Parents: Driveway for schools on Baychester Avenue leads to chaos at drop-off

A driveway for schools on Baychester Avenue has parents concerned and calling on the city to add more safety measures to it.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2020, 10:15 PM

Updated 1,530 days ago

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A driveway for schools on Baychester Avenue has parents concerned and calling on the city to add more safety measures to it.
The driveway off Baychester Avenue can get chaotic during drop-off and dismissal. Parents say buses and cars often stop on the sidewalk, forcing students from the five surrounding Co-op City schools to weave around them, sometimes walking in the street in order to cross.
In Vision Zero data from recent years, there have been no accidents reported.
News 12's camera caught a driver using the entrance lane as an exit. Instances like that prompted Debbie McRae to reach out to the Department of Transportation, school leaders and the 45th Precinct last school year.
McRae says their response was to assign a crossing guard to the area, but the guard isn't always there because they're short-staffed.
The DOT says it has updated the no standing on school days regulations by the driveway to improve visibility and reduce double parking. But McRae is asking for more safety improvements to be made.
"A stop sign, a speed bump, you know, at least to reduce the speed," she said. "And then also some markers to let drivers know that this is a driveway."
McRae says she brought her proposal to her son's principal and hopes that leads to some changes.
News 12 reached out to the Department of Education about the driveway and is waiting to hear back.


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