Each weekday, the morning traffic slows at the corner near Silver Gate Elementary School, not because of a light, but because of Guy Bigelow. Wearing a bright safety jacket and holding a stop sign, Bigelow steps into the street to help children and parents cross safely during the busiest minutes of the school day.
Bigelow has been volunteering as a crossing guard since 2024. Arriving by 7:15 a.m., he stays until around 7:50 a.m., when the last group of students finishes crossing. He volunteers three mornings a week — Monday through Wednesday — and says the reason he keeps showing up is simple.
“I have three granddaughters that go to Silver Gate Elementary,” Bigelow said. “Traffic in this area doesn’t really have any control, and sometimes people drive super fast.”
During a typical morning, Bigelow watches traffic patterns before stepping into the road. He positions himself where drivers can see him clearly before raising his stop sign and signaling students and parents to cross.
Despite his presence, the job is not without challenges. Bigelow said some drivers ignore him.
“Sometimes people don’t care if I stop in the middle of the street,” Bigelow said. “They just drive past me, or they hit my stop sign.”
He added that glare from the morning sun can also make it difficult to see approaching vehicles.
While he has not witnessed a serious incident, Bigelow always remains alert.
“My priority is that people walking by are safe,” Bigelow said. “I’m always ready with my camera on.”
Parents who regularly drop off their children say Bigelow’s presence makes a noticeable difference. Elvis Renteira, father of a six-year-old student, said seeing Bigelow each morning brings peace of mind.
“It definitely makes me feel more safe,” Renteira said. “I see how he deals with drivers almost every morning, and that’s a lot of work he’s doing to make sure my daughter and other kids are safe.”
Renteira added that because some of the pedestrian walking lights are not working, Bigelow has become someone parents depend on.
Bigelow expressed frustration that traffic safety measures in the area are limited. He said the warning signs placed in the street often do not work and that the city is already aware of the issue.
“People are going 45 miles an hour in a 25-mile-an-hour zone,” Bigelow said. “Traffic is slow, but other times everyone is rushing. This is a busy street, and sometimes I’m honestly afraid to step out there.”
He believes stronger visual signals — such as overhead flashing lights — would help capture drivers’ attention.
“If those flashes were higher up, drivers would be more focused,” Bigelow said.
Bigelow also said it’s important that parents stay close to their children while crossing. He recalled watching a child repeatedly run ahead of their parents toward the intersection.
“Kids don’t always understand the rules,” Bigelow said. “Parents need to keep them close because some drivers don’t care about the flashing lights and will keep going.”
According to the San Diego Unified School District, children under the age of 10 should not cross the street alone. The district also advises families to use crosswalks, avoid distractions like cell phones and practice safe routes until children understand traffic awareness.
Traffic safety issues are not limited to elementary schools. Maximo Solis, a valet employee at Point Loma Nazarene University, said managing traffic on campus also requires patience and awareness.
“Our job is to make sure people aren’t driving around overwhelmed or angry,” Solis said. “Once you work a job like this, you understand more. You learn to treat people how you’d want to be treated.”
Although Solis and Bigelow have different roles, both are motivated by the same goal: protecting the people they serve. Bigelow said his motivation remains the same each morning.
“Me and the other guys who do this — we’re just here to make sure kids are safe,” Bigelow said. “If none of us were here, I truly believe someone would get hurt.”
As cars continue to speed past Silver Gate Elementary, Bigelow maintains his place on the roadstop, sign raised and doing what he believes the community needs most: protecting its children during one of the busiest times of the day.
Olivia Roberts