Sidewalk in Bethesda to keep kids and adults safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

Yes, you're going to get flamed for it.

Kids are going to be kids. Roads need to be designed so that they are safe for kids who are being kids.

Also, PLENTY can be done to prevent crashes.

Also, when there is a crossing guard with a stop sign, drivers do not have the right of way. That's the whole point of having a crossing guard with a stop sign. What's more, most of the crossing guards are at intersections where the law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians. It's just that most drivers do not obey that law. Most drivers probably don't even know about that law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

Yes, you're going to get flamed for it.

Kids are going to be kids. Roads need to be designed so that they are safe for kids who are being kids.

Also, PLENTY can be done to prevent crashes.

Also, when there is a crossing guard with a stop sign, drivers do not have the right of way. That's the whole point of having a crossing guard with a stop sign. What's more, most of the crossing guards are at intersections where the law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians. It's just that most drivers do not obey that law. Most drivers probably don't even know about that law.

Exactly. Kids need some help with crossing busy roads, before they're old enough to handle it themselves. They will still learn safety, but providing a crossing guard helps prevent horrible accidents like the one with this girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

I agree kids need to learn safety but I don't get how this applies to the 9 year old. She got off the bus onto a street with no sidewalks and the bus made a right hand turn into her. This is a driver causes accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mentioned this issue on another thread. I live on a busy street but my kids are ultimately much safer because we have proper sidewalks. The county should make sidewalks a priority, especially around schools. For example, a few years ago MCPS spent millions to construct Silver Creek Middle School, but most of the neighborhood around the school has no sidewalks.

Quite a few of us in this neighborhood put a huge effort in to try and get sidewalks about 18 months ago. We got it through a county feasibility study, but the neighborhood opposition was extraordinary. The county now won't even hold the public hearing that they're required to hold as the next step in the process. A handful of people controlling the HOA and some very vocally opposed neighbors who called council members and county staff daily have effectively shut this down. Very unkind things were said on the listserv and directly to faces of families and neighbors in support of sidewalks. It's been painful to live through and really damaging to neighborhood relationships. We dread the day that there is an accident involving a neighbor (kid or adult) that makes this seem urgent. It shouldn't take a death to get action on sidewalks. My heart just breaks today reading about the child in Bradley Hills; I can't even fathom the pain of her family, school friends, and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

Yes, you're going to get flamed for it.

Kids are going to be kids. Roads need to be designed so that they are safe for kids who are being kids.

Also, PLENTY can be done to prevent crashes.

Also, when there is a crossing guard with a stop sign, drivers do not have the right of way. That's the whole point of having a crossing guard with a stop sign. What's more, most of the crossing guards are at intersections where the law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians. It's just that most drivers do not obey that law. Most drivers probably don't even know about that law.

Exactly. Kids need some help with crossing busy roads, before they're old enough to handle it themselves. They will still learn safety, but providing a crossing guard helps prevent horrible accidents like the one with this girl.

There are some excellent educational resources at this link for teaching students safe pedestrian and biking practices: https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/safe-routes-school/srts-program/basics. We can all do a lot more to work with our own kids on these safety tips, and probably more via PTAs and other school forums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mentioned this issue on another thread. I live on a busy street but my kids are ultimately much safer because we have proper sidewalks. The county should make sidewalks a priority, especially around schools. For example, a few years ago MCPS spent millions to construct Silver Creek Middle School, but most of the neighborhood around the school has no sidewalks.

Quite a few of us in this neighborhood put a huge effort in to try and get sidewalks about 18 months ago. We got it through a county feasibility study, but the neighborhood opposition was extraordinary. The county now won't even hold the public hearing that they're required to hold as the next step in the process. A handful of people controlling the HOA and some very vocally opposed neighbors who called council members and county staff daily have effectively shut this down. Very unkind things were said on the listserv and directly to faces of families and neighbors in support of sidewalks. It's been painful to live through and really damaging to neighborhood relationships. We dread the day that there is an accident involving a neighbor (kid or adult) that makes this seem urgent. It shouldn't take a death to get action on sidewalks. My heart just breaks today reading about the child in Bradley Hills; I can't even fathom the pain of her family, school friends, and community.

What's their problem with sidewalks?!

I live in Kentlands, where we have sidewalks throughout the entire neighborhood. It keeps everyone safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

I agree kids need to learn safety but I don't get how this applies to the 9 year old. She got off the bus onto a street with no sidewalks and the bus made a right hand turn into her. This is a driver causes accident.

who cares if the driver is at fault if the kid is dead? Kids need to be taught to never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever walk into the street unless they A, have the right of way, and B, have made eye contact with the driver. Never.

Kids are so used to being given the right of way when it's not their turn that they don't know how to do this simple thing -- cross the street. Yes, the driver hit the kid but the kid was in the road. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are some excellent educational resources at this link for teaching students safe pedestrian and biking practices: https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/safe-routes-school/srts-program/basics. We can all do a lot more to work with our own kids on these safety tips, and probably more via PTAs and other school forums.

I'll tell you what's endangering kids in my neighborhood: drivers. Drivers driving way too fast, drivers on phones, drivers disobeying the law by not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks (note that ALL intersections are crosswalks, including intersections where there aren't painted crosswalks), drivers rolling through stop signs, drivers barely even slowing down to turn right on red.

Until that changes, "safe pedestrian and biking practices" basically boils down to: Try really, really hard to stay out of the way of drivers, so that they don't hit you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

I agree kids need to learn safety but I don't get how this applies to the 9 year old. She got off the bus onto a street with no sidewalks and the bus made a right hand turn into her. This is a driver causes accident.

who cares if the driver is at fault if the kid is dead? Kids need to be taught to never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever walk into the street unless they A, have the right of way, and B, have made eye contact with the driver. Never.

Kids are so used to being given the right of way when it's not their turn that they don't know how to do this simple thing -- cross the street. Yes, the driver hit the kid but the kid was in the road. Why?

BECAUSE THERE'S NO DAMN SIDEWALK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will get flamed for this but kids need to be taught safety. They can't be ushered across the street by crossing guards. I know things happen and NOTHING can prevent an accident from occurring occasionally but crossing the street is a life skill these kids need to master before something like this happens. Crossing guards who stop traffic for kids to cross are doing them a disservice. They need to learn to cross an intersection that is fully functional.

Again, I know I'll get flamed for this but the crossing guards who stop traffic instead of working with traffic -- i.e., holding the kids on the corner until the light changes and then helping them cross, instead of STOPPING traffic that has the right of way -- don't help them learn this important life skill.

Again, not saying that has anything to do with yesterday's terrible accident -- just an observation I've made since my DC started school.

Yes, you're going to get flamed for it.

Kids are going to be kids. Roads need to be designed so that they are safe for kids who are being kids.

Also, PLENTY can be done to prevent crashes.

Also, when there is a crossing guard with a stop sign, drivers do not have the right of way. That's the whole point of having a crossing guard with a stop sign. What's more, most of the crossing guards are at intersections where the law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians. It's just that most drivers do not obey that law. Most drivers probably don't even know about that law.

Exactly. Kids need some help with crossing busy roads, before they're old enough to handle it themselves. They will still learn safety, but providing a crossing guard helps prevent horrible accidents like the one with this girl.

There are some excellent educational resources at this link for teaching students safe pedestrian and biking practices: https://www.saferoutespartnership.org/safe-routes-school/srts-program/basics. We can all do a lot more to work with our own kids on these safety tips, and probably more via PTAs and other school forums.

I'm the PP at the start of this post. One of the things we MUST do is to teach and reenforce -- reenforce, reenforce, reenforce, reenforce. How is a crossing guard stopping traffic that has a green light reenforcing to kids that they should wait for the light to be in their favor? They wait on the sidewalk until the flashing light changes and the street light changes. Yet the crossing guards walk out into oncoming traffic to stop it so they can cross. This does NOT reenforce safety rules.

Also, there are crossing guards at intersections with 4-way stop signs, on roads that have speed limits of 25 mph, stepping out into the street so kids can cross. These are not kids with special needs. They should be able to master simple skills like this.

[Anonymous]

Honest to Pete, here's a 9-year-old, run over and killed by a schoolbus, and what does the PP focus on? How KIDS need to learn how to not get run over and killed.

[Anonymous]

It would be cheaper to install those flexible, reflective poles along the side of the road rather than sidewalks. I always see women jogging with strollers in the road instead of using the sidewalks. We have a father in a wheelchair in our neighborhood -- with sidewalks -- who takes his wheelchair along the road, sometimes with a kid in his lap, instead of using the sidewalk. You can't keep people safe if they aren't willing to follow the rules anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm the PP at the start of this post. One of the things we MUST do is to teach and reenforce -- reenforce, reenforce, reenforce, reenforce. How is a crossing guard stopping traffic that has a green light reenforcing to kids that they should wait for the light to be in their favor? They wait on the sidewalk until the flashing light changes and the street light changes. Yet the crossing guards walk out into oncoming traffic to stop it so they can cross. This does NOT reenforce safety rules.

Also, there are crossing guards at intersections with 4-way stop signs, on roads that have speed limits of 25 mph, stepping out into the street so kids can cross. These are not kids with special needs. They should be able to master simple skills like this.

PP, you know why there are crossing guards at intersections like that? Because drivers don't stop at stop signs, don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks at stop signs. Let's focus on that. Licensed drivers should be able to master simple skills like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest to Pete, here's a 9-year-old, run over and killed by a schoolbus, and what does the PP focus on? How KIDS need to learn how to not get run over and killed.

Seriously, you don't think that would be helpful for kids to know?????

This is not the thread about the 9 year old. It is a thread about sidewalks. Read before you get all agitated PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be cheaper to install those flexible, reflective poles along the side of the road rather than sidewalks. I always see women jogging with strollers in the road instead of using the sidewalks. We have a father in a wheelchair in our neighborhood -- with sidewalks -- who takes his wheelchair along the road, sometimes with a kid in his lap, instead of using the sidewalk. You can't keep people safe if they aren't willing to follow the rules anyway.

I, personally, have 100 pictures of flexible, reflective poles that drivers have run over.