Gas Station Gridlock Snares Buses, NYPD Resources in Washington Heights

A line for gas occupied one lane of Broadway for blocks, and created gridlock on several more. Photos: Brad Aaron

If yellow cabs and livery cabs can’t get gas, that’s a problem, especially when train service is limited and buses are packed. But many of the cars in this line, which clogged one lane of Broadway from 168th to 174th Street in Washington Heights this afternoon, were private vehicles.

An M3 tries to merge onto Broadway north of 168th Street.

I counted 11 NYPD personnel, including auxiliary officers and TEAs, assigned to this mess. In addition to occupying a traffic lane — most drivers were parked, engines off — the line kept buses from moving and forced passengers to wade into the street to board.

Bus passengers wait next to the gas lane.

At the gas station, on Broadway at 174th, five TEAs assumed the role of service station attendants, directing drivers to gas pumps.

A TEA guides a livery cab driver to a gas pump.

In other news from Upper Manhattan, buses were standing room only today, while this afternoon ridership was normal to light on the 1 train. There was a report on Twitter this morning that NYPD was enforcing the HOV-3 restriction on vehicles entering the Henry Hudson Parkway from Riverside Drive at Dyckman Street, presumably to catch drivers attempting to dodge the rule by using the Harlem River bridges. We’ll try to verify that tomorrow.

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