The lifting of bus fares is the most notable of a raft of policy suggestions aimed at improving the city's transit system -- a major focus of Bloomberg's re-election campaign.
"In a 33-point proposal spanning subways, buses, roads, ferries and the operations of the authority, the mayor appeared to be trying to assert a greater role for the city in mass transit as he seeks a third term in the November election. He will face hurdles: Unlike the Police Department and the school system, the M.T.A. is subject to very little control by the mayor, who controls only 4 of 17 votes on the authority's board."