I have sent the following email to Michael Regan our local MP for Wakehurst this morning. 

Hi Michael and Team

We need your help to improve pedestrian safety on Forestway for our kids!

This morning I created this online petition: https://chng.it/68sdWRg9yN

Within a few hours we have close to 100 supporters!

As a parent that walks my kids to Wakehurst Public School daily from Sturt St (located on the eastern side of Forestway), I am urging you to help us with improving the safety of this horrifically dangerous section of Forestway before someone is severely injured or killed. The area I’m talking about extends from Wearden Rd to Bowman Ave.

The catchment area for Wakehurst Public School extends to the eastern side of Forestway, and many families that choose to walk to school each day are left with no option but to navigate this horrifically dangerous stretch of road, putting their lives at risk. They are forced to cross at the equally dangerous intersections at Glen St and Wearden Rd that are notorious for motor vehicle accidents and near misses. 

I was personally involved in a motor vehicle accident 2 weeks ago at the intersection of Forestway and Wearden Rd that resulted in severe damage to my car, along with a concussion and whiplash injury to me. I was not at fault. The other drive came through a red light on Forestway as she was focused on the second set of lights at Glen St and didn’t stop at her set of lights at Wearden Rd. The folks running the pop-up café within the grounds of the Northgate Church have told me that this happens multiple times a day.

I’m ok now, but after this incident, as well as several near misses as a pedestrian crossing these intersections on a daily basis, I’ve decided it’s time to do something about it.

We are calling for Northern Beaches Council and the State Government to work together to review this stretch of road and work out a way to make it safer for our kids. 

We would like:

• The speed limit along Forestway from Wearden Rd to Bowman Ave reduced to be changed to a 40 KM/h school zone
  A full review on the feasibility of a pedestrian footbridge to be constructed from the eastern side of Forestway to the western side of Forestway around the Bambara Oval area making of safer for our kids to get to school and avoid the intersections. I have in fact requested this to Transport NSW in the past. I have attached the email response to this to my email. 
  Construction of a large metal fence along both sides of Forestway at the Glen St intersection to improve pedestrian safety where the footpath is adjacent to the road with no grass (see images above)
  Review or the traffic lights and crossing at Forestway and Glen St where buses turn right onto Forestway from the left lane on Glen St. Cars behind these buses that are turning left don’t have time to see the pedestrians crossing because their view is blocked! I have nearly been hit here so many times that I’ve lost count. It is a ridiculous traffic light system that puts everyone at risk. 
   

At school times, there is often 30+ pedestrians trying to cross at these busy intersections with cars, buses and trucks passing at 70km/h. 

Without the measures it is only a matter of time until a pedestrian is killed or severely injured.

Kids are often on bikes or in groups and are walking dangerously close to the road with cars, trucks and buses passing them within centimetres. They are often jostling into position and overtaking each other, as is the nature of kids in groups.

I have witnessed a child who was swinging his backpack onto his back from one shoulder, almost get hooked onto a passing car’s side mirror. If this had happened, he would have been dragged at 60-70km/h along the road. Its absolutely frightening. 

This has been left unsafe for too long and we want urgent action for the safety of our kids and their families.

I encourage you to walk to school with my family one day so you can see for yourself just how dangerous this intersection is. 

I have also cc’d into this email, Kylie Davidson, who is the temporary Principal at Wakehurst Public School. Kylie this is as an FYI only.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards, 

Kylie Westren (she/her)