In reflecting upon safety
issues in the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood and Madison in general, a number of
issues remain unresolved or in need of improvement. We have some good programs in the city and some excellent
individuals in municipal positions.
Yet some of the needs seem to be things that the residents themselves
could bring to the community.
Thus, we’ve compiled from the notes that we’ve taken over the past year
some items for a wishlist that may be helpful as we plan for the New Year and
make resolutions ourselves.
It would be great to see
individuals take personal initiative not to speed and to obey the posted limits
without giving into the pressures of other drivers and road rage. If we believe that this is a good thing
to do, we should take the initiative ourselves and not wait for the other guy
to slow down. If we all do this,
it may work!
To prevent accidents, drivers
should signal before turning and not after the fact. To signal after changing lanes or turning down a street does
not help. At the same time, and as
basic as it sounds, drivers should change in the direction indicated, not the
other way. All of us are
allowed to change our minds, but not in something as risky as driving.
Phoning while driving still
poses problems. If the hands are
not on the wheels, drivers do not have complete control of the vehicle. However, even with hands-off calling, those
in the middle of calls sometimes forget where they are and go through lights or
stop signs. If calls are
important, and some of them are, it helps to pull to the side or find somewhere
to park.
Right turns on red are
possible after stopping, and many drivers forget this part of the
rule. Also, left turns on red are
permissible only when proceeding from a one-way street to another one-way. This includes intersections like East
Gorham and Paterson Streets, where those illegal turns from a two-way onto a
one-way have become fairly common of put pedestrians and other drivers at risk.
Drivers of cars and bikes
need to yield to pedestrians.
Drivers of both four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles seem to forget their
place, and force pedestrians to scamper.
Bikes on sidewalks must yield to pedestrians, and shouting a warning
does not mean that walkers must jump away. Just as cars should follow speed limits, bikers need to
drive at safe speeds.
The throbbing bass sounds
from cars abound, and this not only detracts from the attention of the driver,
but interferes with the concentration of other drivers. Perhaps the city of Madison will do
something in the coming year to enforce noise ordinances already in place and,
perhaps, find other ways to limit the noise pollution that is rampant.
It is frightening to see the
number of people who walk their dogs without leashes. Sometimes dogs go after people or other dogs. Worse, dogs may bolt after a squirrel
or something else and run into traffic.
It is a shame to see our pets at risk on the street, and it is almost
criminal when animals are harmed due to their owners’ neglect. Likewise, those who keep their dogs at
home should not allow them to run loose and chase after pedestrians. Use a fence, not Fido, to protect a
home!
While the city of Madison has
made some progress in dealing with graffiti, we have not found a way to solve
the problem. It has become clear
that graffiti is not just caused by individuals in our area, but by people from
various other communities in Wisconsin and out of state. We cannot condone this destructive
activity. A proliferation of
graffiti contributes to the impression of a neglected and unsafe neighborhood.
If ideas occur to us toward solving the problem, we should share them with
neighbors, the TLNA Board and city officials.
The growing density which is, unfortunately, affecting
Central Madison, seems to spawn nuisances houses in various parts of the city,
including the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood. Landlords need to know their tenants. Resident landlords not only know what’s
happening in their property, but can be around to assist their tenants. We need sane legislation that encourages
residents to behave respectfully, and such legislation should include warnings
that help to establish parameters for good behavior. We also need the courage to let our neighbors know when
things are getting out of hand and, hopefully to prevent problems.
In a neighborhood like ours,
we still need to watch out for each other. When we know that our neighbors are away on vacation or
during holidays, we should note any situations that may threaten our neighbors’
property and report any problems.
If we see trespassing or something that is out of the ordinary, the
situation merits attention. (For
emergencies, use 911, but for
non-emergencies, dial 255-2345.)
While it is useful to keep lights on while we are away, we should also
let our neighbors know when we are away and ask them to watch. At the same time, we should also return
the favor and assist when they are away from home. We are all in this together, and it helps us all when we
work together.
These
are some ideas that have emerged in various discussions and which this
neighborhood and others in the city need to address. We have a city that is more congenial than others in
the Midwest, and a place like Madison stands in stark contrast to other towns
and cities. This is the result of
the consciousness that neighborhoods like Tenney-Lapham bring to the city, and
we need to keep reminding the city and its residents of what it takes to keep
Madison a nice place to live.
Here’s to all the improvements that we can make in 2002 and in the years
to come!
Salvatore Calomino and James
L. Zychowicz - Chairs, Safety Committee