Staff, parents say bike lane outside Van Nest Academy has made Bronxdale Avenue unsafe
Staff say that while Bronxdale Avenue used to have two lanes in each direction, it now only has one lane each way because of the bike lane.
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Staff members and parents of students at Van Nest Academy say that a bike lane, which was added to Bronxdale Avenue about two years ago, has made the street unsafe.
As a result, teachers say they have no choice but to help walk students both in to and out of the building every day.
"It's very difficult to navigate this part of the Bronx now," says Gabriel Cabrales, a speech therapist at the school. "We've seen people get hit by cars, and so that's very risky, that's very dangerous."
Staff say that while Bronxdale Avenue used to have two lanes in each direction, it now only has one lane each way because of the bike lane.
Because it was put directly outside the school, buses and parents can also no longer pull up right to the curb.
"It blocks the field of vision, especially when the parking lane and traffic lane is right next to each other," says Lily Chan, who works in the building as an occupational therapist.
That becomes an even bigger problem when parents and buses have to double park outside the building, making the narrow road even tighter.
Chan says when that happens the drivers try to go into oncoming traffic because they are impatient.
News 12 cameras saw this, which led to back-ups and even some near misses.
"The way it's designed, it's - it's not functional," says Cynthia Soto, a parent of a student at Van Nest Academy.
"It'll always be a ticking time bomb," adds Cabrales. "I think accidents do happen, and I think peoples lives will be at risk as a result of it."
Staff members say they reached out to the NYPD's 49th Precinct with their concerns, and the department tells News 12 that there are four crossing guards dedicated to the building.
The New York City Department of Transportation says it is working with the NYPD on the double parking issue, and has also put up additional "No Standing" signs at the school principal's request.
Cabrales wants more.
"I see the attempt, but I don't think it's adequate whatsoever," says Calabres.
New York City Council member Kristy Marmorato's office has also gotten involved.
They say they have been pressuring the DOT to do more to help out this area, while also asking them to be more thorough in future studies about just what sort of impact a bike lane can have.
