Every morning as I watch my 5th grader and our neighborhood kids head off to school on their bikes, a lingering worry always nags at me. In the College View neighborhood of Elmhurst, morning and afternoon high school commuters' speeding poses a significant risk to our kids and other pedestrians. Especially, as our children grow older, they look forward to the independence of biking to school, but the current traffic safety measures do not adequately protect them. Busing is not currently offered to College View and crossing guards are at the far eastern edge of our neighborhood - Alexander and Prospect and Elm Park and Church.

Two years ago, the city took  initiative to replace yield signs with stop signs with the anticipation that driver cooperation would follow. Sadly, this hasn't tempered the speed at which these vehicles, including school buses, barrel down our streets. It’s disheartening to see police occasionally patrolling and yet witness the continued reckless driving on streets in our neighborhood, especially during the afternoon release for high school at 3pm.

The solution is simple and effective: install speed bumps on our north/south streets within College View. Speed bumps act as physical reminders for drivers to slow down, unlike signs that may go unnoticed amid distractions. By implementing speed bumps, we can significantly reduce the risks and safeguard our children's journey to school.

Statistics indicate that speed bumps can reduce traffic-related fatalities by up to 60% in residential areas (as reported by the Federal Highway Administration). The safety of our children, pedestrians, and cyclists should be of utmost priority.

Join me in calling on the city of Elmhurst to take immediate action. Let's transform our neighborhood into a safer environment conducive to the independence and well-being of our kids. Sign this petition and help persuade the local authorities to install the much-needed speed bumps in College View today.