Can someone explain the B61 stop situation at Van Brunt/Union before I lose my mind? Last Tuesday I wait by the old pole across from the plant shop, bus sails past in the bus lane and the driver points down the block. Wednesday same spot, driver stops and opens the front door like nothing changed. Thursday I wait at the far corner, two of us stand there, and the B61 just turns left without picking us up. I’m not new to this line but this feels like a trap. Anyone got the actual current stop, especially after 9?

Same thing happened to me Monday. If it’s the older driver with the glasses he still stops at the old pole, but everybody else is using the temp stop by the construction fence. It’s been a mess since they started ripping up the sidewalk. Best bet is to stand where the little paper sign is on the lamp post, not by the actual bus stop pole. Half the time the sign’s ripped though.

Appreciate it. I saw that paper sign but it's hanging maybe three feet up now and half peeled off. So is it strictly temporary, or did they actually move the stop for the length of the sidewalk work? I got a bad leg so I'm not trying to run between two spots when a bus finally turns onto Van Brunt.

I’m on the B61 a few times a week and I’ve watched this turn into a full block-long social experiment. The official northbound stop at Van Brunt and Union hasn’t been removed permanently, but once the sidewalk bridge went up and the crew orange-coned the loading area, the MTA’s real-world stop and the one in the app didn’t match for a while. Technically, the temp stop is the second lamp post after the crosswalk, on the near side before the fence. Some drivers still stop at the old shelter because regulars wait there. Others follow the onboard display and will only stop at the temp point. A B61 operator told me after midnight they’re supposed to stop at the temp post unless there’s no safe clearance, then they’ll take whoever is visible at the old pole. I’ve had three different pickups in the same week. For consistency, stand at the second lamp post, keep your phone light on if it’s dark, and if the paper sign is gone, you’re still in the right place. The sidewalk work is supposed to shift again next month, so this whole corner may change.

Oh man, I just moved to Red Hook and thought I was losing it. I waited at the old stop by the deli twice and the bus blew right by. My roommate said go to the park side, but I couldn’t see the temp sign at night. Is there any light near the second lamp post? If I’m getting back after 11p, should I just walk to the Carroll St stop instead? Sorry if that’s a dumb question, still learning this line.

Not a dumb question at all. You don’t need to walk to Carroll. The temp stop is around the corner, look for the green tape on the post, not the actual bus sign. And don’t try flagging between the parked skelly vans, drivers get annoyed and it’s hit or miss. I’ve had way better luck at the second lamp post than the old shelter.

Update for anyone else coming through: the second lamp post works. Got the B61 at 10:40 Tuesday night, driver pulled up no issue. The old pole by the plant shop is dead for now unless somebody's feeling generous. Whole block is a museum of bad signage though. May throw a sticker on the old pole if I can find one.