Parking congestion around Sea to Sky schools is a year-round concern but with the weather turning cold and rainy, school officials are worried the problem could get worse.
Erin Boisvert, the principal of Garibaldi Highlands Elementary, posted a reminder on the school’s website on Oct. 21.
“We are an expanding neighborhood school and with the weather turning, I have to reiterate the importance of safety,” she wrote.
“Please remember that the loop is for drop-off and pick-up only. If you are able to continue to walk or ride bikes, even as the weather turns, we would appreciate you continuing with that routine.”
Issues around parking congestion made the news in September when resident Lori Grant wrote to the District council about cars parked on Portree Way.
Grant said she was concerned about the high number of cars parked on both sides of the road during drop-off and pick-up times at Garibaldi Highlands Elementary, despite the no parking signs.
“By installing a culvert and filling the ditch, the municipality could install a curb, gutter, and sidewalk to allow students and parents to move off of the roadway,” wrote Grant in an email to The Chief.
Squamish parent Margo Dent told The Chief the parking issue has been going on for a long time at the elementary school, and a big part of the problem is attitude, not signage.
“My biggest frustration with parents is they see everything as everyone else’s problem to solve, as opposed to ‘What can I do?’” said Dent, adding that there is a lot that parents and kids can do to reduce congestion and make the school safer for everyone.
She said the safest day of the school year is when a pizza party is offered for walk and bike to school day, because students insist on making their own way sans car. If that was a regular occurrence, there would be fewer cars and more safety in numbers for walkers, according to Dent.
“Kids are being taught that the rules don’t apply when we’re in a hurry. I know there are reasons people have to, it’s not a solution for everybody, but if 50 per cent of people walked to school it would be less of an issue,” she said.
The District’s official School Travel Planning to Garibaldi Highlands Elementary includes Portree, despite the lack of sidewalks.
On Tuesday, councillors received an update from staff on what can be done about residential speeding, another concern for young pedestrians making their way to school.
The problem with residential speeding, much like school parking, is that much of the infrastructure in Squamish was built for rural use, said Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
More cars and pedestrians exacerbate safety issues, like a lack of sidewalks and parking on roads like Judd Road in Brackendale or Perth Drive in the Highlands. “All of a sudden, it becomes busier, and you realize there are deficiencies. We really want to keep on top of it,” she said.
On Tuesday, staff said the School Travel Planning, which was developed in 2015 to identify safe walking routes, is part of the way that District is prioritizing problem areas for improvement.
The other problem, according to Heintzman, is the irony that it’s the people living in the neighbourhood who are speeding. In the same way, parents illegally parked should be the ones most concerned about student safety. “Changing people’s patterns and behaviours take a long time. If you’re in a routine of parking here, dropping off your kid here, it takes time to change.”
