Testify on Bike & Pedestrian Safety

crosswalk
January 26, 2021
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.
This is a 2007 CT Post article where I advocated for a new light to make the intersection by my house safer.
This is a photo of Sarah Roy and myself on Valley Rd near the sidewalk she helped get for the neighborhood.
Transportation Committee Hearing

The bill proposes pedestrian right-of-way in crosswalks for people who affirmatively indicate their intent to cross, increases fines for distracted driving, allows municipalities to determine speed limits and create pedestrian safety zones, creates a pilot program for the use of camera enforcement in school zones and establishes a Vision Zero Council for the state. You can read the complete text of the bill here.
 
I am thrilled that the Transportation Committee is prioritizing pedestrian safety this session. HB 5429 provides municipalities and our state as a whole the opportunity to keep our neighbors and visitors safe as they walk and bike for recreation, travel to work, and shop. Walkable, bikeable communities are important to attracting and keeping young people, seniors and businesses in our state.

The public hearing can be viewed via

 YouTube. In addition, the hearing will be recorded and broadcasted live on CT-N. People who wish to testify via Zoom must register here. Registration will close on January 26, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at 240-860-0590 to leave your contact information.  If you’d rather not testify on camera, you can submit written testimony in PDF format to tratestimony@cga.ct.gov. (My apologies for the delay in getting this out to you).
The 7 C's of Resilience

I’ve talked a lot about self-care and how we manage to get through this pandemic. The Hub, which is our Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization, funded by the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, offered a great resource this week pertaining to building up a sense of resilience. Developed by Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, The 7 C's was created for building resilience in youth, but they can apply to adults as well. Learn more and check out the graphic below.
Vaccine Update
 
It wouldn’t be an e-blast without some kind of COVID news. Many of you are struggling to make vaccine appointments. Below is helpful information shared from the state Department of Public Health. Here in Fairfield, you can call volunteers daily from 10-1 at (203) 256-3083 to ask questions about vaccine appointments. Meanwhile, don’t forget to continue to mask up, wash your hands, maintain 6 feet of distance and do periodic testing.
 
Department of Public Health Vaccine Update (from the DPH January 24 Update)

About Phase 1b: 
Phase 1B includes 1.3 million Connecticut residents, but right now we are ONLY scheduling appointments for individuals 75 years of age and older. Next priority sub-groups include:


 
Order of Phase 1b
Subgroups		 Approx # of residents
Current estimates		 Estimated Start of
Scheduling***
75+ 277,000 Currently Scheduling
65-74 353,000 Likely February
16-64 with underlying health conditions 362,000 Likely March
Frontline Essential Workers* 325,000 Likely March
Residents/Staff in Congregate Settings** 50,000 Ongoing via clinics throughout Phase 1b

 
* Broad categories of the frontline essential workers can be accessed at ct.gov/covidvaccine. More details on occupations within each category will be announced as the State readies to open scheduling to this group.
** There will be tiering within the congregate settings, more information will be forthcoming.
***All estimated dates are subject to change depending on vaccine supply from the federal government.
Until the Governor announces the date for the next group to start scheduling, the ONLY group currently permitted to schedule an appointment are individuals in Phase 1a or 75+.

COVID Vaccine Information:
The best source of information on the status of the program, eligibility and vaccine scheduling is the Connecticut Department of Public Health website: ct.gov/covidvaccine.

Current Vaccination Partners and Locations (as of 1/23/21):
Please note: This list is frequently updated. Please advise people to check ct.gov/covidvaccine for the latest information

For constituents or family/friends of residents 75+ with internet access, information on all appointment scheduling options can be found here.
 
Starting 1/25/21, a Vaccine Finder map will be available on ct.gov/covidvaccine. Individuals can enter their zip code and find vaccine providers near them.
 
Many locations can be accessed through the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS): https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/OnlineVaccine

Appointments can also be directly scheduled at the following locations:

  • UConn Health(Farmington): Scheduling Phone: 860-679-5589 Vaccine Questions: 860-679-8888
  • Hartford HealthCare(various locations): Scheduling Phone: 860-827-7690 or 833-943-5721 Vaccine Questions/MyChart Scheduling Assistance: 860-972-4993
  • Stamford Health(various locations): Scheduling Phone: 203-276-7300 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm)
  • Trinity Health of New England(various locations): Locations and Scheduling (via VAMS or MyCare) online only
  • Yale New Haven Health(various locations): Online only, no phone
  • Walgreens(various locations): Locations and Scheduling online only

Vaccine Appointment Assist Line:
 
Due to high volume, this option is only recommended for individuals who have not had success with or access to the online or other scheduling options.
 
Phone: 877-918-2224 Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
This number is for scheduling appointments only. 211 should be used for general vaccine questions
 
The VAAL is currently booking appointments only for the Pratt & Whitney mass vaccination clinics in East Hartford. However, more locations will be added in the coming weeks.