Dear City Council Members, Please see the email below that I just sent to our mailing list. I'm very concerned about the rate of child/bike-related incidents that are occurring. You must do everything you can to expedite all Safe Routes-related initiatives. Thank you, Jen Wolosin ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Parents for Safe Routes Date: Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 9:08 AM Subject: [parents4saferoutes] 4 (Yes, 4!!!) Child-Related Bicycle Accidents This Week in Menlo Park To: Parents for Safe Routes We're at a Fork in the Road - Which Way Will We Go? *The City of Menlo Park experienced four** child-related cycling incidents in the past week*. Yes, *four* (that we know about). - 9/5 - 3:20pm, Case # 17-2794 - 12 year old turning left from Middle onto Arbor broadsided. Minor injury reported. - 9/6 - Approx 8am - Case # 17-2905 - Middle school child doored on Olive before Santa Cruz. Fractured collar bone. - 9/11 - 3:34pm - Case # 17-2878 - Crossing Santa Cruz at Oakdell. Middle school child turning onto Oakdell and car leaving Oakdell turning left on Santa Cruz collided. Child with scrapes and bruises. - 9/12 - Approx 5pm - Case # 17-2897 - Middle school child riding on sidewalk hit while attempting to cross Middle Ave. on El Camino Real. Minor injury (hurt wrist). Thankfully, none of the above accidents resulted in serious, life-threatening physical injury. Is this rate of collision typical for the start of the school season? Are there more of these incidents occurring that are left unreported? How many near misses are experienced every day? At what point do we say, as a community, "enough!"? NOW is the time to get serious about Safe Routes. Parents, neighbors, community leaders, business owners, schools, police, fire, everyone, must come together to make our streets safe for children. We must work together to engineer Safe Routes, educate ourselves and our children and enforce (both via the police and ourselves) traffic rules. We can do this! Parents for Safe Routes is here to help lead, but we need YOU. Please come to our talk on *September 19th at 6:30pm at Hillview *(details below) to learn what you can do to be part of the solution. Please forward this message to your personal network, post on Facebook, and encourage those you know to attend. Have folks join our mailing list ( https://www . parents4saferoutes.org/join-us). This is important. We don't have to accept the status quo. Together, we can make a huge difference. SIncerely, Jen --------------------------------------- You are invited to attend the kick-off event of the Menlo Park City School District (MPCSD) annual speaker series. Jen Wolosin, Founder and Chair of Parents for Safe Routes, will deliver "Between Home and School: Why Safe Routes Matter and How to Make Them Happen." Following Jen's talk, there will be a panel discussion featuring: - Kirsten Keith, Menlo Park Mayor, - Bianca Walser, Menlo Park Complete Streets Commission Chair, - Theresa Vallez-Kelly, San Mateo County Safe Route to School Coordinator, and; - Penny Ellson, longtime Palo Alto Safe Routes Parent Champion. In 1969, 50% of kids nationwide walked or biked to school and enjoyed the benefits of healthier bodies and minds, increased independence and confidence, and greater community connectedness. In contrast, just 13% of American kids walked or biked to school in 2009. If you're tired of driving your kids less than a mile to school, and/or are worried about traffic and safety on our streets, come learn how many are advocating for children in our community to be able to walk and bike to school safely, and be inspired to join the Safe Routes movement. - Tuesday, September 19th at 6:30pm - Hillview Middle School, Performing Arts Center - 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park, CA https://maps.google.com/?q=1100+Elder+Ave.,+Menlo+Park,+CA&entry=gmail&source=g > - Free and open to the public - Free onsite childcare (and pizza!) for potty trained children - Light snacks and beverages provided -- *Jen Wolosin* Founder and Chair Parents for Safe Routes www.parents4saferoutes.org jen_at_(domainremoved)-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Parents for Safe Routes" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to parents4saferoutes+unsubscribe_at_(domainremoved)To post to this group, send email to parents4saferoutes_at_(domainremoved)To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/ msgid/parents4saferoutes/8b192055-78f5-434c-a5b8- 126fd7e18887%40googlegroups.com https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/parents4saferoutes/8b192055-78f5-434c-a5b8-126fd7e18887%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer > . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout . -- *Jen Wolosin* Parents for Safe Routes www.parents4saferoutes.org jenwolosin_at_(domainremoved)415.710.5838 Received on Thu Sep 14 2017 - 09:17:42 PDT
