Corrections or additions?
This article by Richard K. Rein was prepared for the October 9, 2002 edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
The Best Word
Leave it to the readers to have the last word, and often
the best word. Three of our recent columns have been one-upped by
informed members of the community.
Some of you will remember the ode to walking (September 4), in which
I ruminated about the possibility of taking a mundane subject like
walking and turning it into a book. A few days later I got a package
from Herb Hobler (Herbert W. Hobler, the HWH in radio station WHWH).
In the package was Hobler’s 1999 book, “Walking, A Moving Experience”
(www.xlibris.com), chronicling his adventures during more than 6,000
consecutive early morning walks.
So there already is a book on walking. A Princeton book at that. Thanks,
Herb.
Then last week (October 2) I made what now seems to
be a feeble plea for considering pedestrians and bicyclists in the
Millstone Bypass proposal for Route 1. Shortly after that column appeared
I got a call from Ken Carlson, co-chairman of the West Windsor Recreational
Trails and Bikeways Committee (kecarlson@comcast.net). His committee
has thought the issue through, and has presented a detailed proposal
to the Partners’ Roundtable charged with reviewing the many options
for the bypass.
It is well recognized that Route 1 poses a significant barrier in
our township and in essence divides our community. The at-grade crossings
of Route 1 (i.e., Harrison Street, Washington Road, and Carnegie Center
Drive) are clearly dangerous places for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The overpasses of Route 1 (i.e., Alexander Road, Meadow Road, and
Quakerbridge Road), are even less safe, particularly for bicyclists,
due to the system of access ramps and high traffic volumes and speeds.
The West Windsor group urges that bike lanes and sidewalks be added
to all newly constructed roads and that any overpass be designed for
safe use by bicyclists and pedestrians as well as cars.
In addition, “as a more comprehensive solution to the problem
of bicycle and pedestrian mobility, we propose that a dedicated bicycle/pedestrian
bridge be constructed over Route 1 as part of the road improvements
that are now being considered.
“We recommend that the bicycle/pedestrian bridge be located immediately
south of the Dinky Railroad Bridge. A bridge in this location could
link up with an existing and partially complete bicycle/pedestrian
path that extends from University Square to the Princeton Junction
train station, traversing behind businesses on Alexander Road. West
of Route 1, the bridge could link up to a proposed bicycle/pedestrian
path that would extend to the Delaware and Raritan Canal either in
parallel to the Dinky railroad tracks or along Alexander Road.
“This bridge location provides the best possible solution for
east/west bicycle and pedestrian traffic because it optimizes west-bound
access to the Canal, the Canal Pointe neighborhood, and Princeton
University and east-bound access to the train station, Carnegie Center,
businesses along Alexander Road, and residential neighborhoods such
as Penns Neck and Berrien City. We recommend that this bridge be developed
regardless of which Millstone Bypass alternative is selected.”
Now for the last word on the Hooters column (September
25). Disregarding my request that we men be left alone to ponder the
dynamics of this alluring bar that has planted an outpost in the Mercer
Mall, a woman reader E-mailed an account of her own visit several
years ago to another Hooters.
“While I was working at a mega-bookstore down the road during
the holidays, a male customer invited me out for a beer after my 11:30
p.m. shift ended. I decided to go, driving my own car and knowing
the parking lot at Hooters would be well-lit and `safe’ with other
people.
“It only took about 10 minutes to discover this guy was a real
jerk when I asked him about his children. With beer in hand, he let
it slip out that his children were the greatest … and were fast
asleep at home with his wife.
“`Your wife? You have a wife? And you’re here having a beer with
me?….’ He insisted he just wanted someone to talk to … I read
him the riot act on fidelity, letting him know that one woman does
not do this to another woman. I preached him a sermon on going to
a marriage counselor and told him to get his narcissistic butt home
to his wife and children ASAP!
“The Hooters staff cheered me on. I paid for my own beer, and
needless to say, I never saw this guy again. His big mistake was thinking
any literate woman who might enjoy a beer after work would lack a
clear code of ethics. Moral of the story: You just might meet a raving
feminist preaching the gospel of fidelity at Hooters.”
Corrections or additions?
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