A group of neighbors living near Baker Drive elementary in Coquitlam has banded together to make life easier — and safer — for parents dropping kids off to school during the winter chill.
The Chineside neighborhood got more than its fair share of snow over the past several weeks but despite snow clearing on Baker Drive, snow piles have further constricted the narrow road making for tricky and dangerous conditions.
"We were envisioning the four horseman of the apocalypse on the return to school day," said Catherine Hubbs, who with seven of her neighbors have allowed parents to park their cars on their cleared driveways.
She made the suggestion via Facebook and her Block Watch networks and, after people cleared their driveways, they posted signs signs permitting morning and afternoon drop offs for parents struggling to get kids to school on slippery streets.
"This is only our second day but the driveways have been well used so far," said Hubbs, who hopes neighbors near other schools with snow constricted streets will do the same. "You know those snow banks aren't going away anytime soon," she added.
Hubbs, who lives at the corner of Sumpter and Baker drives says this isn't the worst year for snow in the neighborhood. The winter of 2008/2009 was a deep freeze for several weeks as well.
At the time, Baker Drive was undergoing a seismic replacement and her kids had to be bused to Ranch Park school. "It was crazy."
After getting positive feedback via Facebook, she hopes neighbors of other schools will do the same — possibly preventing a serious accident.
"There's a lot more winter to come," Hubbs predicted.
