By: Hector Flores
Hoffman, who lives on Orchard Street and has a third-grader at Newbridge Road Elementary School, voiced her concern during last week's North Bellmore Board of Education meeting. Hoffman said the intersection of Bellmore Avenue and Bellmore Road desperately needs a crossing guard or a traffic sign.
She explained that part of the problem is that Smithville Cafe and the Glen Scott nursery are located at the intersection. Both have parking lots that are difficult for drivers to get out of and for residents to cross the street from, Hoffman said. "If it weren't for the parking lots, it wouldn't be that bad," she said.
Hoffman added that the nursery lot is right off the intersection of Bellmore Avenue and Bellmore Road, and there's another danger when cars on Bellmore Avenue pass the intersection and enter Bellmore Road. "One way of making the intersection safer is by installing a 'No turn on red' sign or placing a crossing guard," Hoffman said. "A lot of us take our kids to school in the morning. If I knew that there was a crossing guard or a sign at the intersection, I wouldn't have to worry."
Annette Weber, Hoffman's neighbor, said children should not be forced to walk the street. Instead, they should be allowed to take the school bus to their designated schools. "I have only seen five to six kids on the school bus," she said. "Two to three come from Orchard Street, one from Blue Street and two from Range Road. Why are there only five children in the bus when there is room enough for 56?"
Weber added that being picked up by the school bus should not be determined by distance from one's home to the school, but by the severity of the roads kids have to cross.
In addition, Weber disagrees with a district policy that doesn't provide busing past third grade. "How is a 9-year-old expected to cross the street on his own?" she said. "If it's impossible to give a bus to every child, then there shouldn't be any buses."
Toni Cincotta, a school-district business official, explained that four to six years ago a company created a formula for the district that determined which blocks receive buses. She also explained that it would be too costly for every child in the district to receive a bus. "One of the things that has caused our budget to increase is the rise of transportation costs," she said. "We just can't afford to give everyone a bus. But what we can do is work with the police department and get a crossing guard."
Nina Lanci, the Board of Education president, also explained that in order to place a "No turn on red" sign, a traffic study must be conducted. She suggested that the best time to conduct a traffic study is during the summer, when more people are out. "During the winter, most of the children are driven to school by their parents because of the cold," she said. "The best way of ensuring a traffic sign or a crossing guard is if people are seen walking about."
Grace Cramsie, a local parent, explained that although the school buses may appear vacant in the mornings, that doesn't mean that children don't use them. "There are many children that do not use the bus in the morning because they are in an early-school program, such as band or chorus," she said. "These children may not be using the bus in the mornings, but they are still entitled to them."
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
