New school means new changes

The+speed+limit+on+Garbers+Church+Road+has+changed+due+to+the+new+elementary+school.+

The speed limit on Garbers Church Road has changed due to the new elementary school.

The new Bluestone Elementary School has been affecting Harrisonburg. Not only did it create a new environment for students, but it changed the speed limit of Garber’s Church Road from 35 mph to 25 mph during the times of 6:45 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. and 2:05 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Resource Officer Ronnie Bowers’ coworkers regulate the speed limit.

“We have a couple- three or four- police officers that are designated to patrol that area. [They patrol] during the morning and evenings, especially during the time frames,” Bowers said. “They’re trying to make people aware of it, but of course they still give out tickets… and hopefully over time people will remember that it’s a school zone. So we need to slow down in the police presence, and we’ll slowly disappear. Not completely, but there’ll be less.”

According to Bowers, the change of the speed limit has won support from the community.  

“[The responses have] been good. I have not had one negative opinion,” Bowers said. “Usually people have been laughing about it. Even when they got a ticket, they’re like ‘Hey I was aware of this and I still did it.” 

Harrisonburg High School Assistant Principal Michael Eye is a regular driver through Garber’s Church Road. Eye has not only been following the change of the speed limit, but how others follow it too.

“I think [the speed limit] is being effective. What I see out there is that people are slowing down to 25 mph. And again, it came about because of Bluestone Elementary School, and then it extends out to even pass Harrisonburg High School. Everyone is slowing down. I’m even slowing down,” Eye said.

Although the community has been receptive to the speed limit change, according to senior Randee Rose Joven, some of the students who are affected still ignore the speed limit.

“I think that it’s gonna take a lot of getting used to, because I feel like some people may not even know about it or care because they’ve been so used to going faster. But for me, when I really need to get to school, I still don’t speed,” Joven said.