Remote Elementary and Safe Routes to School Coming to Ludington Soon

Michigan Safe Routes to School Homepage showing an improper way to ride bicycles down the street (Michigan law permits only two riders abreast in the right lane of traffic when on the roadway)

If you're like me you don't generally pay a lot of attention to what's on page two of the local paper unless the front page has a story which directs you there for the climactic finish.  However, the headline at the top of that page of the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) grabbed my attention from the oxymoronic phrase within it, following the bond proposal approval at the May election by local voters which okayed the construction of a huge elementary complex outside of the city limits.  

Critics of that proposal had concerns that the remote location and the lack of any existing nearby pedestrian facilities (sidewalks) or bicycling facilities along the roads would create a complex that could only be reached through an adult driving the kids to and from school.  Yet, the Ludington Area School District (LASD) offered the proposal without any formal study of the traffic issues that will inevitably occur.  None of the $101 million going towards the new school (and remodeling of the upper elementary grades) is directed towards improving the road infrastructure, being that it wasn't a significant concern (or moneymaking opportunity) for the architects and construction companies hired from over 100 miles away to design and build a school.

Critic that I am, I was hoping to see something in the article addressing the upcoming issue of our youngsters not being able to walk or ride to their neighborhood school due to the impending move, but it was mainly informing the public of a SRTS and MDOT training session taking place at the Ludington Library on August 29th.  Apparently, Ludington was chosen because it was the center of a region where there has been an interest in the SRTS message, albeit not by the LASD in their quest for more tax money. 

There wasn't anything in the article about the SRTS challenges that face Ludington in the near future, or how this training will help make it 'safe for students to walk and bike to school' in the host school district.  You can bet your bottom dollar that when the new elementary is built, however, that the LASD will be looking to get financial help from the SRTS program when their lack of planning and listening to the public reveals itself more clearly.

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Another huge mistake by Ludington citizens. Taking away neighborhood schools. If one follows the mindset of progressives then the next step is evident. Kids won't be walking or biking. They will be bused, so get ready for the next "important" money grabbing proposal. "Keep our kids safe". Please approve funding for busing so new sidewalks and infrastructure will not be needed. All the kids will need is a nice warm bus ride to school. Be ready to bend over again.

In Tuesday's COLDNews they featured an article titled "LASD to develop school forest plan"  

They should have left the word 'plan' off the headline.  Of course, they will be effectively clearing off 15 acres for the new mega-school, but then they are devising a plan about what to do with the rest of it.  They are looking to harvest the wood on that lot, estimated to be over $30,000 worth, and use that money in an endowment for following the 'plan' 

It would be minimally nice to see a dedicated foot/bicycle path, not necessarily paved, that leads from the far southwest corner of the school forest at Sherman and Tinkham all the way to the new school thru the forest.  This would be the most convenient way for the upper elementary students to meet up with their younger siblings should walking or biking be considered as an option for those willing to travel that far.

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