The corner is dangerous for one simple reason. When the guard halts traffic flow to let kids cross the east side of Glen, cars headed east on Glen as well as cars trying to turn east from Van Dien onto Glen (many after dropping their kids off) stop.
When the kids are done, cars already on Glen gets priority as they have no stop sign. Meanwhile traffic keeps piling up on Van Dien. This leads to visibly frustrated people who try to desperately look for an opening (between traffic on Glen) to dart in.
The solution to this problem is either to 1) Have stop signs for traffic on Glen as well, at least during school hours, or 2) Have a more mobile and active crossing guard who can direct traffic as well as kids, stopping cars on Glen to allow traffic from Van Dien to blend in periodically.
Once again, it seems like people are confused between ‘nice and caring’ and ‘effective.’ EVERYONE likes someone who is nice and caring. However, a crossing guard needs to be effective before being the former.
The point of having a crossing guard is to help school children cross the road safely, in the midst of traffic flow. But it involves more than just holding up a stop sign and lowering it once kids are through. If traffic keeps building up on Van Dien and people keep getting frustrated, it will not lead to safer outcomes for anyone.
Once again, I do not know who this person is and from all comments, it appears that she is a lovely person. I am sure that is true.
But my comments are simply based on what I have seen driving past that spot a few times. The last time I was there, I was at the head of the line of cars waiting on Glen as kids crossed. There was a lady trying to creep in from Van Dien trying to turn onto Glen east. Once the kids were through, the crossing guard lowered the sign. She could have easily asked me to stop, pointed at a few cars from Van Dien to make their turn, and then asked me to continue on. But she just stood there looking semi-bewildered by the situation.
Crossing Guards are NOT Traffic Cops. If you are having trouble turning left on Glen I suggest you make use of the new cutout in front of the school and then turn right on Glen. Crossing Guards are in place to CROSS children, and 100% of their attention should be to complete that task.
You have a valid point.
The question is what authority does a RW crossing guard have.
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School crossing guards may or may not have the authority to direct traffic. It depends on state and local statues regarding whether a school crossing guard has the authority to perform the duties of a traffic control officer or not. If allowed, it likely requires the guard to complete specific training and may require the guard to be placed under the auspices of the police department rather than the board of Ed or the township. Also there may be issues of additional liability insurance, minimum fitness tests, etc.
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I’m not sure of the laws in NJ and RW regarding this but it is an area that you should investigate to see if it makes sense.
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A cop giving out tickets to frustrated drivers (who drive recklessly) may also act as a deterrent.
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8:47 it’s school drop off. That cut out is not for traffic to pass thru. Sending a driver through there is negligent.
The crossing guards in this town are laughable. They park dangerously and illegally. They can’t move quickly enough to be effective and they’re not apparently aware of actual traffic laws. The woman at Ridge is probably the best of the bunch and that is a dangerous area!
And speaking of dangerous crossings has anyone noticed the barely visible and equally dangerous crossings at Bogert and Fairfield??? The whole situation on Geln is a disaster. Lines and crosswalks are barely visible.
Not to mention down at northern parkway there seems to be a VERY active crossing for schools and many people in general and that’s unmanned at all times! Yet by the high school there is one crossing manned by 2 guards. For kids who should be able to traverse a crosswalk without supervision if necessary. And I don’t see any cross guards at GW and it’s a traffic nightmare over there.
Really, The elementary schools really need a total revamp regarding crossings and safe parking. But based on the current situations I am seeing, safety around the schools seems to be of little importance to the village officials. The whole thing needs a serious look. There must be a state law and a radius to use to figure out parking and crossings near schools? Or crossing guard training or regulation of where they’re required.
What I hear is drivers will be too upset to have to stop so frequently and we all know what happens if someone can’t park in front of their home But in all honesty it’s school kids crossing and getting places safely I don’t know why it seems no one takes it seriously. Where’s the village committee and task force for that?? They make a new committee for every other thing.
Time to get it right, Ridgewood.
Well one plus is that I saw a police car parked on E.Glen yesterday and by some coincidence traffic was going at about the speed limit! So the council DOES listen to suggestions in the public forum. Placing a car around the area between pickup and dropoff would make a difference. Leave the Van Veste location to the parking enforcement.
9:28 If you are dropping off your children use the cutout and then turn right on Glen.IIf you are not dropping off your children then logic would dictate avoiding that intersection during school drop off times. As for crossing guards parking illegally, I agree with you, persoanlly I would fire them for that infraction. As for your observations of other schools, you sure do get around. Try avoiding school areas during busy times.
As the first individual stated, crossing guards are not allowed to direct traffic. And sure, it is frustrating to be a guard and see traffic piling up and you are not allowed to direct it. Imagine if the guard directed a car and another car started to go and hit the first car. An insurance nightmare! The Police in Ridgewood are gradually being allowed to build up their department which will then free up a guard or two for traffic control near the schools. However, as the above poster noted, when the police are there, traffic behaves so well. But the very next day, the wild men take over the wheels. Hire auxiliary people trained in directing traffic to aid the crossing guards–one for cars, one for students? That would be cheaper than assigning police to every dangerous crosswalk. (Many are very safe locations and many are not.) But, again, it would probably be an insurance nightmare. Wouldn’t it be nice if all drivers were willing to recognize that other drivers also had a right to the road; that most of the cars dropping off at schools are parents who have to get to work at the same time that you do, etc.etc. What ever happened to common courtesy and treating others as you wished to be treated?
7:23 common courtesy would solve most of today’s “problems”
Unfortunately common courtesy isn’t that common.