A Brooklyn man, tired of speeding drivers outside his home, decided to install his own speed bumps. The homemade traffic-control project lasted more than a week before New York City workers arrived to remove it.
Boris Macias, a Cypress Hills resident, told CBS New York that he wanted to slow vehicles traveling along the 100 block of Miller Avenue. He said he had previously asked the city for a speed bump but had not received the help he wanted.
Macias owns a landscaping business and used materials from it to build the barriers. He spent roughly three hours installing them, hoping to protect children and other residents after a series of crashes on the street.
The city had other plans. On Monday, October 26, workers removed the unauthorized speed bumps, leaving Macias disappointed but hopeful that his actions would convince officials to address speeding in the neighborhood.
Taking Matters Into His Own Hands
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Macias told CBS New York that drivers regularly speed down Miller Avenue, creating dangerous conditions for nearby families. As a father and grandfather, he was especially concerned about the number of young children in the neighborhood.
“This street is dangerous,” Macias told the station.
CBS showed damage to an equipment trailer that Macias said had been struck during one of several crashes in the area. Footage also showed drivers hitting the temporary barriers with considerable force rather than slowing down before reaching them.
Even with the bumps installed, some motorists apparently continued driving too fast. Macias expressed frustration as he watched vehicles cross the barriers.
Neighbors interviewed by CBS shared his concerns. One resident pointed to the number of children playing nearby and said the block needed a speed bump.
City Removes Speed Bumps
After the barriers remained in place for more than a week, city workers arrived Monday morning and removed them.
The New York City Department of Transportation told CBS New York that it understood the resident’s concerns and would examine whether the location needed officially approved speed bumps.
“We share this resident’s commitment to safety,” a DOT spokesperson said in a statement provided to CBS.
The agency also explained that speed bumps must meet specific standards designed to protect New Yorkers.
According to NYC DOT’s traffic-calming design guidelines, approved speed humps and speed cushions are typically four inches high. The department also considers factors such as vehicle speeds, street layout, and emergency vehicle access before approving installations.
Macias told CBS that he did not receive a ticket for installing the unauthorized barriers. He also said he would not attempt to reinstall them.
Speed Bump Requests Can Take Years
Residents who want speed bumps installed on their streets must submit requests through the city’s official process.
According to NYC 311, residents can request new speed reducers, including speed humps, by providing the exact location and a detailed description of the traffic problem.
However, getting a request approved can take considerable time.
The Department of Transportation acknowledges that speed reducer studies can take up to two years because the agency receives so many requests throughout the city.
During the review, DOT examines vehicle speeds, pedestrian activity, road geometry, and surrounding land uses. The agency advises residents to report illegal speeding to their local NYPD precinct while waiting for a decision.
That extended timeline could frustrate residents who believe speeding poses an immediate danger outside their homes. CBS reported that Macias had already sought assistance from the city, although the date and status of any formal request were not independently established.
Crashes Raise Concerns
Additional evidence suggests traffic safety has been an issue along Miller Avenue.
On October 26, Streetsblog NYC reported that nine crashes occurred across two blocks of Miller Avenue in 2025. The publication said none of those collisions resulted in reported injuries.
Those figures were not independently verified against the city’s crash database, but they provide additional context for complaints about driving conditions in the area.
NYC DOT’s own research also supports the effectiveness of properly installed traffic-calming measures. In its 2024 Automated Speed Enforcement Program report, the department explained that standard speed humps are designed to slow vehicles to approximately 10 to 15 mph.
The report also said the city installed nearly 3,000 standard speed humps between 2014 and 2023, with speed cushions providing another option for streets where larger vehicles need easier passage.
For now, Miller Avenue is back to its previous condition. The temporary barriers are gone, and the city has not announced whether it will install permanent speed bumps.
Macias told CBS that he hopes his project has at least drawn enough attention to the problem to bring lasting safety improvements to his street.