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Is Bedford Park safe?

The Bronx, New York · safety score updated nightly

61out of 100

Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.

VibeLoco rates Bedford Park as “Caution”.

What makes up this score?

Recent news

Gogo's take on Bedford Park

“Go with care. Bedford Park offers excellent proximity to cultural anchors like the New York Botanical Garden and Lehman College, alongside distinctive pre-war residential architecture. Visitors should remain alert to urban property crime and stay aware of their surroundings, particularly along commercial subway strips after dark.”

About the area

Bedford Park is a dense, culturally diverse residential neighborhood in the north-central Bronx characterized by classic Art Deco apartment buildings and tree-lined side streets. It serves as an educational and cultural corridor anchored by Lehman College and nearby green spaces. While lively and communal during the day, it carries moderate urban safety concerns typical of the outer boroughs.

  • Dense Urban
  • Historic Pre-War
  • College Adjacent
  • Bustling Commuter Hub

Walking and biking in Bedford Park

Walk score: 94/100 · Bike score: 62/100

Citi Bike stations are widespread throughout the neighborhood, offering easy connections to the Mosholu Parkway Greenway and Bronx River trails.

Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice

Pros

  • Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to South Bronx neighborhoods further down the Concourse
  • Immediate access to premier regional cultural amenities, including Lehman College and the New York Botanical Garden
  • High density of well-maintained pre-war and Art Deco residential apartment buildings
  • Superb public transit connectivity linking directly to Midtown Manhattan via multiple subway trunks

Cons

  • Elevated rates of petty theft, car break-ins, and robbery relative to NYC citywide averages per 52nd Precinct data
  • Socioeconomic vulnerability with an area poverty rate exceeding 22% and lower median household incomes
  • Severe vehicular congestion and extremely limited on-street parking

Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present near the main subway stations and under elevated train tracks along Jerome Avenue, though permanent tent encampments are uncommon.

What Bedford Park is like at each time of day

Morning · 5a – 11a
Vibrant and safe with steady foot traffic from college students, local school children, and subway commuters.
Afternoon · 11a – 5p
Busy commercial corridors along Bedford Park Boulevard and Jerome Avenue feel active and generally secure.
Evening · 5p – 10p
Sidewalk traffic slows down to returning commuters; residential streets remain relatively calm with normal situational awareness needed.
Late night · 10p – 5a
Quiet side streets and subway plazas experience diminished foot traffic where caution against opportunistic theft or robbery is warranted.

Transit, parking and getting around

Operated by the MTA, the neighborhood is served by the Bedford Park Blvd station (B and D lines) and the Bedford Park Blvd–Lehman College station (4 line), plus major bus routes Bx1, Bx2, Bx10, Bx26, and Bx28.

Street parking is notoriously difficult due to dense population and alternate side parking rules, with few commercial pay garages in the immediate area.

Things to do in Bedford Park

  • Attend a world-class concert or dance performance at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
  • Walk the historic Grand Concourse to view preserved 1930s Art Deco and Tudor Revival apartment facades.
  • Stroll east to explore the expansive living collections and conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden.

Local favorites

  • Cơm Tấm Ninh Kiều · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.5★ (950)
    Beloved neighborhood staple serving authentic pho, broken rice platters, and Vietnamese iced coffee.
  • Bedford Cafe · Diner · 4.2★ (680)
    Classic Bronx diner dishing up generous breakfast platters, burgers, and comfort food favorites.
  • La Sultana Bakery · Bakery & Cafe · 4.4★ (340)
    Longstanding local bakery known for fresh Latin pastries, custom cakes, and espresso.

Neighborhoods near Bedford Park

More: all The Bronx neighborhoods · safest neighborhoods in New York

Common questions about Bedford Park

Is Bedford Park safe to walk at night?

Take care after dark: stick to lit main streets or take a ride.

Is Bedford Park a good place to live?

On safety, Bedford Park scores 61/100 — below average, so visit at different times of day before deciding to move.

How walkable is Bedford Park?

Walk score 94/100 and bike score 62/100. Most errands can be done on foot.

Which areas near Bedford Park are safer?

Kingsbridge-Marble Hill (72), Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village (68), Belmont (The Bronx) (63) score higher nearby.

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