I think the crossing from Lake of the Pines directly to Bear River High School could be made safer for students using it.

The crossing begins as a path that passes by the Lake of the Pines’ dog park, then crosses Magnolia Road, and leads directly to Bear River. When the path crosses Magnolia Road, all that marks it is a crosswalk and a student crossing sign, though the crosswalk looks like it just comes from a bush.

The speed limit is 40 miles per hour; though it does go down to 25 for the school zone, very few respect it. That makes crossing incredibly dangerous. There are many possible improvements that would make the crossing safer and more popular.

One of the things that makes the crossing so dangerous is the lack of light or other markings to signify where the path is, or that it is even there. The path is almost impossible to see while driving by.

When asked if he could see it while driving, Jonathon Thornley, a junior who uses the path about once a month, said, “Honestly, not really”.

People coming out from the trail onto the crossing seem to appear out of nowhere, as bushes obscure the path from the view of drivers. A solution to this problem would be to clear out the bushes and add a button that, when pushed, would make the lights flash, letting drivers know that walkers were there.

Another solution would be to add clearer signage, making it easier to identify the crosswalk. All that marks it now is a student walking sign, which, since the area is right outside the school parking lot, can be interpreted as indicating the general area. Flashing lights or two signs marking the area where the crosswalk is could clarify things.

Another way to make the crosswalk clearer is to remove the brush around the crosswalk, making an area where students could stand, so both cars and students can see each other more clearly. A more direct sign, as well as removing the brush around the crosswalk, would make it immensely safer.

Thornley says that every time he uses the path he sees, “at least one or two people”. This isn’t much, but if the path were safer, more people would use it.

Many people don’t use the path because it is too dangerous, but if the safety were improved, those people would use the path again, which could clear up traffic at Bear River, as more people would walk. This could also, over time, reduce emissions from cars and other vehicles.

People who disagree with this idea may say that it would be “too expensive” or “not worth it for the number of walkers that use it”. While these are valid points, these ideas are not founded on facts. For the cost, we can buy a self-contained solar blinking sign ourselves for only $795, according to Alert Lighting, and with a weed wacker, it would take only a few minutes to clear the brush. Any number of people is worth protecting. If this safety system saves one life, it will be worth it.

The crossing not being safe has contributed to a lot of issues, but there are many easy solutions. These include cutting back brush, adding clearer signage, and a place for students to stand so they and cars can see each other. A safer crossing could mean more people walking, less parking lot congestion, and less emissions. The community should come together to make walking to school a better experience for everyone.