In the last state legislative session, the BCM sponsored legislation to
require a minimal amount of traffic safety education throughout all public
school grade levels, K-12. This would cover both walking and bicycling
safety, and at the upper high school levels, include driving safely around
pedestrians and bicyclists. Unfortunately, the bill stalled out when a
fiscal note was attached to it, and funding was not found for it. I'm
pretty sure we will be trying again next time. (I'm on their Legislative &
Policy Committee that decided this.) So that's one longer term but very
comprehensive statewide strategy, and I will certainly let the group know
if and when it gets to the point of asking citizens to contact their
legislators to support it.
Shorter term and more locally, the BCM promotes Walk & Bike to School days
throughout the year, which are an excellent opportunity to work with
teachers and administrators to put safety information in the hands of
students. That is a possible project for anyone on the committee with the
interest and time, and timely now that school has just started up again.
Angela, what would be the best way for someone interested in helping with a
Bike/Walk to School Day to get involved? Contact a school, or BCM, or who?
On Mon, Sep 10, 2018 at 3:34 PM Dennis Marrotte <
dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello,
After returning from a weekend Reunion of Cousins in MA., I was just
stopped in the Left Turn Lane, westbound, waiting for a Green L / T Arrow
from WCD to Stroudwater Street. I was unable to get any photos but the
scene is burnt into my mind. A Boy, 12 - 13 Years old, with a school
backpack, walked across The east bound lanes of WCD, on the Crosswalk, from
the South side of Stroudwater Street to the median cutout, stopped for an
instant, then started walking across the west bound lanes of WCD, just as
the 2 Left Turn Lanes from Stroudwater Street to WCD westbound for the
Green Arrows. About 3 - 4 cars in both Lanes suddenly saw that boy, running
across the two Westbound WCD Lanes and slammed on their brakes. Very Close
to multiple rearend collisions AND a WMS Boy getting hit by the leading two
cars in both lanes.... I do not know if the Boy pushed the Crosswalk
Controls Pushbutton or not.
But nothing happened except may be a few dirty undershorts and some
profanities. Thank God all the Drivers were paying attention at 3:05 PM
Monday afternoon.....
Education on how to use the Pedestrian Activated Crosswalk Controls needs
to be a PRIORITY in Schools or we Will have a Fatality.
Dennis Marrotte
