West Seattle Blog reported on the School Road Safety Meeting last night at the Southwest Library. Besides their reporter, only four citizens attended. Three are members of West Seattle Bike Connections: Jay Guettler, Theresa Beaulieu, and Craig Rankin. Theresa and Craig are parents actively involved with safe routes to Denny MS and the K-5 STEM program at Boren.
from Theresa’s notes:
I would like to see more parents, teachers and community members/groups involved. These improvements around schools are going to be great opportunity for change around our culture and how kids get to school. If schools are safe to get to via walking or biking and it is challenging to drive close to schools, then more parents will feel it is safe to allow their kids to ride a bike, scooter, skateboard or walk to school.
One thing that resonated with me that the West Seattle Blog did not cover is that the posted signs and cameras that are going up around schools are for 20 mph, and actually have a leeway before a ticket is issued, even though studies show that at 20 miles per hour, 9 out of 10 pedestrians who are hit by a car will survive, but the death rate increases dramatically at greater speed. That study only counts deaths, not major injuries. 1 fatality for every 10 collisions is too high. All of us at the meeting agreed the cameras should be set to 15, NOT 20 mph, Note was taken.
Two more opportunities to learn and give input:
Tuesday, May 27 at 6 PM to 7:30 PM Northeast Branch Seattle Public Library, 6801 35th Ave NE
Thursday, May 29 at 6 PM to 7:30 PM Garfield Community Center, 2323 E Cherry St