Dear Eleanore Turkington:
Frequently, there is a gang of 6 to 7 teenagers popping wheelies on their bikes intentionally in front of cars and taunting them to hit them. This happens at Leete Street and Washington Avenues, Campbell Avenue and Brown Street as well as at William. Police, please take notice. Someone is going to get killed by a car or mugged by the bicycles.
Nervous Motorist
Dear Nervous Motorist:
Gripe Vine received similar complaints from motorists who were “shaken up” when encountered with this activity. Good news! West Haven has passed an ordinance prohibiting the reckless and dangerous operations of bicycles.
According to the ordinance, “No person shall operate a bicycle without the regard for the safety and rights of pedestrians and drivers and occupants of other vehicles as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person while in the lawful use of streets or sidewalks of any public or private property without exercising reasonable and ordinary control over such bicycles by trick riding, or weaving, or zigzag course unless such irregular course is necessary for safe operation in compliance with the law.”
If a minor under the age of 18 violates the new law, according to the ordinance, West Haven Police http://wtnh.com/?s=west+westhaven+police, reserve the right to impound the bicycle. Plus there will be a $25 charge per day for each impounded bicycle. Now, if the bike isn’t claimed after 30 days, it will become the property of the City of West Haven.
The penalty for violating this ordinance will be a fee of $100.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
Coming from Wagner Place, you have a right turn arrow. Is it possible to have the intersection at Kelsey and Main looked at to see if it would be better to have a left turn on both the Kelsey Avenue and Wagner Place side instead of the right turn arrow? It is very difficult turning left due to the traffic coming the other way.
A Suggestion
Dear A Suggestion:
I forwarded your suggestion to Francis Withington, the city’s complaint officer and he submitted your suggestion to: Lazarous Pitman, Transportation Engineer, Division of Traffic Engineering, Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, PO Box 117546m Newington, C 06131-7546. Pitman’s response, “This (correspondence) is in response to Francis Withington’s email regarding the intersection of Route 162 Main Street, Wagner Place, at Main Street and Kelsey Avenue in the City of West Haven.
The Department of Transportation’s (Department) Division of Traffic Engineering included the subject intersection in Project No. 173-460 to replace the existing traffic control signal equipment and to provide a left-turn signal phase for Kelsey Avenue and Main Street. The project is in design and is scheduled to begin construction in the summer of 2018.”
If you have a complaint, comment or suggestion, send it to gripevine4wh@aol.com or submit these to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number kept strictly with me.