7th and Michigan Gate Changes

Just last year, cars were able to access the main entrance of Samo from any direction. Entering the school was challenging, especially with everybody rushing to get the same place in a short amount of time. The unorganized system caused clashes between cars, pedestrians and bikers during pickup and drop off time. According to City Council member Michelle Glickert, there were many barriers that students and teachers faced when getting to school with cars going any direction.“The area was very congested with cars traveling in both directions,” Glickert said. “Lots of cars turning right from Pico onto Michigan not only created serious conflicts with students crossing at the corner crosswalk, [but also] there were several close calls with cars turning right across big blue buses unloading there on Pico at Michigan.”Carl Hobkirk, a history teacher who will be beginning his fifth year at Samohi, uses his bike as his main form of transportation to and from school. He found that when the cars were allowed to go any direction it made it more difficult to navigate as a biker.“With cars going both ways it was harder to get down Michigan,” Hobkirk said. “It was chaotic.”This problem was recently fixed by City Council with the project known as Safe Routes to School. This project resulted in many changes to the Michigan gate such as the new one way rule, bike lanes, curb extensions, and enhanced crosswalks. According to Glickert, who acted as the project manager for the outreach and design, there were many different people within the community who helped bring this issue to the attention of the council.“Prior to my assignment to the project there were other city staff and PTSA that included parents and students working on identifying barriers to getting more students to bike and walk,” Glickert said. “The student group Samo Solar Alliance was a big proponent of needed changes. Michigan was the focus after it was identified as the main gate/access point about 3 or so years ago.”Now, with cars only allowed to go west on Michigan Ave. and south on 7th St., Samo has seen major improvements.“A reduction in conflicts with buses and right turning vehicles at Pico 7th,” Glickert said. “One-way has allowed us expand sidewalks, shortening the time walkers have to be exposed in the street, at important crossings Pico/ Michigan and 7th/Michigan. It has allowed us to provide bikes with a designated lane; a protected bike westbound bike lane and standard south, and eastbound bike lane.”The new conditions on Michigan gate have made life easier for Hobkirk, who now has a much smoother time getting to school.“It’s better that the cars are forced to go slower,” said Hobkirk. “The green lane is a visual cue for the drivers that bikers could appear at any time”.The aim of these changes was to remove obstacles that would keep students or staff from being able to bike or walk to school. But, according to Glickert, this project isn’t just about making physical changes to Samo.“Safe Routes is not just widening sidewalks and making lanes,” Glickert said. “It is about creating an environment where students feel empowered to make a choice on how to get to school. The grant wasn't just physical improvements it was also about education. At the end of last year, almost all freshman and sophomores attended a safe routes presentation during one period of physical education. They learned about the improvements, basic rules of bicycling and tips for best ways to bike and walk to school”.With the Safe Routes to School project and the new one way rule at the Michigan gate the congestion of cars has decreased, making getting to school much easier for everyone at Samo.