Robbinsdale Man Leads Effort To Improve Bus Stop Safety

Damien Roschon-Washington was concerned about kids getting too close to traffic while they waited for the school bus near his Robbinsdale home. He decided to do something about it.

Now Roschon-Washington is encouraging others to join him in his efforts to keep kids safe.

Last year, Roschon-Washington set up a bench on his property, inviting kids to sit on it instead of the curb near passing cars.

He said the bench was well received.

A lot of kids used it and did homework on it while they waited to be picked up.

Parents used it, too.

The experience motivated Rochon-Washington, who sits on the Robbinsdale Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission, to take his idea for more benches to the Robbinsdale City Council. He told CCX News that the city is in the early stages of looking at a bench program.

In the meantime, he hopes to inspire the community.

“On the grassroots level, people can start doing now,” said Rochon-Washington. “If you have the space and you see the need, you see the kids, put some joy into the community, put some comfort into your community, some fellowship in the community, get a bench out there.”

Damien Rochon-Washington talks about how the bench was received outside his Robbinsdale home.

The bus doesn’t pass by Roshon-Washington’s house currently, and he’s open to moving his bench to an active bus stop.

Robbinsdale