Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Kids, Hills, Snow and cars
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December 19, 2008 at 10:37 pm #589086
BookGalParticipantFor those of people who insist upon driving up and down our West Seattle hills: PLEASE PLEASE exercise extreme caution when navigating side streets.
Neighborhood kids, dogs, and adults have been out on our street (SW Juneau St between 35th & Fauntleroy) for the past two days – sledding, sliding, and playing.
My advice is to not even attempt trying to go up or down SW Juneau Street – its a much steeper incline than you think… and it does become extremely ICY in unexpected places.
Thanks.
December 19, 2008 at 10:46 pm #650861
charlabobParticipantI’m sorry — you’re saying cars should stay off the street because kids want to sled on it??? I would think perhaps parents would find safer places for their kids to play. Do you have your kids’ sleds tied to the back of 4WD vehicles? Do your teens grab onto cars that drive down your street for the thrill of “skiing”? Are you all just crazy?
Sorry, but this is one of the most annoying things I’ve encountered since I’ve lived in Seattle — I agree that staying off icy streets is the most judicious, for all, but having pedestrians take them over as playgrounds seems a rather dangerous way to enforce that theory.
December 19, 2008 at 10:57 pm #650862
JenVMemberindeed. If you’re going to take the kids sledding, take them to a park, or do it on a road you know is closed. Kids are no match for a sliding car, and last time I checked- the roads are for vehicles, not sledding.
December 19, 2008 at 11:07 pm #650863
ellenaterMemberagreed!
December 19, 2008 at 11:13 pm #650864
beachdrivegirlParticipantDitto to charlabob.
PeggySue if you had posted this in April I would assume this was a fools day joke. I pray that if you use that type of judgement that you are not a parent. It is absolutely asine to expect cars to stay off the streets b/c you would like the opportunity to play in them.
For those that understand safety here are a few parks in West Seattle that are a bit better suited for playing than in the street.
A. Alki Beach Park – http://www.seattle.gov – (206) 684-4075 – 13 reviews
B. City of Seattle Parks & Recreation Department: Environmental-Education – http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us – (206) 684-7434 – 2 reviews
C. Lincoln Park – http://www.seattle.gov – (206) 684-4075 – 9 reviews
D. City of Seattle Parks & Recreation Department: High Point – http://www.seattle.gov – (206) 684-7422 – More
E. Skyline Secure Park – http://www.skylinesecurepark.com – (206) 769-6966 – More
F. Fauntleroy Park – http://www.seattle.gov – (206) 684-4075 – More
G. White Center Park – king.wsu.edu – (206) 296-4542 – More
H. County of King King County Parks and Recreation: Lakewood Park SW – maps.google.com – (206) 205-5275 – More
I. Lowman Beach Park – maps.google.com – (206) 684-4075 – 2 reviews
J. Luna Park Hoa
December 19, 2008 at 11:51 pm #650865
IrukandjiParticipantAnd as a reminder, kids are no match for parked cars, either. Norm Maleng’s child was killed when sledding by running into a car parked on the roadside.
Be safe, have fun, and be safe.
December 19, 2008 at 11:59 pm #650866
hammerheadParticipantYes had a kid damn near run into me on capital hill. asked the dad if was worth it he said yes.
so please find a safer place to sled ect. because even if i do stop i will STILL SLIDE.
December 20, 2008 at 12:04 am #650867
mellaw6565MemberPeggy Sue – your post is absolutely ridiculous.
December 20, 2008 at 12:41 am #650868
JimmyGMemberSmall note of correction to #6 above.
It was Maleng’s daughter that was killed while sledding on the streets of Seattle, not his son.
And many more are injured everytime we have a snowstorm and people think the city streets become their personal sledding routes.
December 20, 2008 at 1:22 am #650869
JanSParticipantI say…go to the West SEattle Golf Course. There’s a designated sledding area there, and I remember when my child was younger that she would go there with friends and loved it…and nary a car in sight.
Yes, be safe out there….
December 20, 2008 at 1:33 am #650870
mayjuneMemberJust FYI, people have also been sledding down Raymond between 35th & Fauntleroy (mostly 36th-37th). I think it’s dangerous for both cars AND sledders.
December 20, 2008 at 1:38 am #650871
GenHillOneParticipantI’m so glad to see that folks are reinforcing the idea that streets are NO place to play. There are cars driving on that street, driving on the cross streets, parked cars, poles, and fire hydrants (let alone other humans to crash into). I been bi***ing about this for the past few days, but I guarantee if you’ve ever gotten to know a child with a brain injury, you know that it changes you. And yes, I’m the cranky neighbor that told your kids to get out of the road.
December 20, 2008 at 1:39 am #650872
beachdrivegirlParticipantI forgot to ask in my last post, but PeggySue woudl you mind calling my boss and asking him why he insists i drive in to work, since it does get in the of your time to play in the street??
December 20, 2008 at 1:55 am #650873
charlabobParticipantVery good, BDG — I suspect a lot of people would like to have that call made. BTW, think we saw you on the teevee last night. Did we?
December 20, 2008 at 2:08 am #650874
GenHillOneParticipantWhat I wanted to add before my computer froze (does everything have to freeze around here?? argh), is that I think PeggySue’s intentions were good – no one wants to see anyone hurt. Let’s just take it one step further. Kids don’t think about this stuff and it happens so rarely here, it seems adults with them don’t either sometimes. *off soapbox*
And hammerhead, sorry that guy was a jerk.
December 20, 2008 at 2:43 am #650875
BookGalParticipant1. I do not appreciate the venomous nature nor the name calling responses to my initial post.
2. No where in my post did I say I condone those who choose to go sledding etc on our street. It is their choice.
3. Drivers choose to speed up and down this street and there have been countless near accidents – regardless of the weather or road conditions.
4. Where exactly did I say in my post that I didn’t want cars being driven on the street because people were sledding, etc. on it?
5. FACT: The street is situated on a hill.
6. FACT: There IS a slab of ICE under the packed snow on the entire street (including near the curbs, and around the roundabouts).
7. FACT: The hill has a steep grade.
8. FACT: There are no parked cars on this particular street. Which may be why people have chosen to sled here?
9.FACT: We have heard a myriad of spinning tires, and have seen cars, trucks, and SUVs sliding around on the street since the snow fall last weekend.
10. LOGIC: this street is NOT entirely SAFE to drive DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS and the steepness of the grade.
11. So, is it “ridiculous” that I only wanted to warn people that if they choose to drive, on any street – that they should exercise caution? Perhaps just slowing down and paying a little more attention? Taking in consideration the freezing temperatures, the condition of the (side) streets, and the possible unexpected appearance of youngsters sledding? It doesn’t matter that you have a clunker, a hybrid, a SUV, a 4-wheel drive, a sleigh, or a tank. Things happen, and they can happen very very quickly.
December 20, 2008 at 2:57 am #650876
BookGalParticipantI have never taken part in any sledding any where.
The insinuations, and snide remarks are completely uncalled for.
I wonder if all those negative responses represent the true nature of those now living in West Seattle?
December 20, 2008 at 3:48 am #650877
JeannieParticipantThough I agree that kids should not sled on streets, was it really necessary to gang up on PeggySue? Some of us have cabin fever, but no need to get bee-yotchy.
December 20, 2008 at 3:57 am #650878
mellaw6565MemberI’ve been on these roads consistently over the past few days – probably more than most in W. Seattle. I don’t need a lecture or reminder from Peggy Sue about her road or hill – those of us with common sense know how to handle things.
All I want is for her to keep the kids out of the street and not tell the rest of us to watch out for them – we have the right of way and in light of the various newscasts the last 48 hours showing sledding injuries and discussing dangerous sled practices, I think her post was unnecessary and opposite of what’s being preached by experts and others.
December 20, 2008 at 4:23 am #650879
JeannieParticipantOK, everyone, let’s remember the spirit of the season (except when we’re making fun of Meth-gate). Be nice, y’all!
December 20, 2008 at 4:28 am #650880
JoBParticipantkids sledding on streets with cars.. parked or otherwise.. creates a really dangerous situation.
did no-one see the bus story today? imagine that sliding through a throng of sledders.
No matter how much fun it might be, it just isn’t safe to sled anywhere that it is possible a car might be parked or might drive through.
If you must succumb to the temptation.. all cars should be removed from the street and parents should be at both ends of the hill turning away drivers…
if i had children and lived on one of those steep grades with a sheet of ice underneath.. my kids would be in the back yard.. with a house between them and the idiots on the road.
Peggy Sue.. i am sorry you feel you got trashed.. but the message that kids and cars don’t mix is not enough.
kid’s just plain shouldn’t be anywhere that they might encounter cars in this kind of weather. Under the best of circumstances with sober careful drivers at the wheel.. everyone slides… and sliding cars hit unintended targets.
parents.. it’s your job to make sure that unintended target isn’t your child… it’s too large a risk to take with their future.
December 20, 2008 at 5:19 am #650881
cakeitseasyMemberI think everyone “ganged up” on PeggySue’s post because it hit an obvious nerve. I think many of us have been fuming about the way people have been playing at winter sport on trecherous city streets and since she brought it up in a way that reflects the attitude many of us are annoyed with, she got the brunt of the collective frustration.
If the street is offcially closed, well, then I could understand (and I’ve seen a number of jerks ignoring those signs and driving on the closed streets…a very dangerous situation) otherwise, the street is definitely NOT a playground. Honestly, how can anyone expect the cars to “be careful” when they are having a hard time maintaining control on icy roads? I’m sure *most* of the people driving around are only doing so out of sheer necessity. Don’t make it more difficult and more nervewracking by asking them to dodge people when they very well can’t. On the other hand, if the street is officially closed…for godssakes don’t drive on it. If it’s not closed, stay off, and keep your kids off it!
December 20, 2008 at 5:29 am #650882
hopeyParticipantPeggySue, your post said the following:
1) please be cautious!
2) there are kids & adults “sledding, sliding and playing” on this one particular street
3) so don’t even try driving up that street
The reason folks are interpreting your post as being mainly about the people sledding is probably because you made “caution about people sledding” more important than “caution about steep incline and ice”. It’s also emphasized in the first word of the title you chose for the thread.
You also used the phrase “people who insist upon driving”. That is a very judgmental phrase, suggesting there is no good reason for anyone to be driving up and down hills in this weather. Unfortunately, people have numerous, legitimate reasons for driving in this weather, and living in West Seattle means driving on streets which go up and down hills.
I understand that sledding on streets is a hot button for many (most?) of us right now — today I saw a family, 4+ kids and 1 adult. in a plastic toboggan heading down a steep street with blind turns, and actually considered calling the police for reckless endangerment of children — but at the same time, your post put undue emphasis on the kids sledding.
December 20, 2008 at 5:44 am #650883
saneyMemberof course, it doesnt help the condition of the street to have sleds packing it down into a smooth, icy sheet.
December 20, 2008 at 6:04 am #650884
CaitParticipantPeggySue, I get where you’re coming from. Crabbing on a blog is not going to keep kids out of the street for good or ill. We all know that whether or not they SHOULD, kids are going to be out sledding. So please please please be careful. “Well you shouldn’t have been out sledding in the street!” is not going to make you feel less guilty if you kill someone anyway.
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