Unsafe conditions for our children

Jennifer Jenkins
Published: September 4, 2008

Last week I received a postcard from the Prince William County Public Schools Transportation Department that advised where my daughter’s bus stop would be for the 2008–2009 school year. I admit I
was a bit surprised and confused when I did not readily recognize the names of the roads where her bus stop was scheduled. 

For as long as I — as well as the other community parents —could remember, the school bus had always picked up the children at our subdivision entrance. We live in the Oaklands subdivision which is
located at Olivewood Road off of Hoadly Road; my daughter would be going to Osbourn Park High School

After further research, I found out that Transportation is expecting my daughter to catch the bus at 6:25 a.m. by first walking the tenth of a mile to our subdivision entrance, then walking another
approximately quarter of a mile down Hoadly Road — there are no sidewalks. Important to note is that this is also the very location where on July 29 — barely four weeks ago — a child was struck and
killed by a car. After completing that dangerous stretch of Hoadly Road, my daughter is then expected to walk yet another tenth of a mile or so down the next road, Reserve Lane — which also has not
only no sidewalk but no shoulders either — until she gets to the intersection of Reserve Lane, Maxfield Court and Token Forest Drive.

She does have an alternate if she so chooses, however, to try to avoid Hoadly Road where some of the motorists can hit speeds upward of 80 mph. She can always cut through some neighbors’ yards,
through the woods, and then onto Token Forest Lane, continuing about a quarter mile down this again dangerous, no shoulders and no sidewalks, road to the four-way stop. Obviously not a “safe”
alternative, lesser of two evils; however, I would not bet on it.

I would love some answers.

Why was the decision made to change the location of this bus stop? In order to save gas? Time?  What is worth more — a child’s life or a tank of gas? Something as small as a change BACK to a safe
location should not be difficult to accomplish, in less than 24 hours I am sure. Please revert back to the original bus stop today so that our children will be safe tomorrow

JENNIFER JENKINS

Manassas