New MTA law would mandate bedbug warnings

NEW YORK (WABC) -- More than 5 million people ride New York subways everyday, and although rats on tracks are a common sight, bedbugs invading the trains and irritating riders is a new nemesis.

"There's a serious public health concern because we cannot underestimate the impact that bedbugs can have," Mark Treyger, a New York City councilman.

Treyger said the MTA has been painfully slow keeping the public informed about its bedbug infestation, and now, along with state Assemblyman William Colton, he is proposing legislation to require the MTA to notify the public within 24 hours when bedbugs are found on city buses and subways.

"The MTA has the means to notify the public the same way they do when there's an emergency or service disruption," he said.

The councilman said they decided to make the announcement outside the subway N line because riders have reported seeing bedbugs there, and yet he said the MTA is doing nothing to solve the problem.

"The public has a right to know if there's a problem, if there's an infestation. The public has to have the assurance that they will be notified about it," said Colton.

This month the MTA says some trains were taken out of service and fumigated.

Alexandra Fridel, a subway rider, said, "I'm sure bed bugs find it a very comfortable environment given how awful this train station is and some of the other N lines."

Most riders said, exterminate the bugs and if not, at least let commuters know they are there.

"What really prompted us is that it takes a train conductor getting bit several times and hearing horror stories on social media about people seeing bedbugs," Treyger said.