We live by White Rock Trail, and travel it daily from one end to the other. One of the things neighbors around here have always objected to is the high rate of speed that vehicles travel on this road — particularly in the morning and evening rush hours. It’s become a convenient short cut for people who don’t want to use Audelia. It’s also a short cut for commuters who use it to proceed south through White Rock Park to Doran Circle at Flagpole Hill, then illegally proceed down to the lights at NW Highway instead of to Goforth as they are supposed to. City maintenance and trash collection vehicles are particularly wonton in their speeding to the City yards on Goforth. Likewise, Dallas Police vehicles heading to the same location to get a car wash, or to gas up, should be expected to set an example — not head down White Rock Trail at 40+ MPH just to fill up on regular!
The ultimate stupidity was this past Saturday afternoon, heading north. I had just passed the bridge over the creek and then a car pulled out from Spring Branch, behind me. I was proceeding along at the speed limit and this teenage joker was 3 feet from my rear bumper. Then he stomped on it, passed me on the uphill portion, and continued along doing at least 50 MPH. He had a Ford SUV with a Lake Highlands High decal. Some stupid neighbor kid, I presume.
At a White Rock Valley NA meeting a number of months back, Deputy Chief Janice Easterling, the Northeast Division Commander, took note of such concerns and committed to addressing them. She did follow through, but it was effective for a very short time. So, note to the powers that be: how about one of those speed measuring units placed at WRT and Forest, and then at WRT and Spring Branch, so people can see what they are doing? How about having a chat again with city workers and the police folks heading for gas? And how about the rest of us doing our part: set your cruise control for 30 MPH and let the speed-idiots line up behind you. It will take you one whole minute longer to travel the length of the road, and soon they will get the message. There’s a lot of walkers and bikers on this road that will be grateful to you forever!
