East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC), New York
by Mark Morales for The New York Daily News
May 29, 2012
When Evelyn Patterson, 76, crossed Rockaway Blvd. in Ocean Hill on her way to church last month, she had the light — but still found herself dodging speeding cars.
Patterson was too slow for impatient drivers who were turning onto the three-lane street from Eastern Parkway before she was done crossing.
"I found myself between two cars," said Patterson. "They were going too fast and they almost caught me. I was scared."
Patterson's heart-stopping journey across the busy street was echoed by other senior citizens in Ocean Hill, Brownsville, East New York and Bushwick who all wanted to cross the street safely.
Patterson and over 50 members of the East Brooklyn Congregation fanned out to intersections in the neighborhood to take notes on which streets needed traffic signals, stop signs, countdown clocks and street repaving.
"We can't rush to cross the street. We're seniors," said Patterson. "Our legs don't work so good and our sight isn't so good. We want to cross without the fear of being run over."
"I found myself between two cars," said Patterson. "They were going too fast and they almost caught me. I was scared."
Patterson's heart-stopping journey across the busy street was echoed by other senior citizens in Ocean Hill, Brownsville, East New York and Bushwick who all wanted to cross the street safely.
Patterson and over 50 members of the East Brooklyn Congregation fanned out to intersections in the neighborhood to take notes on which streets needed traffic signals, stop signs, countdown clocks and street repaving.
"We can't rush to cross the street. We're seniors," said Patterson. "Our legs don't work so good and our sight isn't so good. We want to cross without the fear of being run over."
The elderly residents launched their fact-finding mission in February and documented over 82 different issues, including the need for turn signals at Rockaway Ave. and potholes along Linden Blvd.
The Rev. Edward Mason of the Our Lady of Presentation Church on St. Mark's Ave. said he first thought of the idea when he saw cars zipping between crossing pedestrians, like Patterson.
"It looks like that game Frogger out there," said Mason. "We need to have people cross the street without having to be afraid," said Mason.
The seniors and East Brooklyn Congregation leaders met with city Department of Transportation officials earlier this month to reveal their findings and ask for changes.
"DOT is looking into the items requested during the May 10 meeting," said agency spokeswoman Nicole Garcia. "The requests, which range from examining lighting to installing crosswalks to repairing potholes, among others, have all been forwarded to the corresponding divisions for a response."
Bushwick resident Blanche Romey, 72, wants a traffic light at the intersection of Chauncy St. and Evergreen Ave. because drivers often blow the stop sign there.
"I've stepped out on to that street and had to jump back. [Cars\] don't slow down," said Romey. "We can't have seniors dodging cars here."
Jaqui Johnson, 57, drove up and down Linden Blvd. looking for potholes because a friend tripped over one and broke her leg two years ago.
"I was bumping up and down the street in my car," said Johnson. "We need these potholes fixed."