We don't talk about it much

We don't talk about it much, but maybe we should.

As we seek to make our children more aware of traffic dangers, some feel we need to increase awareness of other dangers as well. In particular, some parents have suggested we remember the two attempted child abductions which occurred along the periphery of the Intermediate School last Spring.

In response to such feedback, the Safe Routes to School team is considering is a program called radKIDS. Per their literature:

"Other safety programs give children general guidance rules, show videos or simply "talk" to the children. radKIDS® is dedicated to providing our children with a hands-on, activity-based physical skill development program to empower our children with options, not fear." http://www.radkids.org/.

To implement a radKIDS program in Chagrin Falls would cost approximately $12,000. Assuming we receive the maximum funding opportunity of $300,000 this fall, the radKIDS portion would be 4% of the total.

What are your thoughts on this type of training? Should it be something the Safe Routes to School team explores?

Biking to the Middle School?

I spoke recently with a Middle School student who told me some of his friends used to ride their bikes to school, but eventually gave up because "they make it too hard." Does anyone reading this have kids who bike to the Middle School now? Or kids who used to? Or kids who would like to, but don't?

The Chagrin Falls Safe Routes to School team is just beginning to explore how we might make biking to the Middle School easier and safer. One idea we're considering would involve creating a bike path -- perhaps along the Rec. Center edge of the Middle School/High School campus. Of course, the Rec Center would be intimately involved in any such projects. At this point, we're in the brainstorming stage, and wondering what you think.

Intermediate School kids darting across East Washington and Philomethian

Some members of our team have observed "near-miss" incidents along the periphery of the Intermediate School -- children darting out into oncoming traffic as they make their way home from school across East Washington or Philomethian. Our initial survey of businesses along East Washington and Philomethian corroborate the sense that some of our children have developed dangerous pedestrian habits.

The question is, how do we re-train that behavior? One idea we've considered would involve a group of high school student mentors. We would have such mentors come into Intermediate School classrooms to engage 4th through 6th graders in classroom activities/discussions designed to increase awareness. (Of course, we'd set this up as a program offering high school students Community Service hours.) Because high schoolers tend to rank higher on the "cool" scale than do moms and dads, such a program may prove effective.

We could enlist the help of a professional organization such as Earth Day Coalition to train our high school mentors. Because any activity which promotes walking is, by its very nature, "green," this is the type of assignment Earth Day Coalition would consider. (Their organization is also familiar with Safe Routes to School funding.)

What do you think? Would such re-training be enough?

Do we also need adult crossing guards?

Do we need to re-think where we've positioned our crosswalks? Many have suggested that we create a crosswalk immediately in front of the Intermediate School entrance on East Washington, since that's where kids are crossing anyway. What are your thoughts?

Is anyone concerned about Bell Street traffic?

Some members of the community have encouraged our team to explore ways we might help slow down traffic along Bell Street.

What's your experience? Do you feel the average speed of cars along Bell has increased over the past few years? If so, do you perceive that increased speed as a barrier to safe pedestrian travel?

If necessary, how might we slow drivers down?