Anyone who has been caught up in the queue of traffic on Pittwater Road outside St. Luke’s school (formerly Loquat Valley) while parents pick up their children would like to know if a solution can be found.
Council’s response to a complaint from an offshore resident is worth noting: the complainant witnessed a near accident when an impatient driver risked overtaking to get around the queue. By way of response, Council said it has installed a median strip on the approach to the crossing from the east to remove the risk of traffic overtaking into the oncoming traffic – a statement which only goes to show how dangerous the situation has become.
Council maintain that the school is doing everything they can ie, they fund a private bus to take students north, ie Newport to Palm Beach and they frequently promote and encourage families to stagger the time they pick up their children. Council encourage “active travel” by students via walking, bus or bicycle where feasible. This is an obvious solution but are enough students taking up “active travel”?
Council also asked the complainant to consider their own travel options and the time they travel (which could be difficult when you’re trying to time your trip with the ferry.) Council suggest that a bicycle or bus could be the answer. However this comes down to the fact that buses and even bicycles are on the same road with the same problems. Council even suggest travelling to Church Point via McCarrs Creek Road. Is that really an option?
Pittwater Road is the only road to Church Point out of Mona Vale. Rather than Council putting the onus on drivers to change their behaviour, surely it is the school’s responsibility to make alternative arrangements.
Some suggestions to solve this congestion … perhaps have students walk – under supervision – to a spot that doesn’t impact traffic where they await pick-up. Another suggestion is that the school run a shuttle bus to Roland Reserve.