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Speedsters making turns off Pelham Parkway South and Lydig Avenue will now have to use their brakes more often.

For years, Pelham Parkway residents have been demanding speed humps on the long stretches of Barnes and Holland avenues between Pelham Parkway South and Lydig Avenue.

With the Van Nest Library located on Barnes Avenue, many residents were concerned with the safety of children going to the library and nearby P.S. 105 on Brady Avenue.

After a request from Councilman Jimmy Vacca, the Department of Transportation installed two speed humps on Holland Avenue on Wednesday, August 3, and two on Barnes Avenue on Thursday, August 4. Long-time resident Edith Blitzer was relieved.

“Drivers come down Pelham Parkway South way too fast despite the stop signs and lights,” said Blitzer, president of the Pelham Parkway South Community Association. “After they turn onto Barnes, they go even faster. There are a lot of children along the street, there are motorcycles making so much noise as they pick up speed. Now we can sleep better.”

According to DOT spokesperson Nicole Garcia, community safety is a top priority and as a result, a study of the two streets was performed earlier this year, with DOT ultimately deciding to install the bumps.

Blitzer said around 20 years ago, a young girl was struck by a vehicle on Holland Avenue. Although she could not recall if the car was speeding down the street, she did acknowledge that speeding cars on both streets has been an issue for as long as she can remember.

The discussion to bring speed humps to Barnes Avenue came in a discussion with Vacca last year, and the chair of the City Council Transportation Committee immediately looked into it.

“On streets off Lydig Avenue, we have found that the high density of apartment houses often cause double parking,” Vacca said. “In these cases, where children and seniors often cross mid-block, speeding becomes especially dangerous. It can not be tolerated, and it must be stopped. I am doing all possible to assure that more speed humps are installed.”

The ends of Holland and Barnes both have stop signs, but Blitzer said that it never stopped drivers from picking up speed because the streets are so long. With the speed humps now installed, she believes the neighborhood is a safer place for pedestrians.

“Councilman Vacca really made this a priority to get done and our community is very grateful,” Blitzer said. “Now drivers know they have to take it easier coming down these streets, and our pedestrians are safer.”

©2011 Community Newspaper Group