With mini versions of streets, traffic control signs, crosswalks and other elements of a real life street, a traffic garden is a safe and fun place for people (especially kids) to learn and practice the rules of the road.
Such gardens are somewhat common in other parts of the world, but they are rare in the United States. They can be great resources for traffic safety education, but they are also simply fun to play in when classes are not in session. Maybe it seems boring to adults to pretend to drive, bike and walk on mini streets, but that kind of thing is crazy fun for kids.
Learning how to be safe and comfortable with active transportation is also a good thing for the community, which is why White Center leaders and Cascade Bicycle Club’s Major Taylor Project worked to develop a plan and win a King County Parks grant to open Washington State’s first traffic garden in Dick Thurnau Park (the recently-approved new name for Lakewood Park).
“Having access to cycling is important for health reasons and all sorts of other reasons,” said Pat Thompson, Director and Co-Founder of the YES! Foundation of White Center and a lifelong resident of the area. “To me, cycling is a justice issue.”
She said cycling is on the rise in White Center after decades where she rarely saw any bikes on the streets.
“It’s not normal yet,” she said. “It’s not something you see everywhere. It’s not something every home has.” Part of the problem is King County’s lacking bike infrastructure compared to Seattle.
“You can cross Roxbury and suddenly there are bike lanes, and on the other side there are not.” SW Roxbury St is the city limit dividing White Center and Seattle. (more…)
