| Author | Message | |||
     MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1857 Registered: 5-2001  |
Had a fun time sledding at Floods Hill today. However, I wonder why SOMEONE doesn't designate certain parts of the hill as a place to walk UP and certain parts of the hill for coming DOWN. I witnessed countless accidents that could have been avoided. Can't someone put out some cones, or "spray paint" certain parts of the hill to separate up from down? I've always heard that the town doesn't do that for fear that if they acknowledge the sledding they can be sued. However, I saw printed "rules for sledding" that were posted on large signs at the top of the hill. Can someone explain? Thanks! | |||
| mwoodwalk Citizen Username: Mwoodwalk Post Number: 271 Registered: 9-2001 |
Not a bad idea---I witnessed the same thing while cavorting up and down the hill with my son today (and I got nailed, albeit with no ill effects, by one adult tandem that was flying down the hill while I had my back turned trying to console my son who had just fallen off his sled). Of course, if you did the "up here", "down there" routine, you would have to do more walking (i.e., down the hill, across to the up side, walk up the hill, and then walk back across to the down side), but it would certainly be safer. Good luck getting this town to do anything so sensible, though---esp. if there are potential liability concerns. | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1861 Registered: 5-2001 |
It seems like there are the "small hill people" who go down the smaller side of the hill closer to the duck pond with little kids & the "big hill people" who go down the bigger side of the hill at the other end. If the "up here" part were right in the middle of the hill, it shouldn't cause much more walking for either group of people. (as shown in my attached high tech diagram with suggested future "enhancements") 
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| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7327 Registered: 5-2001 |
Are they padding the tree trunks with haybales? Twelve or so years ago a boy was very severly injured going headfirst into one of the trees. | |||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 338 Registered: 9-2004 |
Yup, Knew the kid (a neighbor). The poor kid nearly lost his life. Thank goodness for the haybales in front of the trees. | |||
| snshirsch Citizen Username: Snshirsch Post Number: 327 Registered: 1-2003 |
Last year, or maybe two years ago the town did put up cones to designate walking areas to go back up the hill. I've heard two problems stemming from that (possibly discussed here in years past); the first, is the thought that being within the cones will make you safe and you therefore don't need to pay attention, and the second is that the village is possibly then condoning the sledding on the hill and might be opening themselves up to lawsuits in case someone gets hurt. | |||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 1718 Registered: 9-2003 |
Unless they post a "NO SLEDDING" sign, aren't they already opening themselves to a lawsuit? It makes more sense to have a safe environment. | |||
| Neen Citizen Username: Neen Post Number: 98 Registered: 1-2004 |
How about just having parent's instruct their children to not go down if they see someone walking up in that spot, and to be aware of their surroundings before heading down the hill, so that they don't crash into a tree. By asking the town to make it a "padded cell" environment, where they have to meet the signage needs of people when it snows rather than using their full force to clear the roads, you are basically encouraging them to take the easy way out and just say No Sledding! | |||
| Angus MacGuyver Citizen Username: Macgyver Post Number: 56 Registered: 1-2005  |
How about you people CRAM IT, and CRAM IT GOOD!!!!! Let your kids sled if you want them too! Be responsible for your own kid for a change. If you have no kids, and will be spending no time on the hill, then find a topic that applies to you. Oh, but Angus, I have every right to post here or on any other topic. SO DO I... waaaahhh, i heard a kid ran into a tree, wahhhhh, put up some colored cones, waaaaaaaaahhh, what about bales of hey, wahhhhhhh lawsuits, waaaahhhh potential liability concerns.... ITS SNOW!! YOU PLAY IN IT, SHOVEL IT, MISS WORK BY IT, MAKE COCOA BY IT & YOU SLED DOWN HILLS IN IT. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO RUIN A GOOD THING??????? | |||
| CageyD Citizen Username: Cageyd Post Number: 214 Registered: 6-2003 |
Aparently when they put up the cones, most people ingnored them. It will take something more durable like a temporary fencing made of flexible plastic at the far end of either side of the hill. THen, for those who don't want to play dodge the sled they have a safe place to go walk up. A boy I know from West Orange broke his leg in an accident on Flood's HIll two years ago. I think the town should probably do something because someone will sue the town someday and then there will be no sledding signs posted. | |||
| Mayor McCheese Citizen Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2004  |
MacGyver- I can see that this issue upsets you, but we must be concerned about possible lawsuits. Snow isn't what it used to be. It used to be good and decent, but the lawyers and those crippled by the regretless snow have changed things. Now, snow is discourteous and decadent. Sledding should be BANNED at floods hill, and everywhere else. This is the only way to insure the safety of everyone. I furthermore recommend that everyone coat themselves in at least 4 layers of bubble wrap to make sure that no one is ever injured again. This will show those personal injury lawyers on TV! | |||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2419 Registered: 5-2001  |
Angus is (ulp!) right. It's a matter of common sense. Kids, use sleds you can STEER, and be alert to AVOID unsuspecting sledders downhill from you. Parents, teach your children that once they've reached the bottom of the hill, they need to ALWAYS keep their eyes facing UPHILL, to evade oncoming sledders. The Rec Dept did try the "designated walkway" idea several years ago, but had no manpower to enforce use of the marked paths, and the concept withered. With the use a little common sense, nobody needs to get hurt, and the hill can be a fun place for all ages. -s. Now, if we could just get the SOPD to ticket those selfish idiots who insist on stopping their cars in the street at the hilltop to load or discharge their sledders, the entire experience would be safer. | |||
| Angus MacGuyver Citizen Username: Macgyver Post Number: 60 Registered: 1-2005 |
Sorry if I seemed upset McCheese... It's just that, well.... I was runover by a runaway tube on floods hill when I was a wee lad. I should have been paying attention. I learned to keep a closer eye on the hill. | |||
| Bright Moments Citizen Username: Brightmoments Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2004 |
A huge part of the problem is parents with young children who let them go from steep parts of the hill on sleds the child can't control. I'm convinced that this is partly a function of our video game culture. If you can act like a super hero on screen, why not in real life? | |||
| Mayor McCheese Citizen Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 102 Registered: 7-2004 |
Video game culture? Are you kidding? The reason that they go down the steep part of the hill is because they go faster and it is more fun. It has nothing to do with super hero video game bs. Years ago, when there were no video games I can recall young children going down the steep part of the hill just as they do now. But, I guess TV did that. | |||
| Angus MacGuyver Citizen Username: Macgyver Post Number: 73 Registered: 1-2005 |
Yes, I agree with Bright Moments. This video game culture is to blame. Infact the other day I was playing tetris and imediately following I went sledding down floods hill so fast without a care in the world. Then I went up to the smoke shop and bought ciggarettes for minors. I dont even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. I am a monster. CURSE YOU TETRIS!!!!!!!!!!!! | |||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 880 Registered: 9-2002  |
When did sleds stop having any kind of steering mechanism? I grew up with sleds you could actually control... (does that make me old?) | |||
| chickadee Citizen Username: Chickadee Post Number: 34 Registered: 6-2002 |
I would be so mad if someone sued the town because of a sledding injury. If a person makes a decision to go sledding, they should be prepared-watch as you are walking back up the hill to avoid sledders coming down, and if you are on a sled that is going to plow into someone, bail into the snow, to avoid a full collision. My kids and I went sledding at the hill yesterday, and it was a blast. I agree with Angus' assessment of the "padded cell" environment. Enough already. Take responsiblity for your actions, and have fun. | |||
| arizona Citizen Username: Arizona Post Number: 131 Registered: 2-2004 |
Years before "video culture" took over Floods Hill was actually much steeper. It was great. Sledders and taboggoners (remember them) could actually become airborn. Sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s those in power decided to reduce the slope of the hill with heavy construction equipment. Things have changed, haven't they? | |||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2427 Registered: 5-2001 |
 Steerable sleds ("Flexible Flyer", et al) are still being made & sold, but I guess today's parents are either too unconcerned, too lazy, or inarticulate to impart the basics of steering to their kids. That being the case, they opt for the "random motion" model, where the child is instructed simply to sit down and hang on for dear life. The upside to these discs, tubes, and other such uncontrollable conveyances is that the THRILL FACTOR is enhanced exponentially, albeit at the cost of occasional fractures, contusions, abrasions, concussions, and deaths. No matter. LET 'EM HAVE FUN! -s. BTW: I still use the very same Flexible Flyer my father used as a kid. It's got steel runners, turns on a dime, and on packed snow, it's the fastest on Flood's Hill. Oh, and I've never hit anyone or anything while riding it... |
sledding