Lower Broadway Bus Stops

I noticed today that the city has taken over the right lane of lower broadway at various points between Houston Street and City Hall and put in these bus stop platforms.

I am not sure what the point is.

Won’t this increase the congestion on lower broadway which is already an incredibly congested street?

Does anyone know the reason the city put these in?

Steve commented with this link explaining that these things are called Bus Bulbs. Thanks Steve. I still think they are dumb.