Driving You Crazy: Durham dad seeks safer walk to school for children

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — It’s a dangerous walk to school for a father and son in Durham. That father is now asking the public to join him in urging the city to make that route safer.

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A speed limit of 40 mph makes walking a section of Old Chapel Hill Road that goes over the New Hope Creek unnerving for Eric Green. His son started at Sherwood Githens Middle School this year.

Green thought they lived close enough that they could walk to school.

“I’ve driven the bridge hundreds and thousands of times before myself. And it was really at this point I thought, this is not the best time to be walking across,” Green said. 

He and his son walk over the bridge as part of their walk to and from school. The bridge has a bike lane but the only separation between cars and cyclists or pedestrians is a painted white line.

 “It’s very easy to be coming down the road. Not seeing, the sun’s in your eyes right now, actually but, all it takes is somebody pulling out their phone at the wrong moment,” Green said. 

According to the city, 74 percent of Durham’s fatal or serious crashes happen on 10% of the city’s roads. Those streets make up Durham’s High Risk Injury network which is where the city is focused on making safety improvements.

The bridge on Old Chapel Hill Road is included in that network.

“The state and the city have put a lot of money in to making this corridor safer by putting a bike lane in but the job’s not done,” Green said. 

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Green is asking the city to invest in flexible vertical posts to create more physical separation.

As the city prepares to prioritize projects for the next fiscal year, green says now is the time to bring attention to this risky walk. He’s launched Finishthebridge.org to garner support.

“It’s a tricky place to walk snd sometimes people will be walking with strollers because there’s a park right here as well,” Green explained. 

He says with a little bit of investment, the city can make this a safer route. Until then, he’s also asking drivers for their help.

“When you see us, slow down. Stay off your phone.”

If there’s something in your community that you think needs attention or something driving you crazy, email Judith Retana at [email protected]

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