Letter to the Department of Education and Sport
Dear Department of Education and Sport,
We are writing to request your office for a school bus for the children living in Osterangerstrasse, Korbmacherweg and Leinweberweg area who are attending the Grundschule am Schubinweg this school year (2023/2024) and the succeeding school years for the following reasons:
- The streets and footpaths leading to the school from our area are dangerous for the children; and
- The public transport schedule does meet their actual needs.
Background
The Grundschule Schubinweg is accessible from our area by two main streets – Lochhausenerstrasse and Langwiederhaupstrasse (through the southern section of the Osterangerstrasse). Both streets do not offer safe pathways for our children.
Lochhausenerstraße
Although within the 2km zone, the Lochhausenerstrasse is a 50 kph street that is used by up to 25,000 vehicles (LKWs, PKWs) per day. In most cases, the vehicles passing through our area drive at the maximum allowable speed since the next traffic lamp from the intersection with A99 in the East is already at the at the S-bahn station area which is 1,4 kms away. The footpath that traverses the street from the intersection Osterangerstrasse up to the corner of Schussenriederstrasse is very unsafe for pedestrian use. First, it is, in most areas, below the suggested 2,5m footpath - it is only 2,4 m at its widest (except across the train station) and in some sections, narrows further down to 1,5m. This footpath is shared by bike drivers going in opposite directions and pedestrians who also go in opposite directions. Next, nothing separates the footpath from the very busy street, except the vehicles that park on the sides along the section between Keltenafferstraße and Hufschmiedstrasse. However, these vehicles (specially the LKW) also sometimes park on the curb itself, depriving the pedestrians further of the already-narrow space. Since the path is narrow there is not enough space to avoid the incoming splash from fast-driving vehicles on rainy days and the pedestrians accidentally bump into one another when trying to avoid the water. On winter days, the footpath is very slippery even with thin snow that the people can easily slide onto the street itself.
Langwiederhauptstraße
The section of the Langwiederhauptstrasse that will need to be traversed if our children walk, take their bikes or scooters to school, is a tad better considering that the footpath is separated from the main street by a narrow island. However, there are also issues with this path. First, our kids need to first traverse the southern section of the Osterangerstrasse (about 8 to minutes’ walk time). This is a one-way (southwards), 30 kph street used by PKWs, LKW and Landwirsschafts vehicles. This street is ONLY 2,8m wide and has no footpath on either side and no streetlamps. This was probably enough to fulfill the needs of the inhabitants in the past but with additional residents from the 450 planned units, there will be an increased volume of usage in the following weeks. The lack of a footpath forces pedestrians to walk on the track or field on either side which on rainy and snowy days, become really muddy and slippery. Upon reaching the intersection of Osterangerstrasse-Langwiederhaupstrasse, the children then cross a 50 kph street that has no Ampel, no pedestrian lane nor street crossing helper to assist them. From here, they cross the northern section of the Osterangerstrasse to eventually get to the footpath and tread it to get to school. Upon reaching the intersection at Eschenriederstrasse, they need to cross the Langwiederstrasse again twice, and in both cases with no Ampel, no pedestrian lane and no crossing guide to help them before they reach Johannes-Tanner-Strasse and finally join the other school children to reach school.
Public transport
Some of us have been advised to let our kids take the public transport. Here is the public transport situation in our area:
Before school
1) The bus X80 Richtung Puchheim is a 20-minute bus that comes from Moosach. This bus comes at 7:23, with an almost full load when it stops at the Bus Stop Korbmacherweg. On this schedule (and as of this date), around 20 to 30 people (children and adults) get on this bus and get off at the Lochhausen Bhf station to join the rest of the kids walking to school from there. Please note that only the first phase of the Siedlung in our area is now fully occupied (state number of wohnungen here). The residents from the second phase have started moving in this month and we expect that within two months, these additional apartments will also be occupied. The whole Siedlung has been planned to accommodate 400 units and 1000 residents in total. The space left in the 7:23 takt is no longer enough to accommodate the present commuters needs alone, what more when the next phases open?
2) The Bus 159 Richtung Lochausen Bhf. stops at the Osterangestrasse Bus stop at 7:18 am. This bus stop is accessed by an 8 to 10-minute walk through the already-described Osterangerstrasse and reaches the Eschenriederstrasse Stop. The crossing situation is as described above.
The Bus 159 Haltestelle Osterangerstrasse is the pick-up and drop off point for the children from Langwied (northern section of the Osterangerstrasse) who are currently serviced by a schoolbus. Please note that the northern section of Osterangerstrasse is much wider than the southern section. It has sidewalks and also streetlamps, rendering it safe for usage by pedestrians.
After school
Class ends at 11:15/12:15
On days where classes end at 11:15/12:15, the children have two options to get home– they may take Bus 159 Richtung Pasing (Eschenriederstrasse Haltestelle, 11:22/12:22) or Bus X80 Richtung Moosach (Locchausen Hbf, 11:35/12:35).
1a) Bus 159 Richtung Pasing. The children who try to catch the 159 have to pack all their things, get down the stairs and sprint, all within 7 minutes to try to catch the bus. This may work on fine, sunny days and. But based on experience, the child catches his/her breath by the time the bus comes. The child must also hope that the bus comes late since the next one comes 1 hour later. It would be impossible to accomplish this feat during rainy and snowy days (specially that the shortcut behind the St. Michael Church is closed on winter due to prevent accidents so the child must run through along the Johannes-Tanner-Strasse). The child also needs to cross two times – first, the 30 kph Schustenriederstrasse (oftentimes no crossing helper after school hours and the cars often do not stop); and then the three-point junction of the 50 kph Langwiederhauptstrasse (no Ampel, no crossing helper, no Zebra stripes). The ride takes 1 minute, and the child then gets off at the Osterangerstrasse Bus stop to walk the rest of the way home in the already described southern section of the Osterangerstrasse for 8 to 10 minutes. Total travel time is 16 to 18 minutes for the whole path home (disregarding distractions).
1b) Bus X80 Richtung Moosach. To get home with the X80 Bus Richtung Moosach, first the child walks around 7 to 10 minutes to the Lochhausen HbF Bus stop and wait for the bus for at least another 10 minutes. The bus ride then takes one minute and covers 1/3 of the whole travel distance. The child gets off at the Korbmacherweg Bus Stop (which probably should be named Hufschmiedstrasse Bus stop due to the Haltestelle’s proximity to this street rather than to the Korbmacherweg). The child will then have to cross the very busy, 50 kph Lochhausenerstrasse on the crossing island (no Ampel, no crossing helper, no zebra stripe) and eventually walk the already mentioned dangerous footpath for 1/3 of the way for 5 to 7 minutes to finally reach home at 11:40 at the earliest. For this option, the child in needs 25 minutes at least to travel the distance home.
Class ends at 13:00/14:00
On days where classes end at 13:00/14:00, the child can only take the Bus X80 Richtung Moosach Bus (Lochhausenerstrasse Hbf, 13:15/14:15) .The Bus 159 comes at 13:39/14:39. As already mentioned above, the child will need to cross the Lochhausenerstrasse and walk the dangerous footpath and will need around 25 minutes in total to get home.
As parents our utmost concern is ensure the safety and well-being of our children. We know that the minimum required distance is 2 kms and that our area is below that range. We also support the city’s walk to school campaign. But as mentioned, our children need 18 to 25 minutes to thread the dangerous pathways mentioned, exposing them to high risk levels. And this is unacceptable. If perhaps you can find a solution better than our request and which works for everyone, please note that we are ready to work with you on that.
We would very much appreciate your immediate attention to this pressing matter. We hope to receive a reply from you within two weeks.