New Haven Independent

Posted by: charlie | May 3, 2007 3:20 PM

Good motives but there is much to be done. First of all, the city desperately needs more bicycle lanes. Also, how about creating a shared sense of community by combining local transit with Yale's system by allowing Yale students to ride City buses for free (with an annual offset paid by the University) and better-publicizing schedules to students? Transit is about much more than just getting people around, it contributes to the creation of a place.

Posted by: Paul Wessel | May 3, 2007 4:20 PM

Mike is a great choice for the new and improved transportation czar. He's head and shoulders above the former director, and we can be sure he and his staff will move things forward for the city. Welcome aboard, Mike!

Posted by: Bruce | May 3, 2007 4:29 PM

This is great news! Mike was the point person from city hall in organizing the Share The Streets bicycle initiative (which included the Orange St bike lane). He does a great job of incorporating citizen involvement in the planning process and he's very open-minded and easy to work with. I think this is a great choice -- congrats Mike!

Posted by: Martin | May 3, 2007 4:42 PM

Mike is as good as they get when it comes to public servants. He's honest, smart, and hard working.

One thing that could help him:
Crack down on people blowing through red lights. Some members of New Haven's state delegation continue to vote against a measure that would allow city to put cameras at intersections. This makes sense for a host of reasons, especially if you believe in the broken window theory.

Posted by: Ian | May 3, 2007 9:15 PM

Allright! Someone to finally talk with about getting long overdue "yield for pedestrian in crosswalk" cones. Mike, congrats and I'm coming knockin!

Posted by: Streever | May 3, 2007 9:21 PM

As a cyclist in Elm City Cycling, we see a LOT of traffic violations--two of our members have recently been run down, and police response has been lackluster when it even exists.

We would certainly be happy to support this (already wonderful!) traffic czar in any of his ventures, especially anything aimed at cracking down on traffic violations--both by cars AND by cyclists.

Cyclists belong in the street: it's unfortunate that the streets are too dangerous for the casual commuter & the police have been unresponsive in our need to be safe.

Posted by: Pedro | May 4, 2007 11:04 AM

I'm totally with Ian about Yield for Pedestrian cones. Even though Connecticut state law requiers yielding for pedestrians in crosswalks, in New Haven this is treated more like a courtesy than a right.
New Haven needs clearly marked crosswalks with reflectors and cones, particularly around the heavily trafficked downtown and Yale campus. This might also hopefully have the effect of diverting people to use those crosswalks rather than crossing at random points on the street.

Posted by: Edward Mattison | May 4, 2007 1:52 PM

Mike is just the man we need now, but I wouldn't say he is heads and shoulders above his predecessor. Maybe just head. Ed

Posted by: charlie | May 4, 2007 2:27 PM

I agree. The cones are needed NOW! And not just downtown, also all throughout the neighborhoods where there are crosswalks.

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | May 4, 2007 2:41 PM

First, Mike gives me hope that downtown New Haven's parking concerns will finally be addressed in an intelligent manner. (sorry, Brian McGrath. you were lovable, but so, so far from cutting edge.)

I agree with previous posters about the need to make downtown more pedestrian friendly. Many drivers' attitudes towards pedestrians are aggressive to the point of being dangerous. In most of my favorite cities, pedestrians come first!, and New Haven needs to make the necessary changes.

In terms of the stricter traffic enforcement, Piscitelli is changing the rules of the game. Since when can you get a parking ticket, at a meter, on a Saturday? This is an unfair departure, and one that makes little sense.

However, if they are going to start ticketing on Saturdays and after 5pm, they deserve to give us all fair warning. How about a round of flyers for Merchants' windows?

Anyway, I'm optimistic about Mr. Piscitelli...

Posted by: Bill Saunders | May 4, 2007 2:55 PM

Being a downtown denizen for over 16 years, I must say New Haven is a great city to be a pedestrian in. Walking is my preferred,and almost exclusive mode of transportation. I have never had a serious 'run-in' with traffic worthy of report. (which I cannot say about either driving a car, or riding a bike in our fair city).

But I am confounded about this perceived need for 'Yield to Pedestrians' Traffic Cones. Sounds like some chickens don't know how to cross the road.

Will there be a Spanish Language version as, well?

Posted by: Esbe | May 4, 2007 4:53 PM

What good news for the city! This is a guy who listens and who "gets it".

Posted by: Lovebabz | May 4, 2007 5:35 PM

Mike is a fabulous choice. I had the great pleasure of working with him as I was serving on a national transportation committee. He is very tuned into what's going on in the rest of the country regarding transportation/traffic/green spaces etc. and he will link New Haven with other concerned muncipalities across the country around these issues. He is politcally savvy and smart.

Posted by: Harvey Koizim | May 6, 2007 6:03 PM

45-year-old Sacred cows of the Lee/Guida administrations need to be reconsidered.

Westbound traffic (getting out of the city) is favored over eastbound (getting into the city)

Cars (usually one-occupant) are favored over mass transit, pedestrians and bikers.

Presently, private parking operated facilities are far more customer friendly, profitable and efficient than the Parking Authority operated facilities. Maybe more "public parking" ought to be privatized

Streets and boulevards are too wide -- for instance Whalley Avenue has plenty of room for a lengthwise center island reaching from Edgewood Park to Broadway. The center island could contain "pods" for parking, and pedestrian friendly retail development.

Church Street should be made 2-way all the way.

Parking revenues should be reconsidered. Lowering the cost of parking would bring in less revenues to needy city coffers in the short term but lower cost would increase customer traffic to businesses in the city, accordingly making commercial property more valuable and higher tax producing.