Solving Broadway traffic problem

To the editor:

On Thursday, May 11 at 6:10 p.m., I was driving north on Broadway from West 231st Street.

Reaching the planting fields of Van Cortlandt Park, there were several large yellow school buses double-parked on the east side of Broadway, adjacent to the park. Only one lane of northbound traffic was available for MTA buses, express buses, Westchester buses, tractor-trailer trucks, delivery trucks and private vehicles.

I envisioned the proposed bike lane that New York City suggests adding to the northbound side of Broadway, between the park curb and an eight-foot lane for parked cars. The addition of that bike lane would necessitate narrowing both northbound and both southbound lanes on Broadway.

What I saw on May 11, with double-parked school buses — a regular occurrence during spring, summer and autumn — would eliminate one northbound traffic lane. The remaining narrower northbound lane would barely accommodate the heavy use by MTA buses, express buses, Westchester buses, tractor-trailer trucks, delivery trucks and private cars. 

If the bike lane is installed with concomitant narrowing of all lanes on Broadway, I envision private cars moving over and driving north in the middle southbound lane in order to reach the entrance to the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway, as well as into north Riverdale and Yonkers.

Otherwise, Broadway will be at a standstill.

The other alternative for private cars will be to turn west by Burger King, north to Horace Mann school, then west and north through Fieldston, behind Christ Church to the entrance to the Henry Hudson Parkway.

Others can use Fieldston Road as a northbound thoroughfare if not entering the parkway.

LESLIE HOGAN