Kids are at risk getting to and from Cordova Bay Elementary School, say parents, with the danger coming on all sides.

Karen Short feels her nine-year-old son should be able to walk to school, but a lack of pedestrian infrastructure on busy Cordova Bay Road near the school keeps him on the other side of the road.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been frustrating,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 live 300 metres from the school and I canB次元官网网址檛 have my child walk safely to school.B次元官网网址�

In an age where parents are frequently accused of being B次元官网网址渉elicopter parents,B次元官网网址� she wants him to have independence and he does as long as he stays on the side of the road where his Matticks Wood home lies.

On a given school day during drop off Short sees mayhem as vehicles line both gravel sides of the road B次元官网网址� despite no parking signs B次元官网网址� clogging the path for pedestrians to get to the only nearby crosswalk at Fenn Avenue at the south side of the school. Those drivers are also generally dropping young students off into that same traffic-laden scenario, she said.

Saanich does have a project underway that includes a crosswalk for the north end of the block.

The project will see the installation of sidewalk, curb and bike lane on the west side of the road, with curb and multi-use pathway (including bike lane) on the east side of Cordova Bay Road. Several new sidewalks are planned with raised crosswalks on Cordova Bay at Fenn, Rambler and Walema roads. Rambler will also be realigned for a shorter crossing with new ramps.

The $2-million project design is nearly complete with Saanich anticipating tendering in spring 2025.

In the interim, Short sees mayhem and potential harm every morning and afternoon. She would like to see some form of traffic calming in the interim, before tragedy strikes the community. SheB次元官网网址檚 open to any form of calming and hopes Saanich, the school district and the school itself will consider crossing guards once something is in place.

Short readily admits there are fewer kids on the side of the community her family lives on. Many more travel from the other side of the school where concerns over safety for those commuting by foot were heightened with the recent removal of stop signs on Lochside Drive at Wilema Road. With stop signs on Lochside removed, the once four-way stop is now a two-way stop for drivers on Wilema.

The concerns prompted an that garnered 300 signatures within three days.

B次元官网网址淐ordova Bay Elementary is in a residential area where stop signs help control traffic. Their removal increases the risk of accidents, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that around two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersections and unmarked crosswalks,B次元官网网址� reads the petition. B次元官网网址淩estoring the stop signs would improve safety not only for children but also for cyclists, seniors, and other residents. It is a simple yet essential action to protect our community.B次元官网网址�

In a similar time-frame, the District of Saanich and the mayorB次元官网网址檚 office started to see an influx of letters outlining similar concerns, said Mayor Dean Murdock.

There is B次元官网网址渁 bit of confusion about the change,B次元官网网址� he said, after joining parents and kids at the intersection on Thursday (Oct. 10) during the morning rush.

B次元官网网址淭he concern for me was making sure that kids and parents can get across Lochside safely. Clearly, there were a number of kids and parents making their way to and from the school,B次元官网网址� he told the Saanich B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some work to do to make it as safe as it can be for people out there.B次元官网网址�

There are future improvements planned for Lochside B次元官网网址� a part of the regional trail traditionally busy with walking, rolling and driving users B次元官网网址� to slow vehicles and make it safer for all users. Some of those improvements require larger changes and those take longer to deliver,B次元官网网址� the mayor said.

While the petition specifically calls for a return of the stop signs on Lochside Drive, Saanich will look at the impacts of the change and consider options.

B次元官网网址淭here are future improvements coming to Lochside to make it safer, to slow vehicles down to make it safer for everybody using it. In the meantime we want to make sure itB次元官网网址檚 safe for folks to get through there,B次元官网网址� Murdock said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got kids of my own, both of whom walk or take the bus to school. B次元官网网址� As a parent, you certainly want (to know) that your kid is going to come home at the end of the day. Road safety is our priority and weB次元官网网址檙e making sure that weB次元官网网址檙e making it safer for everybody.B次元官网网址�