HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/16/2024 Item 5, Eldridge
From:Kristin Eldridge <
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Clementine Patrick Miernicki
Subject:Safe Bike Route to Laguna
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Dear San Luis Obispo,
My 6th grader, Clementine Patrick-Miernicki, wrote a letter to the City, hoping to have her voice heard, in regards to the
proposed safe bike path from our Hawthorne neighborhood to Laguna Middle School. Here is her letter.
Thank you,
Kristin Eldridge
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jYsKoIyPBZ-oR1rJyu6uVE6isPY0VEfnRPXk48jjOGo/edit?usp=sharing
--
Kristin Eldridge (she/her)
6th grade teacher
Hawthorne Elementary
1
Clementine Patrick-Miernicki
May 5, 2024
Safe Multi-Use Route to Laguna
Dear City of San Luis Obispo,
Kids deserve a safe multi-use route to school. I am a future Laguna lancer and
lover of bike riding. I think a safe multi-use route is needed along two unprotected
crossings of highway 101 off ramps. Also this route would expose kids to more of the
outdoors and exercise. One more reason why I think it is needed is because it will help
cut down on traffic at Laguna.
I believe a safe multi-use route is needed along two unprotected crossings of
highway 101 off ramps. The two off ramps I am referring to are Madonna and Higara.
Parents don’t want their kids riding to school if it is not safe. My 6th grade teacher who
has a child currently at Laguna middle school says, “As a mom I want to have my kid be
able to bike to school, but when I looked at the route he was going to take I changed my
mind because I did not want him to ride his bike across the two off ramps unprotected.”
That leaves kids to either take the bus or a car which is not as good for the
environment.
Creating a multi use trail will expose kids to more of the outdoors and exercise.
When kids are having a stressful day at school, a bike home could be what a student
needs. Riding your bike can actually clear your mind and get rid of any stress you have.
According to this website, Sustrans.org.uk says“ Research shows that those who
regularly cycle have a significantly lower risk of feeling stressed.”
Finally, making a safer route to Laguna will cut down on traffic. My big sister was
almost never driven to Laguna because of the traffic there. She biked a couple of times
to school but it was not enjoyable because the cars were driving by so fast right next to
her. I was also able to interview my neighbor, who drives her son, about this topic and
she said “The traffic there is REALLY unsafe, some of the parents don’t wait in line and
just pull up to the sidewalk and drop their kids off which is dangerous for the child. It’s
pure chaos!”
All of these ideas that I just pointed out shows how much a difference it would
make if more kids biked, which leads back to why we need the safer route to Laguna.
So remember this is for the environment, your body and mind, and less traffic. But
especially for your kids. So vote for kids safety.
Sincerely,
Clementine Patrick-Miernicki