CB 6 Transportation Committee not in
favor of bike lanes on Southern Blvd.
BY JASON COHEN
As the Bronx is lacking bike
lanes, and cyclist injuries have increased
in the borough by 30%, the
DOT is hoping to eradicate this problem
by adding more in Community
Board 6.
However, members of CB 6 are not
in favor of the plan.
On Dec. 17, DOT offi cials announced
it will install a protected
bike lane on Southern Blvd. from
182nd to Fordham Rd. connecting
cyclists to existing bike facilities
south of E. 182 St. The plans also call
for improvements to BX9 and BX19
routes where bus boarding islands
would be installed to reduce lag time
at each stop and keep buses in the
moving lane.
The bike lanes would eliminate
parking spots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
which angered many people as board
members claimed cyclists don’t use
that road and they do not want to lose
their spots.
“We all want to promote safety,
but with buses not having to pull
over to the curb, it creates a traffi
c backup with only one lane,” said
board member Jacquetta Whaley.
“Southern Blvd. is a main passage to
our nearest highways. During rush
hour, Southern Blvd. is at a standstill,
GENERAL DENTISTRY
SPECIALTY CARE
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bottleneck. We do not see many
bike riders in the areas mentioned.”
Fellow member Laura James
echoed her sentiments.
“We don’t want bike lanes, we don’t
like this plan,” James said. “You say
bikes have the same rules so let them
ride in the street with the cars.”
From 2014 to 2018 260 people have
been injured, including 17 severely,
with one pedestrian killed in the 0.6
mile stretch on Southern Blvd. from
182nd to Fordham Rd.
This section of Southern Blvd
ranks in the top 10% for fatal or severely
injured road accidents in all of
the Bronx. Since January, 22 cyclists
have been killed citywide, with eight
in the Bronx.
In 2016 students from Fordham
Preparatory High School and NY Botanical
Garden requested DOT to address
safety concerns after a student
was injured while walking to school,
and a cyclists riding to her job at the
NYBG was killed.
Last year safety improvements
were implemented on Southern Blvd
between E. Fordham Rd to Mosholu
Pkwy Greenway/Allerton Ballfi elds.
In terms of improving bus effi -
ciency, DOT wants to add two way
bike lanes, painted curb extensions
and a Leading Pedestrian Interval
(LPI) at East Fordham Road and
Southern Blvd. and two way bike
lanes and painted curb extensions at
East 182 and Southern Blvd.
Many people stressed how they
told DOT in 2019 they did not want
more bike lanes and don’t understand
why it is happening. Board member
Frank Franz questioned why the
DOT doesn’t actually ask what the
community wants.
“We’re supposed to be working
with the government, not against it,”
he said.
SIRECI
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Community Board 6 does not want more bike lanes on Southern Blvd. Courtesy of NYC DOT