Express bus changes pretty big

To the editor:

(re: “No major changes planned for buses,” Oct. 24)

A purported final proposal for bus service for the Bronx has been released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

According to the proposal, Riverdale will see a significant decrease in express bus service. Weekday southbound service will end earlier than currently, with the BxM3 ending southbound service after 1:45 p.m., the BxM2 after 3 p.m., and the BxM1 after 4:45 p.m. Weekends are worse.

Along with frequently curtailed service on the 1 train at night and on weekends, and the absence of Rail Link service to Metro-North on weekends, this will make it harder and more costly to travel into Manhattan from Riverdale in the afternoon and evenings. It will further isolate senior citizens and prevent them — and many of our neighbors — from enjoying museums on Fifth Avenue and the Upper West Side, cultural events, visits with friends and family, and appointments with doctors.

This is not how we improve life for ordinary citizens in our neighborhood, and will certainly force more cars on the road, adding to traffic congestion and climate change. People have moved here due to the availability of public transportation, and if this proposal is adopted, there will be less of it.

Express bus service does not exist only for rush hour commuters!

Please write or call Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, Councilman Andrew Cohen, and the MTA to tell them that this is a bad plan. Riverdale express bus service should be improved, not worsened, by these changes to our bus schedules.

Dale Wolff, Sue Ellen Dodell

The authors are writing on behalf of the Riverdale Huddle, which includes Ellen Chapnick, Elizabeth Cooke-Levy, Carol Radel, Ruth Mullen, Annemarie Golden, Judith Minkoff-Grey, Sarah Hughes, Julie Marcus, Helen Krim, Mihaela Ghiuzeli and Beth Torres.

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