Mill Run Bus Service

I'll wait to hear back from LCPS. We aren't in the box on the map. I assumed the box would be larger. When I walked it in April, the shortest distance was .95 and LCPS agreed in March that we were more than .8.

 

The problem I see with the route drawn on this map is that it is using HOA trails as the "official" walk route. The HOA has no responsibility to maintain these trails during the winter months. In fact, I'm pretty sure the trails shown are not maintained.
Public sidewalks do have requirements to be cleared. I would confirm if the LCPS is using private trails for the walk zone to their public school. If so, then LCPS should work out an arrangement with the HOA to pay the HOA to clear them.

 

LET EM WALK! And yes, I have a child that is impacted.

 

I am on the other side of Claiborne and feel STRONGLY that the kids should be bused. And yes, that's more important to me than staying at Mill Run in the long term, since the SAFETY of my kids is far more important to me than which one of the excellent schools in this area they attend. The only possible walking path from where we are is on HOA-owned paths and through the HOA-maintained tunnel (which my youngest refuses to use, which is a separate issue, I suppose). Using that path and tunnel adds a not-insignificant amount to the walking distance (compared to crossing Claiborne directly), but crossing Claiborne is clearly and dramatically unsafe.

If Claiborne were a marked school zone (as it is at Hillside where they also use a tunnel), had a crossing guard, and were safe to cross, then my opinion might change, but they are unwilling to consider any of those changes. So no, my kids will not be walking to Mill Run, walk zone or not. And I've made that very clear to the transportation office and our school board rep, as should anyone else who feels the same.

And if you don't, that's fine too - feel free to come walk my kid to school every morning if you want!

 

my section of Highview Trail (if you look at the walk zone map previously released during the boundary debate) has 14 children in the bottom of the cul-de-sac that technically should have been on the bus. also, there were 2 routes in the morning and yes, the driver took names of kids as they got on the bus too. same thing with the Eagle Ridge bus eligible kids last year. if you weren't on the list, you couldn't ride.

 

This is an issue for the Dominion Trail ES walk zone adjustments. I could be wrong (and I hope I am) but I believe that LCPS uses the W&OD Trail as a walking route to get to school. That section of the Trail is isolated and hidden and not safe for children walking alone or in small groups. If something were to happen to children or they were accosted in that area, there aren't many people around to hear a call for help. Additionally, the HOA is not responsible for clearing the W&OD Trail in cases of snow or ice. Children walking on sidewalks along roadways are much safer.

I would be interested to see what the suggested walking routes are in the areas affected by the adjustments (or new enforcement). I like the idea of having more children walk to school, but not if the route is not vetted and safe.

 

Ok, I get the desire for the security/safety aspect of walking to school, but is it really the schools responsibilty? If you fear for your child's safety walking on a path vs. a sidewalk, then walk with them or make arrangments for a trusted adult to accompany them. When the paths are covered in snow the AVERAGE 1-2 days a year, then have them walk the extra distance on sidewalks or drive them in (or put them in boots!). A pristine walking environment is not a requirement.

 

There are a lot more elementary kids in the end of those streets than anyone wants to think. Of the 18 houses on our street, we have over 15 elementary-aged kids.

 

Is it the school (district)'s responsibility to ensure that there is a safe passage for all of the county's children to school? Per their own policy, yes. Obviously if my kids walk to school, I'll be walking with them - part of the issue is that doing so is logistically difficult with smaller kids, but I accept that as a personal issue and would drive my daughter to school without much fuss if that were the only issue.

If there were a safe route other than the HOA paths (which can be snow-covered, or flooded, or poorly lit, or covered in tree branches, or...you get the idea) then I would use them. My argument is that there IS NO other path - the only other way to get from my house to Mill Run is to cross Claiborne - a four-lane divided highway, with no school zone, crosswalk, or crossing guard - on foot, which is completely insane for a four- or five-year-old. (And ill-advised for most other people.) That's it. There are no other routes.

 

There is a crosswalk at the Claiborne/Ridgeway/Wynridge intersection, but I will agree that it could be dicey to cross in the morning. Perhaps crossing Wynridge and using the tunnel a bit further down would be a safer option.
As for the paths, sidewalks can have the same issues, well, except maybe the poorly lit. I doubt that has ever been an issue since school hours start well after the sun has come up.

 

The section on the far side of Wynridge has a bus (they are actually the ONLY area slated for bus service, as far as I can tell) - and walking to that intersection to cross would add a significant distance coming from our direction. The tunnel is the only "accepted" walking route, and is the one I don't agree with using as the one and only route from this side.

And while school hours may start after the sun has come up (not "well after" in the winter), to get my kids there on time we would be leaving in the dark for a large chunk of the school year - we would need to be out the door by about 7am, which is still very dark (and pre-sunrise) in the winter.

Having five-year-olds walking to school on and across a major roadway, with hundreds of cars on the road, just as the sun is coming up (or before), at the same time that high school kids are driving to before-school activities, is a recipe for disaster. I'm not willing to gamble my kids' safety so that the school district can save a relatively negligible amount when they have refused to consider other cost-saving alternatives.

 

let's be honest Tater....if they mention snow, school gets cancelled anyway.

 

I saw this posted somewhere online:

http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/

 

We have already started this for our immediate neighborhood. We have about 10 kids already and parents who will monitor.

 

We have been doing something similiar to this on my street for over 6 years. Different parents take turns walking the kids to school. At one point we had 5 families so I only had to walk one day a week with a bunch of kids. It is great because you can talk to the kids and get some exercise too. Yes, I will admit walking in the rain and cold can be a drag, but with enough people you only do it once a week or less.

I know some people who have to have their kids at the bus stop earlier than you need to leave to walk the kids to school due to the amount of stops. Also, with the older kids going to school later, you might be able to find a high school student to pay to walk the kids. Easier than a paper route!

 

Kind of surprised that kids in Broadlands North; Dobson, Stillbrook.Evening Breeze & Waxpool are still getting buses for MRES. Those streets range .3-.6 miles from both schools, there are contiguous sidewalks and no requirement to cross a 55MPH divided highway (Claiborne). Seems like a LCPS oversight, these streets are much closer than those on Highview/Ridgeway and Village of Waxpool.

Regardless Ridgeway is going to be a First Class cluster - now that 300+ kids are being added as walkers.

 

My guess is the need for a crossing guard on Waxpool Road at the entrance to Eagle Ridge and the fact that kids would have to walk across the bus entrance to the school...requiring another crossing guard...is why they still get bussed.