#NYC subways begin to bounce back: a huge sign of progress

In a small but oh-so-telling sign of hope, subway ridership has passed bus ridership after 80 days of the reverse.

Oh, bus rides rose 57 percent in the week of the turnaround. But subway rides jumped 75 percent, a huge step toward normalcy.

This shows much-reduced worries about the coronavirus as new cases continue to plummet. You still need to “mask up” to help keep everyone safe — but that’s a long way from total lockdown.

Full normal is a ways off yet: The pandemic left the homeless a far more visible part of the scene underground, while urgent demands on the NYPD have allowed subway crime to spike.

And the MTA is beyond broke, losing $200 million a week in what Chairman Pat Foye calls “a once-in-100-years fiscal tsunami.” It’s had to put off upgrade work and other projects, and it may have to shut down whole lines if Congress doesn’t provide another multibillion-dollar rescue.

But the heart of New York City is starting to resume a healthy beat. It’s hard to think of a stronger sign of progress.