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but walking/biking needs more study

October 16, 2009 12:36 am

IATTENDED THE recent public meeting at Rocky Run Elementary School regarding walking zones. Even though public notice on the district Web site stated that School Board members might be present, none of the sitting members, including Hartwood representative Doreen Phillips, attended. Nobody from The Free Lance-Star attended the meeting, and the article on Oct. 2 severely minimized the concerns discussed ["Stafford schools promote walking"].

Interestingly, Noreen Crowley, who is challenging Phillips, did attend the meeting and our PTO meeting three days later. Such interest is unprecedented, and I sincerely hope that Crowley is elected and that she will continue to attend meetings and events at Rocky Run. She certainly has my vote.

Regarding the proposal: As a child I walked or biked to school with several friends. It was part of our daily lives, and nobody gave it a second thought. I totally agree that a healthy lifestyle of walking and biking should be promoted. However, there are many challenges in 2009 that did not exist when I was a student. These were clearly outlined by parents and bus drivers at the meeting, but nobody took notes and, again, no School Board representatives attended.

There are some schools that would lend themselves nicely to such a program, but not Rocky Run. The most important concern is the safety and security of our children. I do not live in the affected area, but I care deeply about the school and all of the students. The proposal for Rocky Run includes two paths--one very close to a water-retention pond and another that runs downhill into the only access for vehicular traffic. The county is proposing the use of 8-foot fences and other improvements, but this does not change the fact that walkers/bikers would arrive or be dismissed among running cars and buses.

The safeguards currently in place to ensure student safety cannot be implemented for walkers and will cause more parents to opt for the car-rider option, which will extend that queue considerably. This will add to the vehicular congestion around which non-transported students must navigate. There are also no provisions for safely storing bikes. Will Stafford County public schools be held liable for damage or theft? The Safe Routes to School grant program will pay only for infrastructure improvements, not crossing guards. Will teachers and administrators be relegated to this duty?

There are also two commercial businesses within walking distance of the affected homes and the school--a hotel and a new Walmart. The many non-residents driving in the immediate area exacerbate the problem.

Lastly, I feel that this proposal may place an undue burden on parents who work outside of the home. With bus transportation, parents have reasonable assurance that their children are put on a bus at the end of the school day, and they know the approximate time that the bus will arrive home. They also know that there are controls in place to locate buses and riders. Unlike the parents who are at home, these parents will not simply be able to follow the assigned path and find their children.

Many working parents utilize before- and after-school programs. Currently, Stafford County provides bus transportation from Minnieland at Stafford Lakes to Rocky Run Elementary School. Because this facility is within the walking zone, the center would be required to provide transportation to the school. This will likely result in a cost increase for the parents, and again places an undue burden on them.

I believe that walking zones should be purely optional and that buses should continue to run on the affected routes for those families that rely on such service. Additionally, any parents who want their children to utilize the walking paths should be required to register and release Stafford County public schools from any liability regarding the safety of their children and their belongings.

Laura Dean lives in Stafford County.