| Box Width: | 300px |
| System: | MTA Regional Bus Operations |
| Operator: | New York City Transit Authority |
| Garage: | Michael J. Quill Depot |
| Vehicle: | New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 New Flyer Xcelsior XE40 Nova Bus LFS HEV |
| Open: | September 10, 1989 |
| Locale: | Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Communities: | Upper West Side, Lincoln Square, Upper East Side, Lenox Hill |
| Start: | Upper West Side - 66th Street & Freedom Place |
| Via: | 72nd Street |
| End: | Upper East Side – 72nd Street & York Avenue |
| Length: | 3miles |
| Otherroutes: | M66 66th/67th Streets Crosstown |
| Day: | All times except late nights |
| Timetable Link: | M72 |
| Annualpatronage: | 983,460 (2023)[1] |
| Transfers: | Yes |
| Map State: | collapsed |
| Previous Line: | M66 |
| Next Line: | M79 |
The M72 bus route constitutes a public transit line in Manhattan, running crosstown on 72nd Street from the Upper East Side to the Upper West Side.
The westbound M72 starts at 72nd Street and York Avenue, looping around via York Avenue, 71st Street and First Avenue, before turning west onto 72nd Street, until 5th Avenue. Due to there not being a transverse at 72nd Street, the M72 runs south on 5th Avenue to use the 65th Street Transverse, alongside the M72, using Central Park West to return to 72nd Street. It continues west on 72nd Street until West End Avenue, continuing south and then west on 70th Street. It then continues west and then south on Riverside Boulevard until making a right turn and terminating onto Freedom Place.
The eastbound M72 starts at 66th Street and Freedom Place. It runs north on Freedom Place and then east onto 70th Street, where it follows the route of the westbound M72 until 5th Avenue, where it continues east on 65th Street and uses Madison Avenue northbound to get to 72nd Street, before running east on 72nd Street until its terminus at York Avenue.
The M72 bus service was started on September 10, 1989 in order to provide crosstown service on 72nd Street, a major arterial road, from 72nd Street and York Avenue to 66th Street and Freedom Place, deviating to the 65th Street Transverse to travel through Central Park.[2]
On December 20, 2009, due to New York City Department of Transportation construction on West 72nd Street, service was changed to its current terminus. Originally, M72 buses had terminated on 68th Street, however, this change was put in effect due to congestion on 68th Street and westbound service was accordingly moved from 68th Street to 66th Street.[3]