Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I ride my bike on the boardwalk, from Chick’s to Bradley Point, usually about four times a week. I can’t stand the people who do not listen to the markings on the sidewalk and walk all over the place. When I ride by them on my bike, some people are like, “Watch where you’re riding that thing.”
The problem is I am on the proper side of the boardwalk. This really only happens from St. John’s Church to Bradley Point. It’s really annoying to have to slow down to a dragging pace and wait for people to move and then they get mad like I am doing something wrong. Why don’t they pay attention?
A Bike Rider
…and another point of view:
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
Hundreds of children and adults walk on this boardwalk. Why is it necessary for bicyclists to be there? Shouldn’t they be on the roadway with other vehicles?
I have been nearly run down many times by cyclists who speed along through the crowds of people. I think they should be banned and forced to ride along Captain Thomas Boulevard. There is no need for them to be along the boardwalk. It is not as if they are cruising along looking at the scenery. Most of them are working out at a fast pace which can be done on the shoulder of the roadway.
Fed Up
Gripe Vine Readers, what your thoughts on this issue?
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
When is someone going to fix the playground equipment at Savin Rock Trail? There is a tear in the plastic on the sliding board. If it can’t be repaired properly, can’t someone at least put some tape on the uneven surface so the children won’t get hurt?
Nana
Dear Nana:
I have forwarded your complaint to Francis Withington, the city’s complaint officer. Let me know when you see an improvement.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
Will you please have someone check the traffic light at Central Avenue and Route 34? It is constantly blinking.
Irritated
Dear Irritated:
Francis Withington, West Haven’s Complaint Officer answered your Forest Road and Route 1 gripe with. “I believe the state will be paving that bad area of Forest Road and Route 1 this weekend, fingers crossed. They milled the road, now they have to pave it. Also Route 34 is a state road so I will forward this blinking light to the state.”
Irritated Driver
Gripe Vine Readers:
As promised, I will publish motorcycle comments each week in the hope of removing speeding, noisy, dangerous motorcycle activity in West Haven.
Not only does this activity irritate tax paying residents and others who live along the shore roads, including Captain Thomas Boulevard Road, the possibility of accidents when road laws are not observed.
This columnist is still waiting to see state speeding regulating signs placed on state roads in West Haven. Perhaps the city will follow suit and survey their signage responsibilities and police monitoring as well.
I learned that in the state of Connecticut during 2014 there were 55 biker deaths. The fatalities included bikers who were wearing helmets as well as bikers who were not wearing helmets.
Coming up….noisy mufflers..missing street lights…city providing larger trash cans requested..yellow traffic lines on side streets.. speeding cars and motorcycles on Benham Hill Road…fixing the uneven pavement across from the old Forest School on Forest Road requested in Allingtown..and much more.
Send your gripes, comments and suggestions to gripevine4wh@aol.com or write to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept strictly confidential with me.