Number of MIS/HPMS Carpool Lane Offenders on the Rise
On March 22 another e-mail went out to parents asking for cooperation with carpool lane procedures. This was something like the 900th reminder of the sort during this school year. It looks like a few people were still fuzzy on the rules this morning. More awesome photos after the jump.
Mon, March 22, 2010 2:34:11 PM
MIS/HPMS Traffic Safety
From: Laurie Norton
By Merritt Patterson
Apr. 6, 2010 | 8:51 am | 50 Comments | Comments RSS
50 comments to "Number of MIS/HPMS Carpool Lane Offenders on the Rise"
All I know is how its run at Bradfield, which is reasonably well-done. I once had a stiletto-booted Mom stand in the middle of Southern, and put heel of said boot up on my bumper to let cars exit the end of carpool, when she thought that I had incorrectly exited the carpool in the middle (in the morning, once you are in carpool, you stay in it). Power to her, she kept it moving and orderly!!
So at MIS, is there anyone outside to manage the flow? Has Principal Norton ever called anyone in to her office to have a little chat, as Dr. McNutt allegedly did with one middle-of-the-road drop-off parent.
I’d like to say I feel better after that rant. But I do not since I know tomorrow I will see the same type of behavior. It is unbelievable, really.
We do not have a carpool line like preschool where the teacher will put your sweeties in the car for you. These are big kids – they can walk a block or two – even in the rain! Pick them up on Golf….be creative.
If you really want to help, email your pta presidents or the admin and put your name down to volunteer.
@TH
That is Dennis and he thinks it is his job to keep the traffic moving (and it may be his job I don’t know). If you are caught in that trap you can move up to the area of the cue line just west of the tennis courts, as it is almost always empty….you don’t have to drop your kid off at the “prime space” in front of the door.
@Sharpay
You have identified the main problem: dropping the kids off at the “prime space”. The cue line actually goes up to the tennis courts. If we all tried to pull as far up the lane as possible I think it would make things easier. The trouble is that out kids would have to (shudder) W.A.L.K 50 yards.
OR – the officer has a digital camera, snapping pictures of each offender – then mailing them the $500.00 ticket (that doubles with each additional offense).
We could add that the officer has a paintball gun that they shoot the offending vehicle with, then everyone knows that if you are driving with bright orange paint splotches on your car you were one of the parents driving like an priveledged, self important a$$hole at school.
Said officer would also be nudging everyone to pull up in the line as other’s exit it, rather that stubbornly or cluelessly staying parked where they are, leaving big gaps in the pickup lane – encouraging the self important boobs to cut in line in the first place. You don’t move, you get the paintball. If a driver exit’s their car – they get the paintball (and a $500.00 ticket).
It’s been 4 years since I did my 4 years over there and I still feel my blood pressure going up when I think about it…..obviously……soooo thankful my last kid is driving now!
I would love to have my children walk but we live too far from their schools to make walking practical (although we do enjoy walking from time-to-time).
Kmom, that’s why I’m trying so hard to get Merritt to sign up for safety patrol next year. The flag could say instead: Smile your on the PCP Blog!
My final idea is to make all the cross streets: Granada, Binkley, Shenadoah, ONE WAY : alternating. That way I don’t have to risk life limb and rear view mirror.
People cut in line because some people have to go to work and don’t have time to wait for the person in front to finish texting the maid. Come on guys, let the PTA pay for a street person to guard the lines or deal with it!!
It will be better. Won’t it? New parking spaces?
It is always the same people – I only pick up anywhere near the school one day a week — and I see the same cars double parked (blocking the road such that cars that are not even in the carpool system can’t get by!) every week! And I can only assume that this is their “rightful” spot every day!
Merritt – I know you and Chief Adams are BFF – do you think he is reading these comments?
Seriously – I would feel terrible if I made my child cross and active carpool lane and he got hit (pain, suffering, medical bills, physical therapy, tutors) — but is it fair for me to impose my carelessness on the law-abiding citizen who hits him??? Imagine the guilt they will feel for hitting your rule-breaking child! BE FAIR to YOUR CHILD AND OTHER DRIVERS!!
Lastly (???) — what kind of example are you cheaters setting for your child?? Rules don’t apply to YOU — what makes you think that you are raising a child who thinks the rules apply to THEM?? How can you in good faith enforce any rules that you set at home?? They learn by example.
Is this where you sense of entitlement began? Your parents taught you that the rules didn’t apply to them – so by right of inheritance, they don’t apply to you?
AHHHH – I feel better – but sadly I know nothing will change. How depressing. It’s the CIRCLE OF LIFE in the bubble…
Others, on the other hand, unabashedly turn south from Mockingbird onto Douglas, cutting in front of hordes of patient, idling moms. Invariably these violators pick the days when it’s pouring down rain or I’m in my pajamas — so I haven’t had the pleasure of a confrontation . . . yet.
Also, do me a favor and don’t pull within 3 inches of my bumper so when my child goes to the trunk to put her instrument, backpack, sports equipment in or out of the trunk you won’t smash her when your impatient foot slips off the brake and you crush her between your bumper and mine.
Ok, Penny is not far off here. Except for the 5th graders who might still be 10 (fewer and fewer these days) for the most part you have mature kids who can handle crossing the street. We park across the street, and sometimes (gasp!) they don’t use the crosswalk. They look both ways, and run across to the car. I do not see how a double parked entrance/exit is really that dangerous – you are walking between 2 NON MOVING cars.
It’s actually the “green” solution because you are not idling your V8 engine for 15 minutes. Over 2000 kids get out at a time. I estimate 3-4 kids per carpool, thats over 500 cars. Go to http://www.thehcf.org/antiidlingprimer.html
According to this chart, if every car eliminated just 5 minutes of idling each day at MIS/HPMS, we would save 10,500 gallons of fuel, $31,500 of money, and reduce our carbon emissions by 220,000 lbs.
That’s real savings. Now take a breath, not full of exhaust fumes.
I think you highlighted one of the problems in your 10:49pm post:
“And how about waiting behind those cars with 5 or 6 boys or girls all riding together who are parked for SIGNIFICANT periods of time waiting for that last kid to straggle out? Should I sit behind them for 15 minutes while my daughter waits about 150 feet up the street or should i thoughtfully and carefully pull into an open spot between those carpool people who sometimes appear to be growing weeds around their wheels they’ve been there so long.”
Cars that bide their time in one location waiting for the stragglers is a problem. But why can’t your daughter W.A.L.K the 150 feet to get in your car?
With that question asked are you someone who feels it is imperative to drop your kid off at the 5/6 door or do you pull up as far as possible? Or would you consider, instead of cutting in line between cars (which is what you are doing, whether done thoughtfully or not), driving further up the queue to any empty space by the tennis courts?
Since you have posted so many different scenerios, I thought I would add my own…inquiring minds would like to know your answer
The officer we are asking for would ask the carpool parent that is waiting for the stragglers to move forward – no dallying in place waiting for them – no leaving gaps unless kids are actively entering the vehicle.
Lastly, impatient Penny, if you haven’t gotten your kid a cell yet, unfortunately it’s the best answer to the pickup problems at this school. I never intended for my kid to have a phone in fifth grade, but 6 weeks of dealing with the hellish pickup situation and his dream came true. I’d call and tell him where I had settled and he would come to me. We didn’t use text then – a quick text once you have parked would be even better.
“We park across the street, and sometimes (gasp!) they don’t use the crosswalk. They look both ways, and run across to the car. I do not see how a double parked entrance/exit is really that dangerous – you are walking between 2 NON MOVING cars.”
Please don’t sue the poor person who hits one or more of your children when they have a lapse in “MATURITY” and one of the NON MOVING cars changes their mind and moves on, running over your darling!!! If this happened at Bradfield, as bdad mentioned, you would be in the principal’s office getting a lecture on not endangering your children’s lives! Or the life of the unfortunate person who hits them as they dash illegally across the street.
Query: How many parents out there REALLY consider their 5th-8th graders “mature” enough to make law-breaking, potentially life- endangering decisions correctly every time?
Volunteer your time if you are going to gripe. I am sure Principal Norton will get you a vest and set you up. No need to spend tax money.
Frankly I think Mr. Bohac is the best deterrent of all. Kids always use the crosswalk when he is around.
Really? none of you have ever Jay Walked? This is Texas, not New York City. We have the right to bear arms, ride scooters without helmets, and even jay walk!
Me thinks relax is trying to deflect attention away from her sins. You go ahead and jay walk all you want relax- just don’t make your kids do it in an active carpool zone.
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