Salman J. Choudhury
New York: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani took a symbolic ride this week on one of the city’s slowest bus routes — using the moment to unveil his bold new promise: “Free the bus, fasten the city.”
Mamdani boarded the M57 route in Manhattan — a line often criticized for its sluggish pace — to highlight his proposed “Free and Fast Bus” initiative. Speaking to reporters during the ride, he said:
“If buses are free, passengers can board and exit through any door. That will save time, speed up service, and make the city move more efficiently.”
Joining him on the ride was John Samuelsen, president of the transit workers’ union, who added that free buses could also reduce assaults on drivers by eliminating fare disputes.
Mamdani’s plan aims to make public transportation free, fair, and faster for all New Yorkers. He estimates the policy would cost around $650–700 million annually.
However, experts warn that the plan faces significant challenges — from securing funding and city approval to ensuring proper infrastructure for faster bus lanes.
In 2023, Mamdani helped launch a five-route “Free Bus Pilot Program”, which saw ridership rise but was later discontinued due to funding constraints. Still, Mamdani remains undeterred:
“If we want true mobility and equality in this city, we must free the bus — and give New York back its speed.”
Mamdani’s “slow bus” ride has sparked fresh debate in city politics, symbolizing not just a transit proposal but a broader vision — a city where mobility is a right, not a privilege.
