There is a pedestrian crossing on 124th Avenue between Blackstock Street and Davison Street. Anyone who knows the neighborhood was also aware of the two schools, Maple Ridge Secondary School and Alouette Elementary School. There is also a new Montessori school on the corner of 124th and Davison Street. Now why am I giving you all these details about this neighborhood, you may ask. It so happens that in the mornings before school starts and afternoons after school ends, one can find many children crossing the road to get to either of these schools.
What I have realized is, many of the parents will drop the children off just before or after the crossing so that they can safely cross the road to school.
124th Avenue can be very busy on any given day. Although posted signs indicating the presence of children, many drivers did not slow down when approaching the crossing.
There is a car that perpetually parks just at the crossing on Davison and 124th. I had seen children on several occasions attempting to cross, inch closer to the open road to look in either direction before they passed. Sometimes, cars came close to running them over because the parked car blinds the view of oncoming drivers. At other times, the children will jaywalk in an area where they are visible to the driver.
I always wonder. When will this car be moved? Is it legal to park so close to the pedestrian crossing to endanger lives? Has anyone else seen this but not paid attention to it, or am I a paranoid parent? Are we waiting for the unthinkable to happen at the crossing before we do something? I am sure others have seen this vehicle too.
I couldn't continue to watch that car every day and see children put their lives in danger. Let us try to remove obstacles before something happens. I am for the safety of all, not just a select few or just mine. Let us live by the words, "it takes a village to raise a child."
According to Albert Einstein, and I quote;
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Peace!