Minimum $1000 speeding fines with a ticketing blitz. Done.

Looks like half the Police Dept. was keeping tabs on the illegal massage parlor.

Two days ago, I was leaving Stop and Shop and turned onto Franklin Ave heading east and stopped for a father and two very small children to cross the street in the crosswalk. They walked out into the street and stopped in front of my car half way across Franklin Avenue. Multiple drivers coming in the opposite direction would not stop to let them finish crossing the street! The man actually threw his jacket up and out into the street to see if they would stop and the cars ran over his jacket! He did this twice. It was outrageous. Those children could easily have been hit and killed.

At some Point- corners like Stop and Shop cars making the left towards Kings might have to also be Prohibited making any Left turns to remove the Risk of even more current chaos at that Broken Intersection with Cars turning every which way- too much going on there. Speeding and non- Yielding to crosswalkss aside.

Dan Johnson you have absolutely NO IDEA of what you're talking about. The woman was not "Speeding through Ridegewood." Rather she was at a stop sign turning left onto Franklin St. As a witness to the aftermath of the event I can tell you that she didn't see him while making the turn. You make it sound as though she went out of her way to run down the pedestrian. Where do you get off making such accusations?

While your other suggestions might merit discussion, your insulting introduction makes anything else you had to say mute. This woman isn't public enemy number one and you have no right adding to her torment. Grow up.

No,he wrote about that specific incident. "I want to apologize to the woman speeding through up Ridgewood Ave. and turning on to Broad Street. I refused to back out of the crosswalk so you wouldn’t have to stop. And, like many drivers, you must believe that streets are only for cars and that pedestrians have an obligation to keep out of your way.

You were shocked that I didn't step back to the curb so you could pass, but instead kept walking through the crosswalk.

Bad me."

That sounds like a rather specific incident. An incident in which he was not involved in. He was taking a cheap shot in an attempt o make a point. I'm not the one who needs to refine my cognitive and reading skills.

Here is the opening of my blog post as you can see I am referring to a car that almost hit me not to some other incident:

I want to apologize to the woman speeding through up Ridgewood Ave. and turning on to Broad Street. I refused to back out of the crosswalk so you wouldn’t have to stop

As long as we refer to our town as the "Village of Ridgewood," we are in denial that it is actually quite a metropolis, with the hustle and bustle of a thriving downtown - good news for the few merchants who are still in business, but bad news for pedestrians, who are forced to stick their necks out into crosswalks and hope for the best. Just about every time I stop for someone on foot, the folks behind me honk and make rude gestures, before they attempt to swerve around me. They wouldn't shout at a red light. One way streets, diagonal parking, a parking garage, and stop lights - not quaint, I grant you, but necessary safety measures in 2012's Ridgewood.

Yet the picture from the post is from the accident two weeks ago of the minivan turning onto Franklin that had top creep through the intersection in order to attempt a left hand turn. If that's not the incident you're referencing, why is that the image on the post?

I'm not saying your ideas (one way Ridgewood Ave, diagonal parking, etc.) aren't worth looking into, but don't pretend they "won't cost a dime." Of course there will need to be signage, street painting, etc. Also, I'm curious what the traffic changes will do to other streets...the domino effect. So probably some sort of traffic consultant will be needed. All worthy things to explore, but not free.

It doesn't take a genius to see what is wrong. Pedestrians now feel they have the right away. They do not wait for it to be safe before stepping into the crosswalk. They step right off the curb into the crosswalk and expect the cars to stop no matter their speed or distance from them. Too many times they step off the curb without even looking in the direction of the oncoming traffic or making eye contact with a driver. The pedestrian law needs to be repealed or tickets should be given to pedestrians who step into the crosswalk when it isn't clear. If you have driven Ridgewood Ave. and haven't noticed this you are a poor driver.

I agree that pedestrians often disregard the law, Dave, but they don't stand much of a chance if they are struck. And they are not the whole problem. I have seen cars turning when people are crossing the street in the crosswalk, and the cars are so impatient that they are literally turning about a foot away from the pedestrians because God forbid they have to wait a few seconds. And I agree that the pedestrians cross expecting you to see them. That happened to me when an older man was crossing Linwwood Ave. as soon as I was turning right into the crosswalk. He apparently didn't see me at all, and if he had waited at the corner, I would've known he was there and waited for him. He jumped right around my car as I was turning, so he definitely didn't see me. I was just so glad that I didn't hit him, and it's made me ten times more aware than I already am. However, this means it doesn't just have to be in the middle of town, it can happen at any crosswalk. I think we need more enforcement from the police and large fines until people get the idea.

this "news" supports what we already know. too many distracted drivers out there.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-16/parents-distracted-teaching-teens-to-drive/50796856/1

Two suggestions: 1. Can we please make Ridgewood ave and Broad an All Way Stop? It is.clear that most drivers are confused on who has the right of way, and you really cannot see that Broad Has stop signs when approaching on Ridgewood ave. There are a TON of visitors and folks unfamiliar with the intersection - it is almost always a mess. 2. Why don't we put speed bumps along Franklin and Ridgewood ave?

This problem has existed in Ridgewood for years. As an "outsider" I can say that due to an incident that came close to what Patricia F. unfortunately experienced, I have stopped bringing my business to the CBD of Ridgewood. I have avoided dining and shopping there at all costs for the past 15 years. When my child was still in a stroller, an attractive, young 20-something who had strong Ridgewood PD connections nearly ran us down in a crosswalk. She came zooming out of nowhere while we were midway through the crosswalk. I had eye contact with her. I even called out to her to stop. She kept right on plowing and nearly hit my baby. I called the Ridgewood PD, we caught up with her in a nearby parking lot, and as soon as the officer laid eyes on her and she began bragging about which "guys on the force" she knew, nothing further was done.

I have zero confidence in the protection of pedestrians in Ridgewood. How many people will have to get hit or worse, die, on Ridgewood's streets before something is done?