Bright blue beacons on express bus lines may violate state law

[Harry]

Flashing blue lights on new express buses in the Bronx and Manhattan may catch riders' attention - but they also could be illegal.

 

State law prohibits the use of blue lights on motor vehicles except those used by first responders like police and volunteer firefighters. Those lights are intended to alert drivers that there's an emergency and they should get out of the way.

 

M15 Select Bus Service vehicles - launched on the East Side by the MTA and the city Transportation Department earlier this month - have flashing blue lights above the windshields heralding their arrival and promoting the new service between East Harlem and South Ferry.

 

Blue lights also adorn Select Bx12 buses that have been running on a smaller route in the Bronx since 2008.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/18/2010-10-18_bright_beacons_on_express_lines_may_violate_state_law_buslight_blues.html#ixzz12iCMt9Ej

[East New York]

I was wondering about that when SBS debuted, but how did it go unnoticed for 2 years??

[Eric B]

Police lights have red and blue, and some white even.

 

So while the SBS may not be "first responder", it is still an official vehicle that is being given priority over other traffic, and that would be how the blue applies.

[East New York]

Police lights have red and blue, and some white even.

 

So while the SBS may not be "first responder", it is still an official vehicle that is being given priority over other traffic, and that would be how the blue applies.

 

But it's still illegal anyway you slice it E. Same goes for red.

[Kamen Rider]

Please, watch the Nazi Banksters Crimes Ripple Effect at http://jforjustice.co.uk/banksters

[East New York]

Also, IIRC, transit buses are meant to be used in the event of emergency evacuations, which could quilify them as emergency responce vehicles.

 

Very true. But that does not apply when it is in passenger service.

 

I don't think anyone really cares though. The Daily just wanted a story.

[QM1to6Ave]

Even NYC-owned emergency vehicles cannot have forward-flashing blue lights, only NYPD can have back-facing blue lights. Federal emergency cars can have blue flashers in front. Regardless, I don't think anyone in law enforcement really give a rat's ass about this.

[uptown164]

$10,000 to switch them to green lights instead

[Princelex]

If no one has said anything about this in the last 2 yrs, why are they bringing it up now? Kinda silly if u ask me.

[Pablo M 201]

Actually, I vaguely remember this being in the news a while after the Bx12 +Select Bus Service+ started.

 

But anyways, now that you have buses running up and down Manhattan with the flashing blue lights, now everyone is going to notice and want it out.

 

IMO, the blue lights are great way to get blocking traffic out of the way as they are suppose to.

[rad3766]

$10,000 to switch them to green lights instead

 

Green is reserved for volunteer EMTs.

Blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters; they are authorized to have one light, not that anybody adheres to that.

 

NEW YORK STATE VEHICLE &TRAFFIC LAW SECTION 375 SUB 41

 

 

Hmm, dint see anything about purple lights.......:cool:

[NX Express]

The Daily got it wrong... they aren't even express buses.

Anyway, IMO blue was the wrong color to choose from the beginning. It should have been orange or purple.

[Dan05979]

the end of the sbs, Lock up all the drivers with those lights impersinating a vol. firefighter. :tup:

[East New York]

If no one has said anything about this in the last 2 yrs, why are they bringing it up now? Kinda silly if u ask me.

 

Some guy called 311 and complained to the city shortly after the Bx12SBS rolled out. Nothing was done, so it's probably the same person who went to the Daily. Some people have nothing better to do with their live except complain about nonsense.

 

The Daily got it wrong... they aren't even express buses.

Anyway, IMO blue was the wrong color to choose from the beginning. It should have been orange or purple.

 

Orange is reserved for the current emergency lights that are a standard MTA spec.

[Dan05979]

How about this suggestion;

 

People can read on the display What type of bus it is, or buy its blue wrapping all over the entire tractor trailer bus, or a pink card on the windshield that reads "sbs" but the whole thing written out? We can save a couple of mill thaty way.....no?

 

Not for nothing but those lights are very annoying, especially when the bus is behind you in the dark, you think its a ambo or a fire truck.

[Pablo M 201]

the end of the sbs, Lock up all the drivers with those lights impersinating a vol. firefighter. :tup:

Nah homie.

 

How about this suggestion;

 

People can read on the display What type of bus it is, or buy its blue wrapping all over the entire tractor trailer bus, or a pink card on the windshield that reads "sbs" but the whole thing written out? We can save a couple of mill thaty way.....no?

 

Not for nothing but those lights are very annoying, especially when the bus is behind you in the dark, you think its a ambo or a fire truck.

Really, it is not for identification of what type of bus it is, but for signal prioritization. They have a system installed on traffic lights in the Bronx for the Bx12 +SBS+ along the route and when the signal picks up that a bus is coming, it'll either hold the green longer or make the light change faster.

 

I don't know if they installed the system in Manhattan, but it's really needed.

[Eric B]

 

But it's still illegal anyway you slice it E. Same goes for red.

They probably got a waiver. The state/city authorities probably had to OK it anyway. I don't see how it would even been able to get by them in the first place.

[East New York]

Nah homie.

 

Really, it is not for identification of what type of bus it is, but for signal prioritization. They have a system installed on traffic lights in the Bronx for the Bx12 +SBS+ along the route and when the signal picks up that a bus is coming, it'll either hold the green longer or make the light change faster.

 

I don't know if they installed the system in Manhattan, but it's really needed.

 

I was under the impression that the signal priority system was separate from the lights, as they could be any color. Unless they linked the two, I don't see how they are related.

 

They probably got a waiver. The state/city authorities probably had to OK it anyway. I don't see how it would even been able to get by them in the first place.

 

Possibly, but if that was the case I don't see why this would have even made the news.

[Fresh Pond]

Really? All of this over a blue light? Don't we have more important things to wotty about? You know, starts with a B, ends with a UDGET!

 

Nah homie.

 

Really, it is not for identification of what type of bus it is, but for signal prioritization. They have a system installed on traffic lights in the Bronx for the Bx12 +SBS+ along the route and when the signal picks up that a bus is coming, it'll either hold the green longer or make the light change faster.

 

I don't know if they installed the system in Manhattan, but it's really needed.

 

Its not on the M15 yet they're still working on it

[gregorygrice]

When +SBS+ first came out I thought that the LFSA was being used for a police bus. But anyway either change the color of the lights or it just really doesn't matter its a giant bus

[INDman]

Orange is reserved for the current emergency lights that are a standard MTA spec.

 

In New York State, orange lights can be put on anything, tow trucks, construction vehicles, even on your own personal vehicle. Orange is NOT and emergency color. As for the blue lights, they are only legal on police cars if they face to the REAR, they are technically illegal if they face the front. I do remember hearing that in NYC, blue to the front means nothing since the 3 or 4 volunteer fire companies to don't allow there members to have lights on there personal vehicles.

[East New York]

In New York State, orange lights can be put on anything, tow trucks, construction vehicles, even on your own personal vehicle. Orange is NOT and emergency color. As for the blue lights, they are only legal on police cars if they face to the REAR, they are technically illegal if they face the front. I do remember hearing that in NYC, blue to the front means nothing since the 3 or 4 volunteer fire companies to don't allow there members to have lights on there personal vehicles.

 

I'm not talking about NYS law. I didn't say it was an "emergency color." So all of that is irrelevant. I'm talking about the fact that ALL of our buses except for SBS coaches have orange emergency lights on the front of the buses. Therefore orange is reserved for emergency lights, and will not be used for SBS.

[Messino]

Nah homie.

 

Really, it is not for identification of what type of bus it is, but for signal prioritization. They have a system installed on traffic lights in the Bronx for the Bx12 +SBS+ along the route and when the signal picks up that a bus is coming, it'll either hold the green longer or make the light change faster.

 

I don't know if they installed the system in Manhattan, but it's really needed.

 

The system you are talking about works on transmitted RF signal waves not light.

[Pablo M 201]

The system you are talking about works on transmitted RF signal waves not light.

Yes, that is correct. But I remember reading something before the debut of the Bx12 +Select Bus Service+ that the light also plays a role cause the signal receiver can pick up that a +SBS+ bus is coming if it does not pick up the transmitter yet.

[INDman]

I'm not talking about NYS law. I didn't say it was an "emergency color." So all of that is irrelevant. I'm talking about the fact that ALL of our buses except for SBS coaches have orange emergency lights on the front of the buses. Therefore orange is reserved for emergency lights, and will not be used for SBS.

 

You mean the hostage lights? Oh and not all of what I said was irrelevant, just the stuff about the amber lights.