A Brooklyn resident installed unauthorized speed bumps on Miller Avenue in Cypress Hills to slow traffic after a series of crashes raised concerns about road safety, reported CBS News.
Boris Macias, a father and grandfather who owns a landscaping business, installed the barriers outside his home in an effort to protect neighborhood children and other residents.
The speed bumps were placed on the 100 block of Miller Avenue and remained there for more than a week before city workers removed them on Oct. 26.
Macias brought the materials from his landscaping business and completed the installation in about three hours. The decision followed several crashes on the street, including one that dented an equipment trailer. Some drivers struck the barriers with considerable force while continuing to travel at speed.
“This street is dangerous," said Macias. "The car, every day, is fast." Macias was worried all the kids in the neighborhood were in danger.
The situation illustrated the tension between residents seeking immediate solutions to neighborhood safety problems and the city's requirement that traffic-calming measures meet established standards.
Some neighbors said they wanted similar measures restored after the barriers were removed. However, the effectiveness of the homemade speed bumps in reducing speeding or preventing crashes has not been established.
The New York City Department of Transportation said it would assess whether speed bumps are necessary at the location. The department also emphasized that approved speed bumps must meet specific standards to help ensure public safety.
Macias was not ticketed for the installation. He said he would not put the barriers back and hopes the incident will draw attention to the street's traffic problems.
