Neighbor Worries That Missing Rugby Speed Bumps Are A Danger To Kids & Pets

Since being paved this summer, many of our local blocks are smoother — but not necessarily safer. Now, after losing his family’s cat to a speeding car, one Rugby Road neighbor writes to voice his concerns for other residents of Ditmas Park. Dave says of the double-edged sword between Beverley and Cortelyou:

We got our cat Jackie when she was young as a spring chicken and very small. She fit in the palm of your hand and it goes without saying she was dangerously cute. She was abandoned and was passed through to us from It’s a Dog’s World — “to take care of her, until we could find her a home.” Of course we kept her, there was never much of a question.

Some cats are fools chasing everything that moves, going crazy at feeding time, running into closing doors and between your feet. Jackie was no fool. She was a savvy cat. A part of the family.

Calm and demure, we let her roam outdoors in our backyard and worried about her on the street, but knew she lived a much happier life being able to be outside and stare at birds and squirrels and bugs. She came in when we called her at night or meal time. She knew her way around the ‘hood and seemed to know to stay out of the street.

Like everyone else in Beverley Square West, we are very happy the avenues have been paved. We skateboard and bike ride and ripstick up and down the smooth streets in our hood. But when they paved the street, of course, they removed the speed bumps.

Since then, the cars have been driving down Rugby Road far in excess of the speed limits. I don’t have a radar, but some cars are going faster than 50 miles per hour for sure.

This is the block that the elementary school is on. This is block where children live and pour out in massive numbers. This is a street a child should be able to commute with her bike or whatever… but the automobiles speed along dangerously.

“I write this note,” Dave says, “to let you know that our cat has been killed by a speeding car on Rugby Road. I know there are those of you who will say that we shouldn’t let our cat outside because it’s to dangerous for a cat on the street.

“Regardless,” he says, “my children especially are saddened by her loss and I cannot help but think that it will be a child that is the next victim of a speeding car.”

Community Board 14 says speed bumps will be reinstalled on Rugby in spring 2014, but Dave hopes to expedite the process. After calling 311, he was directed to write to DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, and follow a specific set of instructions.

1. In the general topic drop down menu, choose “speed reducer (speed bump or hump).”

2. In the what kind of place drop down menu, choose “street or sidewalk.”

3. Choose Brooklyn as your borough.

4. Describe the location as a street segment.

5. Type Rugby Road, Beverley Road, and Cortelyou Road into the next section.

6. Refer to case number DOT-216560-Q2D6, and ask that the DOT replace all speed bumps on Rugby Road between Beverley and Cortleyou Roads. Especially just outside PS 139, cars need to be slowed to a safe speed.

7. Fill in your contact information and answer the captcha, and you’re finished.

“I’ve been told the more clicks we get,” he says, “the more speedily we’ll get our speed bumps back.”

Have you noticed a difference in driver behavior and accidents or close calls since speed bumps on Rugby or other area roads were flattened during paving? If so, let us know — and you can of course use the linked DOT form to make your block safer, too.