What’s up with the Gilroy school bus parked in traffic?
”
This photo was taken in front of Las Animas Elementary School
recently. On a daily basis, this empty school bus is left running,
yellow lights flashing, in park, blocking the only lane of traffic
in front of the school while the driver runs in to the office to
drop off/retrieve a small blue pouch of interoffice mail.
What’s up with the Gilroy school bus parked in traffic?
“This photo was taken in front of Las Animas Elementary School recently. On a daily basis, this empty school bus is left running, yellow lights flashing, in park, blocking the only lane of traffic in front of the school while the driver runs in to the office to drop off/retrieve a small blue pouch of interoffice mail. This occurs as the parents are attempting to drop off their children before school.
“Do you know if this is a district-sanctioned procedure? As you can see from the photo, the parent in the green SUV in front of me got frustrated with waiting behind the parked bus and made a five-point turn across the double yellow line, blocking oncoming traffic for a few moments. The line of cars to the right of the bus are parked.
“Back in the old days when I took driver training, I learned it was never OK to park in a lane of traffic. This bus is blocking the only incoming lane on Cimino Street. Traffic is already a nightmare at the school without what seems to me to be an illegal maneuver on the bus driver’s part. When is it legal to park in a lane of traffic? Let me know, because sometimes I’m in a big fat hurry, too. I’d like to take advantage of these new-fangled parking rules.”
Dear In a hurry,
You had us wondering as well. According to Darren Salo, transportation Supervisor for Gilroy Unified School District, the law allows school buses to double park anywhere the speed limit is 25 mph or less. When the driver gets out, he should take the keys with him, but the lights could still be left on while the bus is off, perhaps making parents think the bus is still running.
The blue pouch is interdistrict mail that one bus driver at each school picks up to take back to the transportation department. The one bus assigned to Las Animas drops kids off on Greenfield street then pulls around to Cimino Street, the nearest location to the front office for the bus to maneuver. There is no loading zone. There was, but so few parents put their kids on buses to Las Animas – instead driving their kids and clogging the road – creating the “nightmare traffic,” that the loading zone is now used for parent drop off.
“Are the parents willing to give us a spot assignment?” Salo asked.
Trash cans trash neighborhood
What can be done about garbage cans always being left in the front yard. I’m sure other neighborhoods have the same problem. Maybe the landlords or owners can put up some sort of cover with some lattice and plants. That was just a thought. What can be done? I know there’s an ordinance but, we’re sick and tired of seeing these trash cans everyday in the front. It makes the neighborhood look trashy.
Dear trashed,
Yes, there is an ordinance. According to Environmental Program Coordinator Lisa Jensema, cans need to be removed within 24 hour of being emptied.
“They need to be taken to a location that is not visible by passersby, either by driving or walking,” she said “It needs to be inconspicuous so it’s not out for everyone to see.” That ordinance applies to residential customers and businesses that use the one garbage can,
