Princeton 4th Grader Advocates For Crossing Guard Addition To Increase Safety

PRINCETON, NJ — A Princeton fourth-grader is advocating for the addition of a crossing guard at Harrison Street due to safety issues.

The Riverside Elementary student named Nelly spoke before the Princeton Board of Education at the May 29 meeting.

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She told the board she feels unsafe crossing Harrison Street while biking to school and asked for a crossing guard near the light.

Nelly said she bikes to school nearly every day and lives on Harrison Street, which she described as a "very, very busy road."

She said other Princeton Public Schools students also ride their bikes, and many cross Harrison Street as part of their trip.

"A lot of times it's complicated because there are people who speed and we've seen people drive red lights," said Nelly.

She also said, "So I even I get stressed going to the crosswalk because I see people speed and run the light."

Nelly and her mom feel the addition of a crossing guard at the intersection will help them feel safer.

"I get stressed going to the crosswalk because I see people speed and run the light. So it would help me and my mom feel more safe about me crossing my light by myself if there was a crossing guard there," said Nelly.

Board President Dafna Kendal thanked Nelly for speaking and said the school district does not control crossing guard placement.

"So even though you would think a school crossing guard would be somehow in the school's purview, control, it is not," Kendal said. "It is actually part of the town, the police department."

Kendal directed Nelly to bring the concern to the Princeton Council at an upcoming meeting.

"We would like to see a crossing guard there. But it's out of our hands, and the police and the council can help you," said Kendal.

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