Peril along Strawberry Hill Avenue

With the latest pedestrian-vscar crash last Tuesday (news story, “Stamford pedestrian struck by car gets ticket for jaywalking”) it has become overly obvious that the existing way of doing things is not working, and that the community and city should consider real changes.

Home to thousands of close-totown residents, Strawberry Hill is a wonderfully compact residential neighborhood. During the day thousands more people show up to attend our various institutions.

Unfortunately, along Strawberry Hill Avenue itself, we live with a peril that is increasingly damaging to the neighborhood. And this is in spite of the universal recognition of its problems and attempts to control it. Lives are literally being lost.

First, the citizens of Stamford are going to have to slow down. Everything becomes riskier when you’re traveling 15-20 mph over the speed limit, as is so easily and commonly done on Strawberry Hill (25 mph) and throughout the city. Also too common are truly dangerous idiots who think 50plus mph is acceptable. It’s never worth it.

People are calling for more traffic enforcement. Put the patrol cars and officers with the ticket pads out there in fill force to show the Stamford Police Department is not going to allow the streets of their city to be lawless. I’m sure the mayor and the Board of Representatives are behind the idea of providing a safe community. This is what the police and our governmental representatives are there for.

Being a pedestrian comes with wonderful benefits. It’s easy, healthy, no parking problems, and you can bump into friends. But throughout the city, you have to be cautious and walk responsibly. It can be dangerous and illegal to cross outside of crosswalks.

With this latest accident we are calling for two more crosswalks on Strawberry Hill Avenue. It’s a half a mile from the Dunkin’ Donuts to Rock Spring Road. Prior to the obviously needed crosswalk in front of Stamford High, there were no crosswalks along this stretch. Pedestrian usage of the road is heavy and increasing. More crossings should be made available, and legal, to Strawberry Hill residents and those who visit the neighborhood every day.

Adding crosswalks at Holcomb Avenue and one between there and the Stamford High crossing would allow people the simple act of crossing the street without having to risk life and limb, or of being ticketed.

Dave Avery is president of the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association and Dianne Walker is vice president.