New Haven Independent

posted by: MR on July 15, 2010  7:46am

Between his initiative at testing the phones, and call for more phones and better lighting to fight crime based on experience in other locations, can we get Mr. McElveen a promotion, or on an advisory board somewhere? Thanks for going above and beyond for the cycling/pedestrians in the area.

I’ve had very good luck on the trail so far; I’ve also tended to ride it between 7am and 2pm unless I’m with a group, though.  It’s interesting that the most recent attacks are along spots that many would assume to be safer than the New Haven section.

posted by: K on July 15, 2010  7:47am

How about some cameras in this area to at least help w/ ID-ing the perps in future attacks? And more call-boxes?
Glad to see the park worker going above and beyond.

posted by: Our Town on July 15, 2010  8:14am

Say, while you’re there, could you wipe off the swear words on the phone!!!!

posted by: shrke on July 15, 2010  8:52am

Istall cameras asap…although the project and clean up in the area was much needed, I would not ride this trail alone, ever…...cameras…..

posted by: Sunday on July 15, 2010  9:02am

Mr. McElveen need to become an advisor for New Haven Police Department. Common sense policy works every time. Just ask the people who live in the hood they can always tell you what it takes to survive crime, but no one ask or listen to them.

posted by: terrapin on July 15, 2010  9:57am

You can have a call box every 10 feet, but how quickly are the cops going to be able to respond? When one of these cowards decides to assault someone, the crime will have taken place and the police can come tend to the victim after the thug has fled the scene. If there is not going to be extensive police patrols (not just one cop on a bike), then I would advise against anyone using this trail alone. This trail is nothing but bait for thugs, drawing victims down into a secluded area. The Hamden cops are busy with traffic stops on Dixwell Avenue (ever see one that didn’t have three patrol cars involved?), so crime on the trail and the continued broad-daylight drug use in Hamden Plains park will never be addressed.

posted by: Thomas on July 15, 2010  10:18am

This is Great Money is spent and because of local thugs either make it unusable or more money is spent on security. Perhaps they should have saved the money and ended at Skiff St. Thank you to Mr McElveen for trying to keep it safe. I hope the Neighborhood protects the path not these “highwayboys.”

posted by: anon on July 15, 2010  11:22am

Anti-crime cameras are very effective in Newark and Washington DC - why can’t we install them in high-crime areas here (like the “mudhole,” the famous early-1990s murder spot that the trail passes directly through)?

posted by: thebpp on July 15, 2010  12:16pm

If someone is determined to cause trouble they can easily thwart security cameras with a ski mask… so that would be a waste. 
Call boxes are good… but what the trail really needs is some police patrols so thugs don’t view it as a place forgotten by the law where anything goes.

posted by: Uncle Egg on July 15, 2010  12:31pm

Keep pedaling and carry pepper spray or a heavy U-lock if you bike solo through this section of the trail. Keep your cell phone handy, too. If more people ride this trail—and refuse to be intimidated—there will be fewer victims.

posted by: westvilleadvocate on July 15, 2010  1:04pm

continue to ride the trail…increased traffic will decrease thugs.  don’t let a bunch of thugs scare away people from one of our regions great attractions

i would also beat the $&#* out of one of these kids if they tried harassing me.  that blue call box would make a nice object to hit their head up against.

posted by: Ben Berkowitz on July 15, 2010  1:10pm

McElveen Rocks! The more city workers volunteering while on the job the better!

posted by: anon on July 15, 2010  1:57pm

Nice theory, thebpp, and obviously it is true to some extent that cameras are not a panacea—but if you look at the data coming out of those cities (e.g. dramatic declines in crime in areas with cameras), I think you would feel differently. Maybe the city could bring in Cory Booker to give a talk.

posted by: streever on July 15, 2010  2:52pm

awesome work mr. McElveen! Thank you.

posted by: 39684936 on July 15, 2010  5:45pm

There is a certain black comedy in that the phone boxes are called “Code Blue.”  Doctors and their insurance industry bosses likely understand the term in a more nuanced way, but for normal people “Code Blue” typically means your dead.

posted by: marty funkhauser on July 16, 2010  3:57am

I use this trail quite often. Never venture past the Walgreens in Hamden. Kinda like crossing the DMZ in Korea.

Had an instance last year, where a young youth, horsing around fell off his bike, tumbled down the embankment.

His stellar upstanding friends did a beat down on him, with a bleeding head wound.

Did not even think of helping. I simply turned around…..........

posted by: Melissa on July 16, 2010  7:01am

Nobody commented on the fact that a guy cycled down here all the way from Hartford to take the train. Without proper patrolling and other safety measures, we are only hurting ourselves by perpetuating a negative reputation for New Haven and Hamden throughout the State. I’d sure hate to see someone coming all the way from Massachusetts, get all the way down here only to end the last leg of their trip with a very bad experience.

posted by: anon 2.0 on July 16, 2010  8:01am

This is just one of a number of assaults that have happened on this trail. Many are not reported—and I know this for a fact having spoken to people who were involved in incidents—since the widespread perception is, correct in my opinion, that the police simply do not care.

I have never ever seen any police anywhere near the trail. EVAR.

Clearly some work needs to be done. And the fact that the phones dont work was reported in this newspaper YEARS AGO when a yale professor was mugged.
FIXIT CLICKIT?

posted by: Bruce on July 16, 2010  8:01am

Excellent point, Melissa.  I fully support security lights, cameras and patrols.  This trail is awesome.  After decades in the planning and many millions of dollars, let’s do what we can to make it work.

posted by: JMS on July 16, 2010  8:39am

Great work by Bill McElveen… thanks for doing a great job.

And I will keep using the trail (“use it or lose it”). I run and bike on it regularly 2-3 times per week. Most of the time I am north of Hamden High School but recently we have been cycling over to the start of our week day group runs (I live in Westville and train with a group out of Hamden). We rarely see anyone on the trail since we are there between 5-7am. But thanks for the heads up on these recent events. My best advice is try to ride with a buddy… the “safety in numbers” tactic is usally a pretty good deterrent. And keep your head up and look down the trail… if you see anyone suspicious standing around you can always stop well ahead of them, turn around and ride out onto Dixwell to bypass that section. There may be traffic but at least you are out in the open where you are far less likely to be assaulted by a group of gutless, ... futureless teenagers. 

JMS

posted by: Check it on July 16, 2010  8:50am

Do we have any idea who monitors the phones on the canal. I do not believe that it is the NHPD. If not, why are they not directly connected to the new 911 center at NHPD.
I believe YPD monitors these phones.
Why is Yale taking over more of New Haven duties.
Before you nay sayers start, my complaint is plain and simple. If YPD keeps taking over more of NHPD’s functions. The NHPD will not be able to properly assign and deploy the correct amount of officers. Plus, the proper information is not relayed to NHPD.
YPD is a good police department and I am taking nothing away from them.

posted by: terrapin on July 16, 2010  9:03am

I live in southern Hamden, a block from this path, and was pleased to see it go in. I was even willing to suspend my usual cynicism and buy into the notion of neighborhoods along the path bonding together, and that it would be a safe route for bike commuters going into New Haven.

That said, these assaults are hardly a surprise. What concerns me is that given the number of solo runners, walkers and bikers using this trail, who are all easy prey for these cowards WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN MORE MEDIA ATTENTION PAID TO THIS? If people want to bravely continue to use the trail (remember to carry your Blue Cross card), that is fine, but I’m guessing an awful lot of people are blissfully strolling along, unaware of the crime rate.

Any chance Channel 8 could take a break from their wall to wall coverage of Sonic Burger and give a few minutes to this?

posted by: William Kurtz on July 16, 2010  11:29am

The bigger question, Terrapin: Why is the Independent trying to bury the Sonic story? 

Seriously, kudos and thanks to Mr. McElveen for taking this initiative.  All the advice people have given is just as true on the canal trail as it is anywhere, for that matter:  Be aware of your surroundings.  Stay alert. Traveling companions are helpful in isolated areas.

posted by: anon on July 16, 2010  11:47am

Terrapin:

Call the TV station if you want them to do a story. They are happy to talk with citizens and security concerns are always an issue worth highlighting.

That said, it would be difficult to prove that the crime rate on the trail is higher than what it is on any surrounding street in the city or suburb, given the literally thousands of people using the trail.

Most everyone I know has used it without incident for years, and national studies show that crime rates along trails are actually lower than those on surrounding streets.

It’s also worth pointing out that a large number of pedestrians have been mowed down and killed in Hamden recently by motor vehicles, in areas immediately adjacent the Canal Trail.  I can think of at least 5 pedestrian fatalities, versus none on the trail itself.  There have also been many pedestrian and driver injuries.

That also seems to also indicate that the trail is actually a far safer place to walk or bike than the surrounding streets, even before you consider the health benefits of walking more.

Hope this helps to keep things in perspective.

posted by: Booklady on July 16, 2010  12:02pm

There aren’t many people hanging around there, and there’s remarkably little trash. After a couple hours of picking up trash, he still hadn’t needed to open his second black trash bag.

“In the inner city,” he reckoned, “I’d have two bags full.”

Apparently this gentleman has not walked the area between Putnam and Treadwell in the Hamden section. I walk my dog there at least twice a day and it is loaded with trash, including shopping carts! I’ve seen cast off bicycles, a picnic cooler, tires, fast food wrappers and bags - you name it! I could fill up a pickup truck, never mind a trash bag. I am sure he is doing his job well, it is just overwhelming the disregard people have for such beautiful, natural areas. Additionally, even though motorized vehicles are prohibited, I have seen on two occasions three people on motorized foot scooters tooling along oblivious to the posted signs. I’ll stop here, I am sounding a bit too whiny.

posted by: Melissa on July 16, 2010  12:15pm

Thanks, Bruce! I live only a few blocks from the part of the trail where this happened, and the more I think about the incidents the more concerned I become. I often take my 3 year old son (without my husband) on the trail to the Miller Library at around the same time as these occurrences. I’d really hate to see it get to the point where a young mother and child are hurt for some attention to go to this issue.

posted by: Uncle Egg on July 16, 2010  1:44pm

The key to this whole thing is to keep using the trail. Use it safely and don’t go alone, but use it. Security cameras and emergency phones are OK, but nothing beats human eyes and ears.

posted by: terrapin on July 16, 2010  1:57pm

Thanks, William

Clearly the NHI is exhibiting its usual anti-suburban fast food outlet bias here. This Sonic issue is an important one in that finally the people of Wallingford will have easy access to greasy crap served by rollerskating waitstaff. Even M. Jodi Rell, who has shown few signs of life in the last few months and has probably already cleaned out her desk at the Capitol, recognized the grave importance of this development.

Maybe the NHI could do a piece on how upset the guys down at Louis’ Lunch are about another place serving burgers with ketchup opening up?

posted by: i give up on July 18, 2010  8:56pm

I live in Hamden and have ridden the canal line for years from the plaza to Cheshire without a problem. Does it seem to be a problem to anyone that since they have opened the canal into New Haven that i now need to ride armed, with other people, with my cell phone prepared to dial 911 and the need to constantly look out for kids to jump me? Not to mention New Haven, Yale and Hamden have to spend money and reallocate police resources to try to keep this recreational trail safe. So much for a fun ride.

I expressed my concerns to then Mayor Amento with no luck. On one hand Hamden wants to construct a fence on the line to keep these animals out then opens up with a free lane right in. Figures. And no one saw this coming? Give me a break.

This fantasy of thinking spending this money to make New Haven appear to be safe and friendly is bunk, its still inhabited by the same people who defaced the call boxes and attacked the other riders. Opening the canal line to New Haven was a poor idea and has proven to be a worse idea.

I know my feelings will not be met wholehearted support of those out to turn the other cheek, but then ask the guy who had his cheeks broken.

posted by: thebpp on July 19, 2010  7:26am

“i give up on” ...

let’s build a fence to keep “those” people out of our white-bread neighborhoods, the hell with um, they are animals…  seriously?

Rather than fix a minor problem of a couple dumb punks, you want to build a giant wall?  ...

posted by: sully on July 19, 2010  8:12am

nah sayers can be as much of a downer as the threat of crime. the bike trail system may be evolving today but tomorrow it will surely be significant.i ride this portion of the trail and havent had a problem. then again i am not a lone girl in a bikini top jogging by herself. i am a nice big tall cracker looking guy with some street sense. i hope i never come upon a guy getting a board to his head on the trail but if i did i would come to his aid & probably use the board myself, at least twice. point i am trying to make is that it is up to us users to make our trail safe, BEFORE we need to start banging heads. surely some form of networking, volunteerism etc. could be established for the simple tasks of keeping the trails safe. something like a trail registry, a reporting system, police approved highly visable volunteers who can speed dial the cop on duty. and then we can all go to sonic & replace the calories we burned.

posted by: terrapin on July 19, 2010  8:51am

If the New Haven & Yale cops cannot keep a lid on the ongoing street violence in Newhallville, which happens right out where the sorts of factors that should limit such violence are (more people around, more regular police patrols, etc.) how can they really be expected to keep the relatively isolated trail safe? Further, the only suggestions I am seeing here, other than a lot of bravado about how some people aren’t going to let a couple of punks stop them from enjoying a bike ride past the old Mudhole, is to travel in packs and carry weapons? Isn’t travelling in packs and carrying weapons (pepper spray, U-locks, whatever) just more gang mentaility? And shouldn’t one be able to use a recreational trail without arming up and looking over your shoulder the whole time? If I have to go through all that, I’ll just stay off the trail. This trail was a nice idea, but given the number of incidents just in this article, it clearly isn’t safe. And frankly, why is the “we have to take the trail back” mentality any more a viable idea (or any more successful)on the trail than it would be on the streets of Newhallvile?

posted by: Bruce on July 19, 2010  9:42am

Are there more incidents on the trail than elsewhere in New Haven?  Maybe so, maybe not.  I know of riders that have been assaulted riding through East Rock (neighborhood, not the park) and elsewhere.  It’s easy to blame the trail, but you may not be much safer using other routes.  The trail incidents are going to get more publicity.

Ride in numbers.  I know some have formed commuting groups to avoid riding home alone.

posted by: Uncle Egg on July 19, 2010  9:51am

Terrapin:

You seem to take the attitude that private citizens have no role in providing for the safety of this area, and would rather delegate it to the cops. I would argue that you have it backwards.

No one is suggesting that armed gangs of vigilantes patrol this trail. I’m simply encouraging that people continue to use it, but take common-sense precautions when they do so. Encouraging people to avoid riding by themselves is a far cry from adopting a “gang mentality.” And carrying a heavy lock or a cell phone is not the same as lugging a baseball bat or swinging a machete. The point is not to look like an easy target.

While increasing police presence and visibility are good ideas, the police can’t be everywhere at once. But if the cycling community refuses to be cowed and continues using this trail, taking common-sense safety measures, it will go a long way toward preventing this sort of incident.

posted by: thebpp on July 19, 2010  10:41am

Even though it may be hard, some things are worth fixing.  The Trail is one of those things.

posted by: William Kurtz on July 19, 2010  11:26am

It’s worth remembering that these incidents, while high-profile and frightening, are isolated.  My guess is that if you were to compare the numbers, (number of injuries per mile traveled or something along those lines) you would find that cycling or walking on the canal trail is safer than driving on the highway. 

I know we can’t make the trail safer simply by shopping, as we were urged to do 9 years ago, but that doesn’t mean we should “let the terrorists win.”

posted by: sully on July 19, 2010  12:11pm

i agree egg & william. this problem will only worsen unless we the trail users take some form of action. not gangland tactics, advocacy and visibility. if its known that crime will not be tolerated on the trail, that any user could be a narc, that police connected volunteers keep a presence, that criminals have no idea when a cop will be coming for them-then we have a chance of discouraging things while board-head-guy is still fresh in the news. drive by the trail heads at night and report people who are loitering there to discourage it, every night if need be. if i knew enough people who rode, id round them up and we could wear glow green shirts and take shifts keeping a presence on that stretch making it newsworthy. print some handouts so that we may have a reason to approach questionable people and simply inform them, make them aware that people are watching. its far easier to say “hey this about our trails and crime etc,” than it is to say “go drink somewhere else” if they dont get the hint, fine ride on, call the man, no need to get excited. “representing” in this way will surely establish that the trail is a great place to draw attention to yourself if you are there for something besides using the trail.

posted by: William Kurtz on July 19, 2010  12:38pm

Here’s a model to think about:

http://www.nemba.org/trailprotection/bikepatrols.html