Crossing Bay to Bay Boulevard is always risky according to South Tampa mom Emily Hinsdale and Vanessa Rukholm.
"Both of us live a few blocks from Bay to Bay. We walk our children to school every day,” said Hinsdale. "We have several hundred children who cross this road to get to school. it's not because they want to, it's because they have to.”
She says it's hard to see because of an outdated 1970s road design. Sidewalks are too close to the road and sight lines at every intersection are almost non-existent.
"I have seen children hit crossing to school here more than once because the cars simply cannot see them at those sight lines,” she said.
Almost a year ago, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn squashed a "road diet" that would've narrowed lanes and added a turning lane and bike lanes.
Wednesday Hinsdale and other concerned neighbors will ask Hillsborough County Commissioners to hold off on repaving the thoroughfare until "All for Transportation" dollars can be considered.
"We'd like to take another look at the city's plan to put in a three-lane road, with a center turn lane with one lane of traffic in either direction and a buffer between the sidewalks and the traffic,” said Hinsdale.
These moms believe the plan will make it safer to walk to school for their kids and hundreds of others.
