Emily Canal

St. Brigid School just got a new library, and now community members want a speed bump outside of the school at Seventh Street between Avenues B and C. Residents say drivers tend to speed down East Seventh Street because it’s the only one between Fourth and 14th Streets that runs west from Avenue D to the Bowery without interruption.

“A lot of people don’t respect the crossing guard and like to pass through real fast,” said Ramon Santiago, 45, a security guard at the school.

A source at the Department of Transportation said that a speed bump was deemed unnecessary after a study revealed that vehicles traveled down the street at an average speed of 18.7 miles per hour. According to the source, there was an average of one pedestrian injury per year at the location from 2005 to 2009 – none of them fatal.

Slow pokes will have their chance to plead for reconsideration during a meeting of Community Board 3’s transportation and public safety community board on Oct. 11.

“A speed bump would make them aware the school is here,” said a crossing guard on duty outside St. Brigid, who declined to give a name.  “I think it’s a racing place and I would love to have it here.”