It took some fifth-graders from the Van Meter Elementary School to recognize the problem at the intersection of Kennedy Road and Los Gatos Boulevard. They cross that street when they walk to school or ride their bikes their, like they do on Fridays. In October, however, they were conducting a project for the First Lego League qualifying competition. They had to build a robot and get it move safely from one location to another. The intersection that they use regularly seemed like the perfect place.
For four days the four kids—Marco Bommarito, Margaret Greer, Sophie Maxfield and James Yost, spent 15 minutes at the intersection, counting the cars going through it. The red light is obvious. So is the sign that reads “Red Light Violation, $281 Fine.” But drivers didn’t care, say the kids. Each day an average of 500 cars cross the intersection in that 15 minute time span. According to their estimate, 20 of those cars ran the red light.
Pretty soon the event became a lesson in civics. On Nov. 2, the four kids—they call themselves the “Exploding Robots”—appeared before City Hall to share their findings with the authorities. Rather than simply complaining about the problem, they even came up with a solution: add a crossing guard to the intersection when kids are coming to and going from school.
Then came the real lesson in how democracy sometimes works. Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso suggested that they take an alternate route, and cross at Nino Avenue instead, where the crosswalk is more visible. It’s a lesson that democracy is slow, and sometimes even the best ideas get shot down … or maybe the police will start eying the intersection and start handing out tickets.
As for the kids, at least they got to build robots.
Read More at The Mercury News.
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