Paul Goldfinger photo 2018. Main Avenue looking east, near Firemen’s Park.
Retired: And what about the drivers who don’t stop/slow down at the pedestrian walkways on Main Avenue? They act like they don’t see you – although I know they hear the choice words I give them when they drive by.
Note two prior posts on this topic on Blogfinger:
Editor’s Note (Paul Goldfinger@Blogfinger:)
This is a serious problem because of the marked increase in traffic volume now that we are in the midst of prime season. I have yelled and pointed at the sign to drivers speeding merrily along Main Avenue while I stand visibly waiting to cross. A pedestrian can only stand in the crosswalk, easily seen, on the side, and hope that some driver will stop. More than half will not, and many are exceeding the speed limit. So don’t assume anything.
The effort last year to set up a police unit to educate scofflaws did not work—very few learned anything from that effort. But the danger is real. The police should set up cameras and send summonses to those who do not stop for pedestrians–no more warnings.
Or else, station police along the way to stop and ticket cars that defy the law, and those signs should be placed at every corner where people cross. As it is, there is inadequate or unequal enforcement of a variety of ordinances in Ocean Grove, but this one is not merely about a parking space. This is about someone’s life. All we need is one pedestrian looking at his phone, and a disaster can occur.
TAYLOR SWIFT “Fearless” But don’t be fearless when crossing Main–be watchful and careful, and no dancing in the street!
“There’s somethin’ bout the way
The street looks when it’s just rained
There’s a glow off the pavement
Walk me to the car
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there….”
A good start would be for the Township to paint more crosswalks – on Main and Broadway in particular. Coming in on Main, there is a crosswalk right at the gates – at Lawrence – then nothing at Bensen, Whitefield and Delaware. 4 or 5 years back, when they were repainting the Main crosswalks, I asked the foreman about painting them at those three cross-streets as well. His response was they only re-paint them where they already exist and that the crosswalks at other locations were “implied”.
Those “state law – STOP” signposts shown in the photo seem to always disappear soon after installation.
It wouldn’t hurt to install the occasional speed limit sign either.
Thanks David. How about automated speeding tickets at least for Main Avenue?
Not every place has the rule about stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. I first encountered this in the 1970s in London where “zebra crossings” are marked with stripes and flashing globes on poles. In Los Angeles, cars must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks even without any special indications. In NYC, cars only stop for red lights or stop signs. When turning, they are supposed to yield to persons in crosswalks, but this is not always the case. Frequently, turning cars zoom by ahead of me while crossing.
It is shocking to see early motion pictures of crowded Manhattan. Traffic, both motorized and horse drawn, moved non stop through intersections in all directions and people crossed the street anywhere. There were many fatalities. Fifth Ave. got the first traffic lights in 1920.
There comes a point when traffic lights have to be considered. In my neighborhood in Flushing, the main through street originally had no lights for a third of a mile. Eventually, a light was placed by an elementary school, then by another newly built school, and finally in between the two. After accidents, some of these intersections had signals are arranged so that people could begin walking prior to the light changing for turning vehicles. Perhaps Neptune should consider lights on Main Ave. at least at Pilgrim Pathway and Central Ave. Lights can be made to flash red as for a stop sign off season.
Tara: Your concern is appropriate. I would say that no one should ride bikes in the streets of OG, especially in peak season (the last two weeks of July and the first two in August.)
The town is too small,too congested with people and vehicles, and populated by too many aggressive individuals in a hurry, especially the ones with New York plates.
If you do ride bikes in the Grove, please wear your helmets even if they are not as cool as whizzing around with the wind in your hair.
Gotta say, this is definitely the worst year for kookie drivers. I was yelled at two weeks ago by a driver for taking to long to walk across a street (in the cross walk mind you).
Last week I was yelled at by a driver and told not to ride my bike in the street (and where else might I ride it-sidewalks?).
This week I was riding my bike in the crosswalk on Main and was almost hit by a distracted driver.
I really not sure whats going on…but I am hoping I can make it through the summer without getting hit by a car—–
We heard from a Grover who said, “My parents and my son and I had yet another close call crossing Main at NJ Avenue to get to our home..”
She complained and received a letter from the NTPD which is summarized below:
1. The NTPD has “set up special road details at cross walks throughout town.” They stop vehicles and hand out educational “documents.”
2. Speed bumps are no longer allowed by the Township. “I do not know the specific reasons for this.”
3. “Our officers are too busy for us to post specific officers in one location,” but they may respond to a complaint about a worrisome location by making motor vehicular stops in such areas.
4. “We encourage you to have a conversation with Patrol Officers in the neighborhood about the matter.”
5. Any questions? Call P.O. Christopher J. Monahan #187 732 988 8000. Ext 787.
What about the drivers who do not stop at the stop sign at crosswalks before pulling out onto Broadway or Central? Three times in one day within 5 minutes this happened.
Many times, because of the diagonal parking and over-sized vehicles parked near intersections, one has to “venture out” just to see what’s heading your way on Main and along Ocean. On Main, when drivers get past the “downtown” area, they frequently pick up speed so they can get stopped sooner at the red light.
Here in the North End I’ve seen far too many vehicles doing rolling stops and driving far to fast down the narrow one way streets. There are several close calls daily in the Mountains.
The solution is raised crosswalks along Main Avenue and Ocean Avenue that also act as speed bumps. I agree that this is a major safety issue in town. The town of Neptune should be focused on this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.