Bedford Avenue safety crisis escalates as child struck by cyclist
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WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- A shocking new video has emerged, capturing a child being struck by a cyclist while exiting a school bus on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, highlights the ongoing safety concerns that have plagued this busy thoroughfare for months.
The footage shows the child leaving the bus with its flashing lights activated when a cyclist in the bike lane fails to slow down and collides with the young pedestrian.
This latest accident comes on the heels of several similar incidents, intensifying the community's calls for urgent action.
One anonymous father, whose 8-year-old son was previously struck in a similar incident, shared his harrowing experience: "There was a high-speed moped that was driving down the street coming down about 45 mph and he hit my child." He added, "After I saw the scene of my child lying on the ground and crying in pain after he got hit, that is just stuck in my mind."
Since November 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has implemented several safety measures, including new signage, repainting bike lanes, adding rumble strips, and creating loading zones. The DOT has pledged to continue improving Bedford Avenue's safety by integrating community input and collaborating with the NYPD.
However, many parents and community members feel these efforts are insufficient. One specific proposal from residents is to reroute the bike lane. The anonymous father suggested, "For the last three blocks of this bike lane stretch just reroute it and protect the bike lane on Willoughby and Classon avenues, you'll avoid the highly condensed area."
New York City Councilman Lincoln Restler issued a statement: "We worked with DOT on a series of new safety interventions on the Bedford Ave Bike Lane, including new school bus drop off and pick up zones. We have requested DOT expand the hours of these school bus parking spots and that NYPD enforce against all illegally parked vehicles to ensure safety for all."
Bus driver Menachem, who witnesses these dangerous incidents firsthand, observed the impact on children: "The kids are paranoid themselves the way they get off. They get off the bus, they just stand there, they look, they are like petrified."
As the community awaits more concrete action, the anonymous father expressed his frustration: "What we as parents have gotten in the past few months that we were asking and begging them to do something about this issue was basically empty promises and just statements that didn't help anything and didn't make our children safe."
The recurring incidents on Bedford Avenue continue to raise alarm, leaving residents demanding immediate and effective solutions to protect their children's safety.
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