Make Highway 64 Safe
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/multimodal/ped/guide-chap5.pdf
Designing Pedestrian Facilities
5.1. Introduction The viability and safety of pedestrian travel depends on well-designed roadways and pedestrian facilities. Basic design features can
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa11017/fhwasa11017.pdf
Education is key. Education for the drivers who need to know within 193 feet of someone in the cross walk you have to stop. Our walkers need to know, it has to be one foot in the crosswalk- no need to dart, just set a foot in and wait. Our bikers need to get off their bikes and walk. We need to be the ones to teach our children. We need to be the ones to stop. The radio and newspaper were ideas brought up as ways to do this
Long Term- the Rotary Club and our Police Chief are digging deep to find a long term plan. One that will last, one that will fit best within our community. I was really impressed with that. I was impressed that the police chief went down himself to see what it was like, and saw that even in a police vest people don’t stop. Some of the long term plans sound phenomenal! There are so many details and rules that have to be followed and that takes time. So for that, we will have to wait, possibly next spring. I’m a licensed daycare so I know there are sometimes tricky steps where you hurry up and then have to wait, then hurry up, and wait again. So I ask for patience for that, and support!! Keep an eye out because there may be some fundraising in the future!!
For now... no plans. Doesn’t sound like handing out tickets will work, they don’t have a budget for a crossing guard or someone to keep an eye out. I’m one who wants an immediate answer especially when it comes to safety for my kids. So since this seems like the officials can not do anything now, we need to come together and make some changes on our own. For the school, could there be a way someone would know how to get some volunteers together for being a crossing guard?? I’m calling the school today to see how we could go about that correctly.
The best guess for us to cross is to wear a safety vest and wave flags as we cross. We need some ideas for this. I know kids can’t afford this, so how can we get our kids across to the park/library/Hueys.
Any thoughts on how to overcome this obstacle?? Let’s be kind.
Also, any interest in making new posts as we go?? Or changing it up and having a group to keep us all updated?? It was said that as a community this issue of safety has not been brought up. This has not been discussed with the mayor like this before. So let’s keep up our momentum! Let’s keep this up. We know that peaceful movements get so much done! I’m so proud of you Medford, I really feel a togetherness with you. While we may not get an immediate answer it doesn’t mean we can’t lock arms and make some changes!!
Please Sign Our Petition
We’re requesting that the City of Medford take immediate action to improve safety along Highway 64 specific to Main Street and all crosswalks within 1 mile of the Medford Middle School
We wish that City Council would vote to install a stoplight and or add a bridge to allow for the safer crossing of Highway 64 within the city limits. In the meantime, we request that a police officer be present within 1 hour before school starts and an hour after, during the school year.
Start date of this Petition is Aug 26, 2020
Please sign our petition and include any message you believe would be helpful for our cause.
These signatures will be directly given to the City Council.