New Haven Independent

Posted by: True New Havener | March 6, 2008 1:05 PM

Nicely done.

Posted by: PowertothePeople | March 6, 2008 1:24 PM

Anyone who has driven in that area during business hours knows you often have to play "dodge pedestrian" because they almost NEVER follow the traffic rules. They ignore the crosswalks, cross against the light and ignore cars. They have the right to cross the streets but cars also have the right to drive. Maybe officer Fletcher should also write a few pedestrian traffic tickets or better yet Yale PD could put one of their cops on a Segway with a ticket book since it's mostly Yalies breaking the law and putting thier lives in danger.

Posted by: on whalley | March 6, 2008 2:18 PM

The pedestrians are all over that three way running every which way crossing wherever they please.

Personally every day as I am crossing York at the cross walk I have to put up with drivers who I imagine are pretty frustrated by the selfish and insulated pedestrians flying down York and through the cross walk at easily 40mph while I'm standing in it.

The pedestrians need to stop with this "we hate cars, we're important, we're affiliated with damn Yale and own the world" bull and the drivers need to realize that with parked cars on either side, such heavy pedestrian traffic, and a light that going to be red when you get there just yards away there is no reason to be getting your RPM's up. Unless of course you like needless engine wear, harsh braking and the wasted fuel consumption that comes with revving your engines.

In short pedestrians and drivers alike, you're both a bunch of whiny brats with no one else to blame for your troubles but yourselves.

Stop driving like idiots. Stop walking like idiots. Everybody just stop being idiotic. Before you know it you'll all be buying homes you can't afford sight unseen.

Posted by: DingDong | March 6, 2008 2:47 PM

This is not a matter of just blaming the participants or better educating them. The design of our streets and public spaces in many ways is set up to encourage such behavior. If streets were designed to keep cars going slowly, drivers would not speed; if pedestrians had wider sidewalks, or more clearly demarcated places to cross safely, they may be less inclined to jaywalk. It might not solve the problem entirely, but along with education, would go a long way.

Posted by: K | March 6, 2008 6:36 PM

Yes, the pedestrians downtown/at Yale are absolutely terrible, but it's just part of a lawless system in general. As a pedestrian, I can't count the number of times I've seen a car go through a light that was clearly red or turn when there was a clear "No Turn on Red" sign.

Posted by: bugupit | March 6, 2008 7:34 PM

Sorry Paul, I find your write up is not really supported by the video. The Officer was not the peacemaker you describe, unless it was pre-taping. He establishes that there is no dispute, both parties say there is no problem. So, what was he going to do, without being a super asshole, write them up for an arguement that had ended? In fact, his continued questioning of the driver about hurry or fast risked reflaming the dispute. He absolutely did not make shaking hands a condition of letting them go, he said "So what are we going to do here, shake hands or what?" I appreciate the scene on the street, but I think you took liberties with your write up.

Posted by: kris | March 6, 2008 7:38 PM

Come on power to the people,both sides are at fault...how many of those drivers are registered and insured? how many are on cell phones or blarring their thumping music?Dont be so angry with yalies it makes you sound so jealous.They arent any BETTER than us....just smarter,more educated and will make more money in their jobs than you or I can ever dream of making...those are the breaks.

Posted by: Steve | March 6, 2008 9:53 PM

Sounds like smart policing to me. Much more effective and everyone goes away ok. We could use some of that up here in Hartford.

Posted by: MisterJones | March 7, 2008 10:06 AM

Is Officer Fletcher really two feet taller than Paul Bass? Or does Paul shoot video from his lap? Check out the camera angles!

Seriously, On Whalley's got it right--there's plenty of blame to go around. But the fact is that too many pedestrians around Yale have no respect for either cars or the laws of physics. I had one Yalie dart in front of me as I was very slowly moving through the intersection of Temple and Wall one day in traffic. I stopped just short of hitting him, because I was already in the intersection moving and looking ahead not side to side. He looked up from his iPod with a typical sense of entitlement and pointed at the crosswalk markings, and yelling "it's a crosswalk!"

If I had hit him maybe it would have been my fault, but his right of way wouldn't have kept his legs from being broken if I hadn't seen him in time.

This sort of thing happens all the time.

Posted by: David Streever | March 7, 2008 12:02 PM

It's sad.

yes, technically, pedestrians do have the right of way in crosswalks, but you also have to look both ways before crossing the streets.

I'm a cyclist & pedestrian exclusively, and I try to be careful & courteous.

However, with that said, people need to slow the hell down. When you see a red light a block away, and you are doing 40 in a 25, and I want to use the cross walk? Try going to speed limit, & we can all "share" the roads & be safe!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 7, 2008 1:11 PM

THANK YOU MisterJones!!!!. and ditto PowertothePeople

I to have the same problems DAILY!!! My mom taught me to LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE I CROSS and cross at the crosswalk!!!!!!! It is easy for a person to stop and look than a car to come to a complete stop. I drive 5 miles an hr in a 25... on york and chapel in fear of hitting these geniuses! I almost hit a man one day that walk right in front of me while I was in motion!! light green!! slamed on the breaks and he yelled at me! Thank goodness there were enough people around! now I drive in fear till I am out of the downtown area!

Posted by: Edward_H | March 7, 2008 6:42 PM

Some of these people do actually look before they cross. Like the young rocket scientist who crossed in front of me not too long ago talking on his cell phone who dutifully looked to his right as he stepped into traffic on a one way street where traffic was coming from his left.

Posted by: PowerToThePeople | March 7, 2008 11:11 PM

Kris, I have a graduate degree from Yale. That's what got me to NH. I like it here and stayed. I'm not just talking about the students either. I almost tagged my prof once because she stepped out in the middle of the street from between parked cars. Fortunately I was going about 20 and could stop.

I walk that area more than I drive but when I do drive I never speed because I couldn't stand hitting someone regardless of whose fault it was. I agree with whoever said it was partially the design. That area is a MESS!!! Maybe they need to put the construction fence back up because it was much slower traffic then.

As for the prof, after reading the comments she made on my first thesis draft I often wish I had hit her. Just kidding. Besides, it's been a couple years. I can let it go now.