Boy’s Death On Bike Sparks Safer Streets Rally In Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Days after a 6-year-old Jersey City boy was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle Friday, residents have asked for improvements to street safety, and a petition for speed bumps has garnered hundreds of signatures.

Historic neighborhoods of Jersey City have been transforming over the last decade from run-down areas to havens for families to grow and play.

Just three blocks from Hamilton Park — a large plot of land near several schools and shops —a boy riding his bike with his father was struck and killed just before 4 p.m. on Friday.

A police spokesperson said the boy was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Sixth Street and Jersey Avenue. He was pronounced dead at 4:03 p.m.

Residents have said the boy was hit by a UPS delivery driver while he was riding near his home.

The local community groups Bike JC and SafeStreets JC participated in a community vigil Sunday night "for our young neighbor who was killed on his bicycle."

Residents are now planning a rally for Monday at 5 p.m. in front of City Hall to demand safer streets.

They say that cars roll through stop signs and that too many vehicles block crosswalks on the narrow downtown roads.

In Friday's incident, the delivery driver remained at the scene. The police spokesperson said no charges had been filed.

Traffic Calming Measures

Councilman James Solomon said in a message on Sunday, "In the past 24 hours my team and I have examined our Vision Zero laws and policies to ensure this never happens again. You have my full commitment to do more, and to do it faster. Below is our plan based on the Vision Zero review, divided into what we can do immediately and we can do over the next year." The details are here.

A petition started on Monday says, "As concerned parents and local business owners, we are calling on city officials to take immediate action to improve pedestrian safety on Newark Avenue near The Little Gym and up towards Dickinson High School.

"This stretch of road is heavily trafficked and dangerously sloped, encouraging drivers to speed up as they go up and down the hill. This presents a clear and urgent danger to the many children and families who live, play, walk, and commute in the area every day.

"Despite previous requests for speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures, the city has failed to implement changes. On 6th Street and Jersey Avenue, just blocks away, a child was tragically struck and killed by a UPS truck. This devastating event has shaken our community to its core."

The petition had garnered more than 400 signatures by Tuesday.

The petitioners have asked for the city to:

1. Install speed bumps on Newark Avenue between Dickinson High School and The Little Gym.
2. Conduct a comprehensive traffic safety review of the corridor.
3. Engage the community in a transparent discussion about long-term pedestrian safety improvements.

Find out more about the upcoming rally here.

PRIOR REPORTING: Boy On Bicycle Fatally Struck In Jersey City Friday