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Bus driver warns council of unsafe pickup, bike‑lane parking and offensive graffiti near middle school
Summary
A school bus driver told the council parents and other vehicles routinely block a designated bus area at the middle school, impairing bus egress and forcing risky maneuvers; she urged officer presence or traffic control and reported graffiti on parked cars that children are reading aloud.
A school bus driver urged the council to address repeated pickup and parking problems near a middle school, saying parents and other motorists block a bus exit and park in bike lanes, slowing routes and creating safety hazards for children.
The speaker, identified in the record as a resident and a driver for Urbandale special‑education routes, said the problem occurs in a designated area with signs that read “no student drop off or pickup,” yet drivers park and block the driveway. “They are impeding traffic. They are blocking the driveway,” the speaker said. “I have personally had my derriere chewed because I've been dropping off students late because I have to wait.”
She told council she has observed illegal U‑turns in front of the school, multiple daily close calls and two accidents involving a bus driver last year where a bus was T‑boned. She asked for officer presence or a traffic control measure and suggested a flashing light or short pause signal to let buses exit.
On related pedestrian concerns, the driver said cars park in marked bike lanes on 70th Street, forcing cyclists and students to move onto sidewalks and creating conflict points when bike lanes end at turning lanes. She asked the city to address signage and enforcement.
The speaker also requested help with spray‑painted profanity on vehicles at a street location she named, saying children repeat the words they see. Captain Underwood (police) told the meeting that profanity on private property raises First Amendment and enforcement limits; he advised staff would follow up but cautioned regulatory limits.
Staff follow‑up City staff told the driver they would review the specific locations and coordinate follow‑up; Nicole (staff) indicated staff would follow up and Captain Underwood encouraged the driver to provide contact details so police and staff could investigate enforcement or traffic‑management options.
No formal vote occurred; staff committed to follow up…
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