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Message |
    
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2706
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 11:32 am: |     |
Ajc,
You're welcome, and thanks to you for bringing this matter to the TC - it's very strange that they stuck you with the task of bringing this matter to the police - I mean, they are the ones with the official capacity to do so, right? Do you work for them? I'm confused, but thanks for all your effort and caring. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2393
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 1:54 pm: | |
Thank “You” for bringing this issue to our attention.
The truth is it's not really all that strange why they didn’t immediately deal with the problem...
IMHO, I feel this is just a normal, political knee jerk reaction to most issues of this kind that faces any township committee, not just ours.
First lets talk about it, put it on the agenda, send it off to another committee, meet with the Transportation Committee, have the Village Alliance check with all the merchants in town, call the Chamber of Commerce, check with the police department, find out what the village police officer is doing now, see if they have the same problem on Springfield Avenue, ask the town engineer, get an expert on the subject, and finally lets have a public hearing and see what everyone else has to say…
Forget about it, I’d never be cut out for this job. We have too many other problems in town. When I hear about an issue concerning, traffic, safety, or parking; I want to resolve it ASAP, make a decision, take immediate action, and move on to the next problem.
I’m with you Mem. Look, I don’t know how far wrong we can go by just instructing a police officer to move the traffic along Maplewood Avenue and in the parking lot behind Rickleton Square? I mean it’s only an hour or so a day. Plus, it's mostly the same people all the time doing it, and before very long, people will begin to get the message.
FWIW, would someone please tell us what other area in the village has a more important issue, or is causing a bigger re-occurring problem? If there is one, it has to be one of the best-kept secrets in all of Maplewood... |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2399
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 12:22 am: | |
Good News/ Bad News, who knows?
Sometimes we get what we ask for… The good news is I spoke with the Chief and he has agreed to bring the matter to the attention of the officer who works the village. He can’t station anyone at the location on a permanent basis; however, the location in question is now on the radar screen…
On the other hand, the bad news is obstructing the flow of traffic is a motor vehicle violation. The point made was that if action wasn’t taken against violators, they would just continue to break the law.
Therefore, going forward, citations will now be given to drivers that insist on blocking traffic while waiting for a parking space to become available, or waiting for passengers getting off the train. Not unlike the airport, drivers must keep moving or be prepared to get a ticket…
WARNING – STOP BLOCKING TRAFFIC IN THE VILLAGE
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tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2191
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 7:00 am: | |
We had better issue the officer on duty a scanner that can read the license plate and print out a ticket for the violation. I can see this being a high-volume business. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1920
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 7:41 am: | |
The train station parking lot's not so bad if people keep to the right so that others can go by. Better have them sit there out of the way than orbit around continuously on already-crowded M-wood Ave. waiting for the train to come in. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2400
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:14 am: | |
“I can see this being a high-volume business.”
Wrong! Tjohn, picture the airport; you see one driver getting a ticket, and everyone else moves out… Giving out a lot of tickets is not what the police have in mind. They understand the problem better than anyone. It’s all about not blocking traffic and other available parking spaces. Just pretend like you’re playing “Musical Chairs”, you must keep moving.
The problem here is that some drivers don’t want to be inconvenienced, so they just inconvenience everyone else… Lets all try to be courteous, make a better plan, and keep it moving.
“The train station parking lot's not so bad if people keep to the right so that others can go by.”
Wrong! Tom, the others going by are mostly looking for a place to park. The problems in the parking lot are the cars sitting on the right, “in-the-way”. The cars on the right side are blocking available parking spaces, and they also make it difficult for parked cars that want to back out of the space.
The commuter has been given parking on “Both Sides” of the tracks, more than their fair share. To add to all the parking, they tie up our streets on both sides of the tracks as well. Listen, the shoppers and merchants need more parking in the village as well. Things have gotten out of balance.
Giving commuters all this space on the village side, just to leave their cars sit all day, needs to be re-visited. Back when I was a student at MJHS, the town had a policy that if you lived a certain distance from the school you had to walk. I say now if you live a certain distance from the train station, you don't get a commuter parking permit.
I don’t know for a fact, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a significant number of commuter parking spaces taken up by residents that live within a reasonable walking distance of the station. Maybe we need to stop giving them parking permits?
FWIW, I have identified, thanks to a friend, a stretch of commuter parking on Maplewood Avenue, between Durand and Beach, that should be made available to shoppers. Any comments about that??? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1879
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:35 am: | |
ajc - in regards to "I don’t know for a fact, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a significant number of commuter parking spaces taken up by residents that live within a reasonable walking distance of the station."
What is a "reasonable" walking distance? GIven time, anyone in town can actually walk to the station. For my husband to catch the 5:25, though, our house is an unreasonable distance.
and then..."Maybe we need to stop giving them parking permits?"
People aren't given permits, they pay for them.
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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2006
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:40 am: | |
ffof, the fact that we can't all agree on what's reasonable doesn't mean there shouldn't be a cutoff. I like Art's idea, even though it means someone will make a difficult decision. Special consideration for handicaps etc. are fine with me.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1880
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:42 am: | |
I don't think there should be any cut off. You pay for a permit, you get a permit. Now, if they want to limit the number of permits, then that's a different discussion. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2007
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:47 am: | |
Wouldn't a limit on number of permits be an arbitrary cutoff level?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1881
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:51 am: | |
art was saying to make a cutoff based on the distance you live from the station. I don't agree with that. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2010
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 11:53 am: | |
Yes, I see the difference, but I also see a similarity. Why do you think a cutoff based on distance is a bad idea?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1882
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 12:10 pm: | |
Well, I would start with the assumption that the reason that someone wants a permit is so that they can save time with their commute. And because of the importance, they are willing to pay $130 for a parking permit. It's hard to understand how anyone who lives on a street that already has permit parking signs would need to buy a permit sticker. Art couldn't have been referring to those people. Let's assume that none of them buy stickers. Well, then go out a few more blocks from there and throw in an example.... We live above Ridgewood and below Wyoming. Easily we(well, my husband) can walk to the train - 8 to 10 minutes. But 8 to 10 minutes can be precious time, not to mention, no Jitney at 5:15am. So a parking sticker is a perfect solution.
Art's solution was to target a certain group who, in their minds, need a permit spot. A better solution may be to rethink where commuter spots should be, but not to take away the right to buy a sticker because Art thinks you live to close to the train to begin with. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2401
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 12:38 pm: | |
“What is a "reasonable" walking distance?”
What I think doesn’t matter. However, I’d say at least a half-mile would be reasonable to start with, and healthy as well.
I agree the answer to this is difficult, and there would be a need for many exceptions to the rule. That’s perfectly OK. As Tom said, special considerations for handicaps etc. are fine with me too.
What I hope is, we can at least all begin to look at some other possibilities. These issues regarding parking and traffic have been around forever. Special committee’s are fine, but meanwhile I’ve found a lot of good input from the folks right here on MOL.
Tell the truth, most committee’s trying to find the perfect answer to some local issues seem to take forever. My method of addressing a problem is if there is an obvious solution that helps correct it, take action first, and then lets all get together and talk about fine tuning it later. BTW, yes people pay for permits, but the permits are still a privilege that can be regulated or taken away.
So your walk is long… listen, life is short. Get over it!  |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1883
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 1:07 pm: | |
why do I bother. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2015
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 1:24 pm: | |
ffof, please bother. What are you trying to say that you think we have not yet heard?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1884
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 1:41 pm: | |
I'm sure I've made myself very clear, but Art, while meaning well, drives me crazy |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2403
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 2:21 pm: | |
I understand, I get a little crazy myself at times... 
How can I make it better for you Ffof? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1885
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 2:28 pm: | |
I'll probably just go meet up with my old pal CrazyGoogs and start drinking early and on my way into the village shout obscenities to Maplewood ave road hogs!! |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2715
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 2:45 pm: | |
ffof,
I love doing that! Just last week this old road bat in a cadillac was creeping through the village practically on the wrong side of the road so I screamed "seahag" into the driver's window and ditched into St. James Pub for a congrats drink. (Well, not really)
Cheers!
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2404
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 3:00 pm: | |
Gee, I'd really like to have a drink with you guys, but I have a Posters Anonymous Meeting tonight with Prissy, Straw, and Sbenois... |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 101
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 3:15 pm: | |
Art,
I was extremely disturbed by your suggestion that the town should prohibit commuters who live a certain distance from the train station from buying parking permits. I live in an area that you would probably define within walking distance, but I also have to pick up my infant son from daycare after work. (And I occasionally have to drop him off some mornings when my husband is unable to.)
Under you scenario, I would have to spend almost 10 minutes walking home to get my car and then drive extra distance to pick him up. That would add not only extra time but a lot of extra aggravation to the end of my day, not to mention cutting into the precious time I have to spend with my son.
Please think of who will be extremely inconvenienced before you make blanket statements about how walking more would be good for most people. What if somebody's sick one day but needs to go to work and doesn't feel up to a long walk in the cold or rain or snow???
Art, since you don't commute into the city on a daily basis, I would appreciate you NOT telling those of us who do how we should or should not be getting to the station.
Also, I will attend any Township Committee meeting at which any proposal to remove commuter parking spaces is discussed. If you were a daily commuter, Art, you'd know we need MORE spots--not less, but that's a whole other thread I keep meaning to start.
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 658
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 3:23 pm: | |
ajc: How can you think that people will walk 10 minutes from home when they won't even walk 10 feet? Some of these drivers would drive into the station if they could to save a few feet.
Well it's that way in SO anyway |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 103
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 3:25 pm: | |
Brett,
Thanks for brightening my afternoon! I actually laughed out loud while reading your post :-) |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2405
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2004 - 2:14 am: | |
Marion,
I’m sorry, it’s nothing personal… Something has to be done for the greater good of the community. If it requires that the town prohibits commuters living a certain distance from the train station from buying parking permits, so be it...
We have a number of choices, but please keep in mind no matter which one we choose, someone will find fault with it. Here’s an example of a few previous suggestions to deal with the parking problems…
1. Several years ago NJ Transit offered to share the costs of building a parking garage at the trail station. There was an uproar against it.
2. Another possibility was raised to put in parking meters to raise money to buy up more property for parking. Again there was an uproar against it.
3. For the past two years I have been looking for support to expand the jitney to an all day service. The TC and the commuters at the station didn’t support it.
Listen, I wouldn’t take away without giving something back. If you happen to live in an area that is defined within walking distance of the train station, you would qualify for my new short jitney pass, ½ mile, ½ price rule. The jitney would pick up, or drop off anyone who displays a pass along their route within the first ½ of the train station.
Marian, I am thinking about the commuters who are extremely inconvenienced, but it’s not the same ones you’re thinking of. The commuters I’m thinking about are the ones who have to park almost a ½ mile away because of the number of residents in the ½ mile area that have taken their spot.
I believe you misunderstood my intentions. I don’t tell anyone what to do, or not to do. This is because I hate being told what to do myself. Hey, we all agree there needs to be more parking.
If you have some better ideas, please join me at the next township committee meeting and make your feelings known... |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4551
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2004 - 4:38 am: | |
Basically, if you want a parking space close to the station shag your butt out of bed a little earlier.
The situation with parking in the village can only be corrected with more parking (and boy is that a keen observation of the obvious). How about a three level parking deck between Ricalton Park and the railroad tracks and another deck behind the stores along the eastside of Maplewood Avenue off Baker Street?
Even with more parking, however, I am sure that many will sit in front of Kings waiting for a parking space to open up.  |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1889
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2004 - 8:53 am: | |
If you build it, they will come and then ....what bobk said |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2408
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2004 - 7:54 pm: | |
“...parking in the village can only be corrected with more parking.”
I wouldn’t say that, but if you’re just thinking decks, I would support building a deck behind the Bagel Chateau pass the Village Coffee Company, to the post office. Another location would be on Highland behind the Women’s Club and Centanni’s.
In the meantime, keep your cars moving in front of Kings and around the train station or pay the consequences...
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