A change to a bus route in the Bronx has left some longtime riders feeling stranded, and now they are pushing back. According to News 12, residents in the Fordham section of the borough are rallying after a bus stop was removed, arguing that the next stop is simply too far for them to walk and that the change has made a routine trip far harder than it should be.
For neighbors, the problem is not just the added distance but the danger that comes with it. They say that since the stop was removed, riders are now forced to cross busy intersections to catch the bus, turning what used to be a short, straightforward walk into a trek across heavy traffic.
The burden, residents say, falls hardest on those least able to bear it. Neighbors described the new distance as especially challenging for seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are carrying groceries or traveling with young children, groups for whom a longer, more exposed walk can be a real obstacle.
One of those most affected put a human face on the frustration. Sally Smith, who is 88 years old, said a simple task like going to church has now become dangerous, describing how she is dropped off far from where she needs to be and must make her way toward Anthony Avenue to reach the bus.
Her account laid out just how daunting the route has become. She described having to drag herself up toward the concourse and cross over a wide, multi-lane roadway just to get where she is going, an ordeal she said is repeated on the other side of the street as well for those trying to make the trip in reverse.
For the community, the episode has become a rallying point. Neighbors said the bus stop changes have created more problems than they have solved, and they are hoping their public appeals will prompt officials to reconsider, so that getting on a bus in their neighborhood does not have to feel like a hazard.