photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood street needs sidewalks
Boyd A. Loving
Clinton Avenue in Ridgewood connects West Ridgewood and Godwin avenues near Ridge Elementary School. There are no sidewalks along Clinton; children walking to and from school must walk in the street. Because of that, the street is closed to vehicular traffic between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on school days.Clinton Avenue is scheduled to be resurfaced within the coming months. In conjunction with that project, police and the municipal engineer are recommending that sidewalks be installed on both sides of the street.Despite this recommendation, the Ridgewood Village Council has not authorized the installation of sidewalks on Clinton Avenue. Reportedly, this decision was reached after consultation with the 16 Clinton Avenue property owners, none of whom want sidewalks. No explanation was publicly offered as to why property owners feel that way.So, Clinton will remain closed to traffic before, during and after school hours when school is in session, and dozens of children will continue walking in the middle of that street.
As evidenced by the recent tragic incident in nearby Hawthorne (where an individual allegedly driving under the influence of an inhalant struck and killed an adult pedestrian walking on a street that was officially closed to traffic), a driver could disregard posted “Do Not Enter” signs and barrel down Clinton Avenue at the wrong time.
Just do not understand this council when you think they cannot get any dumber they prove you wrong.
Agreed.
The residents specifically requested no sidewalks because they want the street to remain closed to traffic, this should not surprise anyone. It is surprising and disturbing that the meeting with residents of Clinton was held in private and residents of S. Murray or any of the other nearby streets that take Clinton’s traffic were not given the same opportunity. We need to start doing what is in the best interests of the majority of people, not just the people who get closed door meetings with officials.
This council blunder should be corrected. It is a main roadway and needs sidewalks.
Thank you Boyd- let the concrete pouring begin-
I live near a school. My street has sidewalks but it would be really nice if the council would close my road during school days. It would be great to have a road with no car traffic. Traffic could be diverted down two other parallel roads. I am sure the folks living on the other streets would not mind.
Your kids could still walk down my street because it already has sidewalks. Win-win!
If you read earlier posts on this topic, there is someone who states that they just disregard the closed street sign anyway and cut through anyway. It’s a beautiful street, I get that, but if it’s going to be paved then put the darn sidewalks in and open it during the day. Seems like these 16 residents are getting special treatment and I’d love for the Council to explain way.
Do any of the Council have sidewalks in front of their houses ? Do you Pooch ?
Neither Mr. Sedon nor Mr. Pucciarelli have sidewalks in front of their respective homes. The others, including the Village Manager and Village Attorney, all do.
If the council continues to give special treatment to the 16 residents of Clinton ave and refuses the professional advice to install sidewalks, the road must be opened to vehicular traffic and only closed from:
8-9am and 230-330pm.
Just as there is ‘no left turn’ from Ridgewood ave east to N. Hillside place, make the clinton elitists open the road except for the same times as on that sign.
That sign on ER for the turn on hillside is illegal.
So are the no right turns off Linwood for Pershing
And walthery..,.,I got a ticket, went to court…case dismissed…..know your rights
Illegal based on what??
If the street needs to be closed from 8-3 to accommodate pedestrians then that’s just ridiculous.
#13, that is so true. It really isn’t fair that the streets surrounding Clinton get the overflow traffic, particularly when they are narrower to begin with. It seems the all day closure is just a relic from a different era that should be revisited.
The reason it is closed before and after school makes sense, as does having the no left on N. Hillside during certain hours. When cars do illegally make that turn, they are turning into children walking through an no crossing guard intersection… #11, apparently you are entitled to ignore the sign , among others in town. Not sure why you need to be in such a rush during those times and can’t just go around.
Thanks for the post I guess the sign on ER is illegal due to the small print?
Whats the deal with the linwood to walthery 4pm deal?? I’d appreciate the technicality so that I don’t have to go to pleasant/
Just for amusement I checked to see who the 16 residents of Clinton ave are who are benefit from the semi-private road:
https://tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us/cgi-bin/inf.cgi
(then enter Clinton under location)
About 6 are newbies here, buying in from 2008-2013 and probably the most vocal. (drive like your kids live here signage types)
a few got here in the 1990s.
The other are longer term residents from 1973, 1983, 1987.
Can you check and see if and how much they donated to the council members campaigns ?