Borough to ban parking at 30 school bus stops
Visibility concerns cited by drivers
Parking restrictions are planned at 30 school bus stops in Plum to try to limit risks to children.
In response to concerns from bus drivers, the school district has identified the 30 stops as “problematic,” citing limited visibility and a tight turning radius as identified in a survey. The borough has a total of about 300 stops.
Contributing to the safety problem are parents who ferry their children to and from the bus stops, waiting in their cars until the buses arrive, borough manager Michael Thomas said.
“The kids are darting out in between cars,” he said, citing first- and second-graders in particular. “We think that’s an unsafe situation.”
Referring to the stopped buses, he said, “They’ve got kids coming from all directions.”
The rule would prohibit parking within 30 or 40 feet of where the bus stops during pickup and drop-off hours, Mr. Thomas said. None of the bus stops that would have parking restrictions are on main thoroughfares, such as New Texas and Old Leechburg roads.
As part of the effort to raise awareness, called Operation Safe Stop, Mr. Thomas and other borough and school officials visited certain bus stops in the early mornings, speaking with parents and students who live near them.
Borough council is expected to vote next month on whether to adopt the parking restriction, as an amendment to a no-parking ordinance, Mr. Thomas said. The ordinance imposes a $25 fine on those who do not comply.
The installation of noparking signs could start at the neighborhood stops soon thereafter, with the most problematic ones considered a priority. Police officials are expected to appear at the bus stops that have parking restrictions in the mornings and afternoons, Mr. Thomas said. They will likely give warnings to any motorists found waiting in the no-parking zones, issuing tickets only if they leave their cars unattended.
The borough must advertise the proposed restriction 30 days beforehand, though a formal vote is not required.
An official with the district’s transportation department, who sought feedback from bus drivers, could not be reached for comment.
Each school day, the district shuttles some 4,300 students to and from school, according to its website. Under state law, motorists are required to stop at least 10 feet from buses when the red lights on the bus are flashing and the stop arms are extended.