Why Manhattan buses crawl to a halt

In Manhattan, buses crawl at snail speed despite wide roads and dedicated bus lanes. The reason doesn’t lie with regular drivers but with delivery trucks clogging the way. Each day, UPS trucks get caught in bus lanes over 25, 000 times—more than any other vehicle. Amazon delivery vans aren’t far behind, blocking the path thousands of times too. Other big names like Frito-Lay, Verizon, FedEx, and even utility trucks from Con Edison add to the mess, treating bus lanes like private parking spots. Congestion pricing was supposed to clear the roads by discouraging car use, but it missed a key detail: delivery services don’t just drive—they park right in bus lanes. Drivers for these companies park where it’s easiest, even if it blocks transit. Why? Manhattan’s streets are packed, and parking spaces are rare. Emergency vehicles sometimes do it too, but the bigger issue is businesses prioritizing speed over smooth bus routes.Transit experts admit change is tough. Donald Yates from the Transport Workers Union points out that space is limited, so bus lanes keep getting squeezed. Delivery trucks, food carts, and taxis all compete for room, and the problem grows as online orders rise. Even public employees with special parking permits or teachers heading to school add to the chaos during rush hours. The city tries to fix this with bus-only lanes, but enforcement is weak. Fines get issued, but violations keep happening because drivers have no other options. Manhattan’s roads are bursting at the seams, and unless parking rules or delivery systems change, buses will keep inching along no matter what congestion pricing does.