a pedestrian and cycling trail that travels parallel and adjacent to University Avenue.  This will be a safer option for cyclists as they will not need to navigate University Avenue traffic in order to ride their bicycles along the corridor. 

                      According to the NYCDOT report, “Safe Streets For Cycling: How Street Design Affects Bicycle Safety and Ridership,” a study of over 100 bike lanes in the city found that protected bike lanes reduce the risk of injury by 34%, indicating the effectiveness of protected bike lanes in keeping cyclists safe.  This project is monumental to improving mobility on the University Avenue corridor for a variety of modes. The addition of bike lanes will also close a major gap in what is already a growing cycling network providing cyclists connections to many different destinations across The Bronx and Manhattan. Hopefully as time progresses, users of the corridor will find riding the bus and/or a bike more safe, convenient and reliable.

Bx3 drops of/picks up passengers at a new bus boarding island on University Av/W Tremont Av

Bus and Protected Bike lanes on University Avenue/W Tremont Av

Bus Lane signage at University Av/Tenney Pl

Parking Protected Bike Lane on University Av

Works Cited

“Bronx Bus Network Redesign.” MTA, https://new.mta.info/sites/default/files/2019-03/77_19_BBNRExisting_Working%20File_Final_Low%20Rezs.pdf. Accessed 1 August 2022.

New York City Department Of Transportation. “University Ave Bus and School Safety Improvements.” NYC.gov, https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/university-ave-north-cb7-oct2021.pdf. Accessed 1 August 2022.

New York City Department Of Transportation. “Safe Streets For Cycling.” NYC.gov, https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/safe-streets-for-cycling.pdf. Accessed 1 August 2022.