Comments for HeyFairfield.com

Comment on Yes, Fairfield is a college town. But is that a good thing? by Ed

Ed — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:42:18 +0000

Directly from the article: “Not only is it a story for you and your boys, but others will soon realize what happened when they see your victim walking back to the dorms in her dress from last night, with a disgraceful look on her face as if she was robbed of her dignity.”

A sexual encounter with someone referred to as a “victim” and “robbed of her dignity” is characterized as rape to me.

Comment on Yes, Fairfield is a college town. But is that a good thing? by 05 FU grad

05 FU grad — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:40:49 +0000

I’d love for you to explain which part of the “he said” column discusses date rape? Seems like a rant about a drunken hook up to me…. Nice mischaracterization.

Comment on The Cycling in Fairfield Survival Guide by Ed

Ed — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:47:04 +0000

Thanks for the comment Peter. Like you, I strongly believe in not angering drivers. Attitudes towards bicyclists will only deteriorate if we act aggressively. Having said that, I did gesture to the driver. Yes, I waved to her in the rear window. With all five fingers. You can see it in my shadow at 1:07 in the video. Here is a
screen capture so you don’t have to go back to YouTube.

I’m not a perfect rider, but I do my best to share the roads responsibly with cars. After all, I drive a car too.

Monday was very windy, and the wind was in my face. I was doing about 13-14mph. Any time I get to a point where a car and I will intersect, I make a point of making eye contact with the driver. Something about that keeps me and the driver in check. Hey, it works for me. Anyhow, the driver of the SUV never turned her head to me. Instinctively I knew she was going to jump ahead of me. On the video, I can see both of my hands squeezing the brakes before her tires start rolling. She was focused on getting out of Alden St and onto Oldfield Road behind the silver car.

I really think some drivers see the bicyclist’s smaller size as an opportunity to sneak ahead of us, or squeeze around us with little regard to our safety. Alden can’t be more than 60 feet wide. That SUV driver wouldn’t have pulled in front of a bucket loader coming at her doing 13mph if it was 60ft away. In that scenario she is concerned about her safety.

BTW – If I was smug enough, I would’ve hit the SUV. And like you said, she would take the rap. But I would know the truth. It’s not worth it.

Comment on The Cycling in Fairfield Survival Guide by Peter Eilenberg

Peter Eilenberg — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:56:43 +0000

After that SUV pulled out in front of the biker, I think I noticed the right arm/ hand of the rider come back down into the frame. Was there some hand gesture I missed?

As a rider, I don’t believe that the cars are at fault far more than half the time. I have seen bikers do the DUMBEST THINGS and while I don’t care all that much about what anyone chooses to do, when it effects me, I do care. I don’t like bikers who make drivers angry. That driver may decide to exact their revenge on the next biker they see.

This does not have to be an us against them thing. We can all get along. For some reason, it seems that many bikers I’ve seen out there think that because they’re on a bike, think they have the right of way. WE DON’T. We all live by the same rules.

I’ve been hit by cars twice and I’ll admit both times were actually MY fault. The drivers didn’t seem to thinks so, but I knew. And whenever a biker tells me they’ve been hit, I always ask about how exactly it happened. Only the most smug do not admit that they were at fault….most do admit they got hit because they were riding smugly.

Comment on The Cycling in Fairfield Survival Guide by Ed

Ed — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:09:32 +0000

@rica If there had been an accident, the video is admissible in court. Many people are riding with GoPro’s or other wearable cameras for just that reason. I wear mine to make cool videos, but now it goes with me all the time. Oh, there was an officer about 3 blocks further down the road. The SUV was long gone, I was riding into a stiff headwind.

Comment on The Cycling in Fairfield Survival Guide by Wendy Martinenas

Wendy Martinenas — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:36:26 +0000

This one is even better than the last. Be careful out there. Also if you are into biking check out the Fairfield Bike Walk Coalition.

Comment on The Cycling in Fairfield Survival Guide by Rica

Rica — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:15:51 +0000

I hope the video is admissible… you have a clear shot of the license plate of that purple van – where are the police?

Comment on Irene Photos From Fairfield by Michael Traum

Michael Traum — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:28:31 +0000

Ed, Not sure if you knew it but during Irene and the days that followed, Hey Fairfield was very helpful to me and my family and, i’m sure, many others who needed the good information you shared. A much delayed but heartfelt thank you!

Comment on Front Page by louise seeber

louise seeber — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:23:32 +0000

20th annual fairfield kiwanis arts and crafts fair on the town green. Saturday and sunday sept 17 and 18 from 10 to 5 pm. 60 handmade vendors, plant sale and food for purchase.

Comment on Hurricane Irene: Hey’s and Nay’s by Doxiemom

Doxiemom — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:55:37 +0000

I thought UI did an outstanding job compared to CL&P who would not let their workers go into work on the weekend because they didnt want to pay them OT. Plus all the good Malloy did for the storm cant make up for how royally he is screwing Connecticut and its residents in more ways than one.