| Author |
Message |
    
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 53
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 12:01 pm: |     |
My wife and I live on Tuscan Road, right near the back of the Tuscan school and we remain deeply concerned by the way people speed on Tuscan Road. Just last night there was an accident. Considering the kids who walk to and from school, my question is what would it take to get the speed limit changes on that road and/or to have speed bumps installed? How difficult is it to do something along those lines? And of course, a lowered speed limit doesn't really matter unless it's enforced. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6424
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 3:47 pm: | |
Richard:
The problem isn't the speed limit. It's the way in which the speed limit is enforced. This is true of many of the busier streets in town.
If you have lived on Tuscan Road for a while, you know that several children have been hit by cars while trying to cross at the intersection of Prospect and Tuscan while going home from school. This happened despite the presence of trained adults at the intersection to help the children cross the street. |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 56
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 5:02 pm: | |
Dear Joan,
We moved here in December and this is the first I've heard of children being hit by cars at Prospect and Tuscan. It pains me to hear this, but I am not surprised considering how I have seen people drive on that and yes, without question, other streets. Has the town ever considered speed bumps at particularly difficult locations?? |
Bill P
Citizen
Username: Mrincredible
Post Number: 737
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 5:20 pm: | |
Unfortunately speed bumps are a double-edged sword. They can hamper the progress of emergency vehicles. But I think speeding is a huge problem in our fair town. It's especially scary on some of the hillier streets like Tuscan ... people just come flying down them without regard for safety.
I live on a flat, straight and wide street, and I am often scared by how fast people drive when we have about 800 small kids living on our block. We're also right off of Elmwood, another drag strip for the chronically hurrying.
I wish there was more speed enforcement. I think it's the only way to successfully deal with the problem. There's no reason anyone should be driving above the speed limit through or around town. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9471
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 5:32 pm: | |
The only town around here who uses speed bumps is Westfield. Hit a couple on Rahway Avenue near the high school football stadium over the weekend.
That town also has a reputation for strict traffic enforcement. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 1347
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 5:40 pm: | |
Westfield won't be the only town around here to have spped bumps for long, the street I live on will be getting 2 of them soon, of course it took a long time (and it still hasn't happened yet).
The bumps will be a little different from what I understand, they will be wider than the normal size bumps, and they will be removable so that if needed the location of where they are on the street can be changed, or so I've been told. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1729
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 6:05 pm: | |
Monster, what street do you live on and why is it getting speed bumps?
Here's an idea, since the topic of speeding and how bad it is here in Maplewood comes up on a fairly regular basis. Is there a way to post a petition for stricter enforcement of speed limits on-line, so that folks could sign it, and we could present it to the TC or the police chief or whoever. Personally, I'm tired of the phenomenon, as it happens way too much just about everywhere in town (and I myself was almost run down, along with my three small children, a couple of years ago while crossing Prospect in from of the Presbyterian Church), and I'd love to see something done about it. I'd be happy to get the petition up and running and present it to whomever it needs to be presented to, but I just don't know how I'd go about setting it up on-line. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1730
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 6:17 pm: | |
O.K., so after a quick Google search, I found a site where I can post the petition for free, and provide a link for those who wish to sign. I'm happy to do this, as I said, but I think I'll need some help. I think the last time I wrote a petition was probably high school, or some such thing, so I'd need some input on the wording. Also, I'd need to know that those of us who spend too much time here on MOL will tell 2 friends who might not, so they'll tell 2 friends and so on and so on and so on, so we can collect lots of signatures. Do you think we can do it? |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 2611
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 6:36 pm: | |
Joan-
Please tell me you're mistaken about kids being hit despite there being a crossing guard at the intersection of Tuscan and Prospect. Doesn't this intersection also have a traffic light? |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 57
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 7:15 pm: | |
Me and my wife are ready to help with the petition and to get the word out. I do have this small fantasy and that would be that Maplewood would become known as a place that enforces the speed limit--just as Westfield was referenced. I think that with a town, with so many people who have children (not to mention anyone else that has to cross a street by foot at some point in their existence in this town) that something more has to be done. I don't think that enforcing the speed limit is asking for too much. Meandtheboys, count us in on this because we are very, very unhappy about this aspect of Maplewood that no one told us about when we were looking for a home last December. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1735
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 - 9:42 pm: | |
O.K. Richard, look for a P/L from me. |
dom
Citizen
Username: Dom
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
we have the same problem on Oakview ave. I will gladly sign a petition! |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 163
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 11:43 am: | |
Richard, I just PLed you, too |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6427
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 4:33 pm: | |
I'll be happy to sign. Just a reminder that real name signatures will be needed for the petition to be effective. In addition to an on-line petition, you might want to circulate the petition at local places of assembly such as in front of the post office on a Saturday morning, at the train station in the early morning hours and assuming permission at one or more of the businesses in town, the libraries, special events, etc.
JTA:
Unfortunately this is true, though the instances I am aware of happened quite a few years ago. This is a tragedy in the making that we can all work to prevent from happening in the future. If each of us who drives in town were to travel at the speed limit, other drivers would eventually get the message. What doesn't work here is the do as I say not as I do school of thought which permits the advocate for driving at the speed limit to speed but not anyone else. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 164
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 4:53 pm: | |
I think Tuscan is uniquely bad. People zip along the park from Springfield and then crest of the hill obscures folks crossing the street just beyond. The switch from the Springfield speed limit to the 25 mph on Tuscan is tiny sign, but I suspect most aren't speeding because they just aren't aware that the limit has changed. When I walk along Tuscan in the early morning some cars go by so fast I don't feel safe on the sidewalk!
Furthermore, a lot of children use Tuscan to get to and from school at Tuscan and the Middle School. Sometimes they play around and step into the street.
I can't even think of why someone is still spending down Tuscan as they approach Valley. There's a light there! Not to mention a golf course if you don't slow to turn.
So, let me know where to sign. Send me a copy to share with my Tuscan neighbors. Count me in.
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1741
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 5:37 pm: | |
Joan, not sure what you mean by "real name" signatures? The petition I'm working on asks for name, e-mail address, city, state, zip and phone number (I think). Please clarify. I want to be sure all bases are covered.
Juju, once we're at a place where I'm happy with the wording on the petition, I will start a thread with a link where people can "sign" on-line. You can give that link to anyone and everyone you know. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6431
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 7:03 pm: | |
Meandtheboys:
In the past we have done petitions and issues threads on MOL. These were discounted because some people posting in favor of the issue represented by the thread did not post their full real names.
Weather permitting, Lower Courter Avenue is having our block party on Saturday afternoon. If you have a copy of the petition ready by then, I will be happy to circulate it there/then.
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1743
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 6, 2005 - 8:06 pm: | |
I'm sorry if I'm being dense here Joan, but I'm really trying to understand. Are you saying you've posted petitions on-line (I've found a website that's sole purpose is to "host" petitions) and they've been ignored? Are you saying that if I have people sign this petition on-line, print it out and submit it to the TC or the police chief, that it will be discounted for some reason? Even if there are potentially hundreds of "signatures" from concerned, tax paying citizens of Maplewood? Are you saying the only way we'll be taken seriously on this issue is if we circulate an actual paper petition which will be signed with actual signatures? Because, honestly, I don't have the spare time it would take to do that.
However, I am just sick enough of the whole "speeding" issue (and I'm all over this town on foot and see it everywhere), and seeing it come up over and over again in the short time I've been here on MOL, that I feel compelled to do something! And right now the only something I am in a position to do is to put this petition on a website and announce it through MOL, and hope that those who post here will go and "sign" it and tell thier friends to do the same. It seems there are enough people in town who are as fed up as I am that we could get a pretty good result as far as signatures are concerned. And, as I said, I'd be happy to print the thing out at some point in the near future, and take it to a TC meeting and do whatever was required to "present" it. Of course, whatever that procedure is requires more research on my part. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9474
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 4:50 am: | |
Your best bet is to do as me says. Get as many petitions signed as possible and then present them to the TC at one of the meetings with as many people in attendance as you can round up. There is always a public comment time. It would probably also be a good idea to alert the TC when you plan on doing this. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 165
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 8:47 am: | |
And I'll show up at that TC meeting, too! Seriously, it is just a obvious lack of respect to speed along residential streets. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9476
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 8:58 am: | |
There is also a question of finite resources on the part of the police department. Setting up speed traps, writing tickets, etc. takes a lot of time and manpower.
Are we as a community willing to accept a higher crime rate for more traffic control?
Just a thought. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1746
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 9:12 am: | |
I don't believe that is a tradeoff we would have to make. I want my children safe while on foot in this town, and right now they're not. One officer, positioned in a different spot, routinely, on a daily basis, stopping folks as they speed on their way to where ever they're going, particularly during rush hour, shouldn't be too much of a strain.
But of course, we're probably jumping the gun here, as we first have to get the attention and cooperation of the police department and the TC, before we can formulate a plan of any kind.
I see this as a process that may take months to complete. I don't expect the problem to be fixed next week.
I'm just tired of all the b*tching that goes on about this, while nothing seems to get done.
Going to post the link to the petition today. If we need to circulate an actual paper petition, I have ideas for that, and that will be one of our "next steps." |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 167
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 9:46 am: | |
Slower drivers = more crime? I agree with meand, that's an artificial choice. One doesn't necessary = the other. In fact, there may even be reasons for slower drivers resulting in less crime. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9478
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 10:51 am: | |
One way or another, like it or not, the fact that the police are a finite resource is going to be part of the discussion on this subject. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 9882
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 12:05 pm: | |
You mean traffic tickets don't pay for themselves?
|
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 59
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 12:50 pm: | |
A centerpiece of Rudy Guiliani's extremely successful crackdown on crime in NYC was addressing quality of life issues. This was embraced by the then mayor, his police various police commissioners, and was created by Jack Maple. The theory at the time was that by attacking offenses like speeding, running stop signs, not to mention a whole host of other types of non-violent offenses, you would bring down the overall levels of crime. It worked and still does. This is a system that's been adopted nationwide and is still in effect in NYC under Bloomberg. It's partially about creating the knowledge that the town or city is vigilant, overall. And if that vigilance is first noticed by people because the traffic laws are enforced, it sends a message about the police and community culture. Add to this that that, yes, I believe Tom is correct, the tickets do help pay for the effort and what is more, do you really think the police will not repond to a urgent call if they're writing a ticket?? If they can do this in Westfield, create a town where people know that saftey, overall, is a priority, it can be done in Maplewood too. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 9481
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 1:08 pm: | |
I believe the fines are split between the Town and the State. I am pretty certain that the Town share doesn't go directly to the police budget.
Maplewood has an extremely low crime rate and this is pretty much because our police use tactics similar to those advocated by Maple. We concentrate our police efforts on the areas where crimes occur and potential evil doeers congregate. Traffic enforcement would probably change the matrix to one degree or another and might cause changes in crime rates.
Anyone, other than if you are black, who thinks traffic laws are heavily enforced in NYC has probably been smoking those funny cigarettes again.
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6433
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 4:38 pm: | |
Meandtheboys:
Let me try to be clearer. In the past, people have started threads on MOL itself, printed out the comments (often several hundred posts long) and presented these to the TC in support of the petitioner's position on a given issue. Since most of the posters to these threads posted using their user name rahter than their full legal name and since there was no way of knowing which of these anonymous posters were legal residents of Maplewood, the threads did not have the impact they would have had if hard copy petitions including each person's full legal name and legal residence had been used.
In your case, you are planning to use a website specifically geared to generating petitions, having people sign the petition by visiting that website and posting all of the information normally required for a hard copy petition, printing out the results and presenting them to the TC. This should be fine. Just be sure that non-Maplewood residents realize that the TC may not consider their signatures as being legitimate for a matter brought before the TC.
My offer to circulate a hard copy of the petition and/or the url needed to access the on line petition at tomorrow's block party which will be held one block from Tuscan Road still stands. Please PL me if we can get this done.
It might also be helpful if someone attending the Maplewood Reads program at the Main Library tomorrow and any other special events scheduled for the immediate future could spread the word there. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page