A man slugged an MTA bus driver who told him he needed a mask before getting on board — the latest in a surge of attacks on transit workers in New York City.
The Lower East Side assault took place after the unidentified suspect tried to get on a northbound M2 bus near Madison Avenue and East 29th Street around 2:30 a.m. Monday without a protective mask.
The MTA requires the face coverings to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
But when he was asked to put on a mask, the man punched the 62-year-old driver and got off the bus.
The bearded assailant, seen in the photos wearing a black tank top, is also seen on video released by police standing in front of the bus and putting what appears to be a handkerchief or towel over his shoulders before taking off.
Transit officials said that about one-fifth of attacks on MTA workers this year involved passengers who lashed out after being told they are required to observe social-distancing or wear face coverings.
Officials said there were 515 attacks on MTA workers between April 15 and June 30, up from 507 over the same span last year. That’s despite a 50 percent drop in bus ridership and an 80 percent dip in subway riders this year.