Organizing a "Go Slow!" Hour for Next Tuesday, 5 - 6 p.m.

From: Katherine Hester and Mark Carubia <khandmgc@earthlink.net>

To: ormewoodparents@yahoogroups.com; s_ormewoodparkwatch@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:17:21 AM
Subject: [s_ormewoodparkwatch] Fwd: Organizing a "Go Slow!" Hour for Next Tuesday, 5 - 6 p.m.

School's out for summer after 5/22!  And along with more mosquitoes, more heat, and more hours of daylight this means that there will be  — more kids playing outside. 

As Ormewood Park continues to come into its own, we've moved beyond strollers and baby steps (though there are still plenty of babies around!) and there are more and more children of bike-riding and hopscotching age in our front yards and on our sidewalks. To start the summer of on the right foot, and to remind all of us (who hasn't ever rolled through a four-way stop?)  that automobiles and pedestrians both use the streets of our neighborhood, a group of us thought it would be great to stage an informal "GO SLOW!" hour on Tuesday, May 26 from 5 - 6 p.m. 

WHAT IS IT?

1.   On Tuesday, May 26 from 5 - 6 p.m., head out to your nearest four-way stop or traffic-problem intersection. (If rained out on Tuesday we'll convene on Wednesday, May 27)

2.   Bring the kids, the dogs, the strollers, the neighbors and hang out for an hour! 

Make (nice) signs, if you want. Or hand out flowers.  Or just maybe just give everybody who drives by a smile.  

3.   The goal's to — by being out on our streets — remind drivers who commute to and through our neighborhood that folks on foot and bike use our streets as well.  Also to remind and teach our kids how to navigate the neighborhood safely.  

4. Safety is a two-way street: this is also a great opportunity to remind your offspring to look both ways, be alert for cars pulling into and out of driveways, wear helmets and safety gear, and follow the rules of the road when biking and walking. These links have safety tips and information:

 

http://www.keepkids alivedrive25. org/

http://www.peds. org/

Studies have shown that cars drive more slowly in places where drivers see evidence that folks are outside, enjoying their sidewalks and streets.  Children's artwork drawn on sidewalks makes a difference — so bring out the chalk when you head out Tuesday afternoon!  So do basketball goals — so pull yours out and shoot hoops for an hour.  So does every single stroll you take. 

So come on out, enjoy the warm weather, and take an hour to "Go Slow!"  And feel free to forward to folks you think would be interested in coming out on Tuesday – with kids or without!  

Katherine Hester 

Rachel Flood