Dear City Council,
My oldest daughter, Vera (10), spoke publicly at one of your meetings earlier this year, but she cant make it tonight because shes got rehearsal for her schools musical.
It goes without saying that my husband and I love our daughter, and we love her school (Laurel Elementary), and part of the reason we chose to live in Menlo Park is because of the safety and sense of community it offers. Thats why Im in support of your proposed changes to Coleman Ave, and any other reasonable safety measures you can make along her bike commute.
She rides M-F, with a small group of friends, from Menlo Oaks Dr, a left on Coleman, down Coleman, across Willow, through Willow Oaks Park, and then a quick jog over to Upper Laurels campus. The only part of this that feels dangerous is Coleman Ave, and it feels extremely dangerous.
My youngest child and I were driving down Coleman two years back during the morning commute hour and witnessed a high school student, biking according to all bike safety rules, get hit by a car. Heres a brief rundown of how the accident happened, as I watched it all unfold:
1. Traffic on Coleman in the Eastbound direction was VERY backed up
2. The car directly in front of me, Eastbound, darted into the empty Westbound lane instead, hoping to bypass the traffic
3. She zoomed along until eventually oncoming Westbound traffic started honking at her as they approached her head on
4. Two high school boys, biking Westbound toward MA, were crossing the intersection of Coleman and Santa Monica Ave
5. Panicked because oncoming traffic was now approaching, the driver whipped a quick left onto Santa Monica and completely crashed into one of the two boys
His bike was damaged, and he was limping, but I asked if he needed help and he said NO and pedalled his bent up bike toward MA with his friend.
I followed the driver, who pulled over on Santa Monica, and (admittedly) yelled at her: "YOU JUST HIT SOMEONES CHILD WITH YOUR CAR WHILE HE TRIED TO BIKE TO SCHOOL." Her only response, "Look, he biked away. Hes fine. Hes totally fine. Everythings OK. Its no problem." My then 3-year-old continues to mention, to this day, "Mommy, remember that day we saw the boy get hit by a car on his bike?"
No child should get hit by a car on their way to school. Relying solely on drivers to behave cautiously on their own is clearly not an option.
Please produce increased safety on Coleman Avenue.
Thanks,
Jessica Endlich
956 Menlo Oaks Dr
