Lakewood Bus Protest Clogs Streets
The organizers of a bus protest in Lakewood succeeded in clogging Route 9 and adjoining streets on Wednesday morning.
Called a "No busing drill" by the Lakewood Community Busing Task Force, the group's Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg told the Lakewood Scoop the action was intended to be a "a real life simulation of what may actually happen in September on a daily basis" if the financially strapped town stopped its courtesy busing for those attending private Jewish schools.
Parents were urged to bring their children to school instead of taking a bus during the drill.
Talks between the Task Force, police and politicians had progressed to discuss alternatives to the program that costs Lakewood $4 million a year. But it was not enough to postpone the drill another day
“While the discussions are promising, there is still no final resolution at this point. As a result the Igud HaMosdos will go ahead with their planned ‘no-busing’ drill," Weisberg told the Lakewood Scoop.
Despite the presence of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department to assist with traffic control, the delays started after 8:30 a.m., according to New Jersey Fast Traffic with the intersection of Routes 9 and 88 backed up for several miles.
"It wasn't as bad as I feared, but I wouldn't want to do this every day," parent Mendal Steinberg told the Asbury Park Press.. "I think people are not leaving at the same time, but are trying to spread it out."
JTown reports it took 20 minutes to drive the one mile between East Veterans Highway and Faraday Avenue.
Traffic will again snarl Lakewood on Wednesday afternoon as parents pick up their children; the protest is scheduled to continue one more day on Thursdsay.