Bixby West’s school zone is unsafe and you can help us show the city collective concern.

Students and families who rely on the crosswalk at Harvard are fighting an uphill battle in an improperly marked school zone and only asking for safe commute to school for PK-6th grade students, particularly those who are not provided with the option of bus transportation.
West is the newest school zone in Bixby, it’s the only zone in the district adjacent to a highway, the zone is inadequately defined, poorly marked and lacks committed crossing guard coverage. We are pleading with our city officials to make necessary changes to bring the signage and safety of our zone up to standard with the other elementary and intermediate school zones.

Harvard is a border street in Bixby. Because of this, the city is consistently disputing maintenance and signage responsibilities with the county. Meanwhile, we residents, including school children absorb all the risk in this situation. We must demand drivers’ attention at appropriate times and locations for potential danger on the road before we’re faced with tragedy. It’s not an uncommon occurrence: just this week, 4 miles from West’s crosswalk, a girl was struck by a vehicle on her way to school.  News article, March 2024

Last summer the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (a nonprofit financed by the insurance industry) conducted a study that shows that drivers are more than 13 times as likely to yield at crosswalks that include flashing lights. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) consist of two, rectangular- shaped yellow indications, each with a light-emitting diode (LED)-array-based light source. RRFBs flash with an alternating high frequency when activated to enhance conspicuity of pedestrians at the crossing to drivers. RRFBs can increase motorist yielding rates up to 98%. USDOT Federal Highway Administration

It’s time to insist protection for families and children who need to cross the road safely. 
We’re calling on our city to pay attention to our school zone and install flashing lights at the crosswalk in the school zone on Harvard to take care of the children who are endangered each school day as well as all people who utilize the trail and access it from the west side of Harvard.