Some parents at Ecole Henry Kelsey School in Saskatoon took to social media after they were shooed out of the bus parking zone on Monday by Parking Enforcement Officers, even though they were told to use the area by the Principal, and even though all school buses were cancelled because of the cold. The weather at some points Monday had a wind chill edging close to -50 degrees Celsius.
Parents described the situation as one that should have been a safe and a quick pick up but became stressful and freezing, and far less safe than it could have been. The parents say they received an email indicating they should feel free to park in the Bus Parking Zone, text when they arrive, identify their child whose name would be announced over the loud speaker, and the parent would be there waiting when the child exited the building to ensure they left with the right parent and weren’t outside too long in the cold.
The city of Saskatoon’s Director of Community Standards Jo-Anne Richter says Parking Enforcement Officers were on a routine scheduled patrol and that when they learned parents were told to park there by school officials, they focused their efforts on providing information about bylaw requirements. She says no tickets were ever issued.
Richter also says city staff have explained to school officials that use of the school bus loading zones is regulated by bylaw. She suggests, as well, that a bylaw amendment may allow for use of school bus loading zones in unique circumstances.
Statement from Director of Community Standards Jo-Anne Richter:
Our Parking Enforcement Officers conduct daily patrols at different school sites throughout the city to ensure compliance with safety-related parking restrictions, including no parking and no stopping areas, as well as areas identified as school bus loading zones. This ensures that emergency access remains available, sight lines for pedestrians are not impacted, and there is safe traffic flow. The safety of children arriving at or leaving school, whether by car, bus, or on foot, is paramount.
Regulations for use of loading zones, including school bus loading zones, are set out in the Traffic Bylaw, and there is no provision to “suspend” the restrictions on parking in these zones. Signage in place at the site specifies the days and times when loading zones are in effect.
In undertaking a routine scheduled patrol at Henry Kelsey School on Monday, it came to the attention of the Parking Enforcement Officers that the school administration had advised parents they could park in the school bus loading zone because buses were not running. The Enforcement Officers, upon learning that parents had been so advised, focused their efforts on providing information about the bylaw requirements. No tickets were issued in this situation. Staff have since had a conversation with the Administration at Henry Kelsey School, and were able to clarify that the use of school bus loading zones is regulated by bylaw. The Administrator was apologetic in having unknowingly provided direction to parents that was contrary to the bylaw requirements. From this, future discussions may be undertaken with the school to explore potential options that might accommodate use of school bus loading zones in such situations, including perhaps consideration for bylaw amendment.
