DIY Speed Bumps Built in 3 Hours, Removed by City in 8 Days

Boris Macias, who runs a landscaping business in Brooklyn, built and installed speed bumps on the 100 block of Miller Avenue in Cypress Hills in about three hours, using materials from his own shop. The barriers went up outside his home to slow traffic after a series of crashes on the street, including one that dented an equipment trailer. City workers removed them on Oct. 26, eight days after they were placed.

Macias, a father and grandfather, said he acted over concern for neighborhood children. "This street is dangerous," he said. "The car, every day, is fast." Some drivers struck the barriers with considerable force while continuing to travel at speed. Macias was not ticketed for the installation.

The removal set up a conflict between residents seeking immediate fixes and city rules governing how traffic-calming measures are built. After the barriers came down, some neighbors said they wanted similar measures restored. The New York City Department of Transportation said it would assess whether speed bumps are necessary at the location, and said approved speed bumps must meet specific standards to help ensure public safety. Whether the homemade barriers reduced speeding or prevented crashes has not been established.

Macias said he would not reinstall the barriers and hopes the episode draws attention to conditions on Miller Avenue. The DOT assessment of the location remains pending.

The removal of unauthorized traffic-calming devices follows the city's standard enforcement process, and any replacement would need to meet specifications the DOT applies to approved speed bumps.