When I moved to Fairfield in 2002, my neighbors came to know me as the woman with the red jogging stroller. We walked to school, walked to the park, walked to the library, walked to the bank, and walked to the grocery store. Over the years, my family and I have walked and bicycled many miles here in town.
When you get out of your car and experience the roadway as a pedestrian or bicyclist you become extremely vulnerable in the face of the large, fast moving vehicles on the road. My advocacy started with the intersection at my corner, an intersection dozens of families use every day to walk their children to school. It took a few years, but we were able to get major improvements to the intersection, including a new light, resulting in a safer crossing for all users.
A few years ago I met Sarah Roy, another Mom here in the Stratfield neighborhood. You might see Sarah riding her bicycle with a pool noodle off the back (3 foot distance, drivers) or carrying a bright orange flag while walking her son to school. Sarah started advocating here in the neighborhood, sharing data based solutions and pushing for a section of sidewalk that could provide a safety in place of the well worn footpath. She continued to organize neighbors to ask for a reduced speed limit in order to keep those vulnerable users safe. She hasn’t stopped, now serving as our newest member of the Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.
Why am I telling you about the work Sarah and I, along with so many others in our community have done to improve safety for our pedestrians and bicyclists? Because you have an opportunity this week to make a difference as well. On Wednesday, January 27th, the Transportation Committee will be hearing HB 5429, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety bill. Your stories, experience and perhaps even expertise, can help us to move forward a bill that will help to save lives in our state and right here in our community. |
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