‘Mad dash’ to cross road

Three, two, one — quick, run, run, run.

That’s how Herne Bay mum Susy Pryde describes the “mad dash” in getting 7-year-old son Sebastian Drake and, sometimes, other kids, safely across the road to Marist School, Herne Bay.

She wanted her son to walk or bike to school, it’s good for the body and the mind. And in a year or two she’d like him to be able to do it on his own — that’s good for his independence and development.

But she’s not sure that will happen, because the busy street doesn’t feel safe enough.

“It’s a mad dash . . . because we just don’t know when it will be that the next car comes zooming along.”

Marist School Herne Bay principal Louise Campbell said Pryde was not the only parent with concerns.

About two-thirds lived within cycling distance, but many had shared their safety worries with both her and Auckland Transport.

She had talked to the organisation about solutions, such as a pedestrian crossing or electronic signs warning motorists they were in a school zone.

It responded by sending engineers to assess the school, but the only action was to paint two white lines at the entrance to the school, Campbell said.

“It’s a shame we could end up with some harm to our kids before anything is done.”

The school was part of the Travelwise programme, but the Auckland Transport liaison had changed frequently and the school’s own co-ordinator left in December.

Auckland Transport chief transport operations officer Andrew Allen said, “In 2014 we offered to work with the school to establish a walking school bus, but this was declined. In 2016 a new community transport coordinator was appointed to the school, and while a Back to School event was held, there has been no further interest from the school, despite us making contact on a number of occasions since.”

Schools needed to commit a lead teacher and fully commit for Travelwise to work, Allen said.

“We are more than willing to meet with the school to see how we can support them to provide active transport and road safety education for their students and parents.”