ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Street parking is creating concerns about whether a school bus can reach students as the school year begins, a west Orange County parent said.
Jennifer Schneider said cars parked on both sides of Red Rose Circle can leave limited space for vehicles, including school buses, to pass.
“It’s so bad that sometimes people are parked parallel to each other on the opposite sides of the road so that there’s only a very small space for a car to get through,” Schneider said.
Schneider said the issue is especially concerning for her son, Liam Bramble, who is getting ready for eighth grade. Liam has special needs, and a school bus comes directly to his home.
An Orange County Public Schools spokesperson said bus routes are mostly limited to major roadways, rather than residential side streets, for efficiency and time. The district spokesperson said issues involving access happen once every two to three months, and noted that smaller buses and third-party transportation options are available, if needed, to reach students.
Schneider said parking issues also affected a nearby subdivision where her parents live.
“The neighborhood that my parents happen to live in, which is close by, was so bad that one year OCPS threatened to cancel our transportation because the bus would get stuck,” Schneider said.
The concern goes beyond school transportation, she said.
“If a bus can’t get through, neither can a fire truck or an ambulance, which puts all of our neighbors’ lives in jeopardy and puts them in danger,” she said.
An Orange County spokesperson said the county is aware of parking concerns on Red Rose Circle. A work order has been created to install no-parking signs along one side of the roadway next to a dry pond, according to the county. County staff will reevaluate later if more signs are needed, according to a spokesperson.
Schneider said neighbors have also sent letters to others in the area to make them aware of the parking concerns. She said that appears to be helping.
“I think if we all just do our part to make sure that our neighborhood roads are clear and safe, it’ll be a much better environment, and it’ll be a lot safer for our children,” Schneider said.
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