Scott,

Shady Lane is a speedway and most people never slow down when they make the turn down that street. I live on Shady Lane and walk home from the train station every night. Each night I worry that someone is going to run me down as I walk to my home. While people may not like speed bumps, I think that is the only way this problem gets solved. Posting cops every now and then or posting a digital speedometer obviously does not deter this behavior. Unfortunately, nothing will change until someone gets hurt or worse by a speeding motorist. I urge the town officials to either seriously consider speed bumps.

Unfortunately the ONLY way to solve this problem is regular, consistent speed enforcement by way of writing tickets. After several months of this, drivers will get the idea and slow down on this road. This is not the most popular solution, because I'm sure that the bulk of the offending motorists live very closely in the vicinity of Shady Lane and feel that it's OK to drive in this way, and we don't want to ticket our residents.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as they say. Long time residents of Fanwood and Scotch Plains, we lived on Shady Lane from 1985-1993. Always feared for our kids walking in the streets to friends' houses and marveled at the speed some people drove up and down the street. We were advocates of installing several speeed bumps, but that idea went nowhere. It's too convenient a cut-through and only the residents keep it slow. You might start advocating for the speed bumps again. Maye current residents would be more amenable to the idea.

I live on Algonquin and frequently use Shady to get to Martine via the small cross street that connects our two blocks. (Highview?). I think a 3-way a stop sign at this small intersection would do it. It will naturally shorten the drag way and slow people down. A patrol car there to enforce it for awhile will really make the point. I think this is your best chance

I agree with JM. We lived on Shady Lane from 1983 to 1992. My neighbor and I joked that we should buy a couple of junky buses and park them directly across from each other so only one car could pass. Another idea was to roll an empty baby carriage down the driveway to get a speeder's attention. We could not get the borough to do much then. After our dog got out of the yard and was killed by a speeding car,we moved to a cul de sac.

There are two separate but related issues here: pedestrian safety and speeding cars.

The cars speed because Shady Lane cuts between Martine and (almost) South; one can
bypass several lights. Pedestrians are in danger because cars speed (and traffic does not flow),
there is no sidewalk, the road is narrow and residential; and (there is disagreement on this
point) people park on both sides of the street. Compounding the issue is the proximity
to McGinn – trying to cross Shady at Martine in the morning is very dangerous and
Shady is also the route to the back entrance to McGinn – oversized vehicles using and
parking on the road (there is a nominal 4 ton limit that is not enforced), and traffic
piling up trying to turn left from Shady to Martine, and Martine to Shady. (Continued...)

I've lived on Shady Ln for 5 years now and am sad that I can't let my child out the front door to play. This street is a death trap to pedestrians and something must be done. As I sit outside every evening and watch cars drive 50mph down the street I get enraged. I think speed bumps are a necessity. Who cares what they look like if it may save one of our children. I urge other Shady Lane residents to contact the mayor, police chief, etc.

This is a common problem throughout Fanwood on "cut-through" streets. Speed bumps are the only way to prevent thoughtless drivers from one day killing a pedestrian.

Growing up in the area I would have to agree with speed strips on Shady Lane, just like on Chestnut Street Westfield. The other problem would be that the traffic would then shift to Poplar and LaGrande. Speed strips are also need on Fenimore Drive. They have the same problem.

I live on Poplar and the cars aren't as frequent but they do go just as fast since it is a cut through from South to Martine. When I take my kids for a walk, I try to avoid Shady as it is very dangerous. Growing up in Scotch Plains, Shady was always this way and it's surprising that nothing has been done about it yet. I do think the speed bumps would help the issue although I agree with JLH that the traffic would then shift to MY street!

My parents live off of Fenimore Drive where I grew up. That used to be such a quiet street but now it's turned into a speedway which is scary since kids walk home from Terrill Middle School on that street.

It is a shame that people don't think of others when they choose to speed down these streets. Putting children in danger is inexcusable. Perhaps we need to start putting the speed bumps AND the stop signs. And BIG speed bumps. Only way to force people to slow down and pay attention. And then maybe they will avoid the side streets and decide it is easier to deal with traffic lights, than the speed bumps. Good Luck to all of you.

Based on my 39 years of experience using Shady Lane to get to my doctor's office, I encourage the residents of Shady Lane to continue to back out onto the roadway without any regard to the vehicles in the roadway which have the right-of-way. That should take care of your problems. And I am not kidding/joking/etc.. Just a reason I am glad to be a FormerFanwoodian. And I'm not being the least bit sarcastic; it happened too often to be a fluke.

Having two of our cars hit while parked on that street and law enforcement notified - you would think it raise some alarm... What is it going to take- worst case scenario??? I hope it doesn't come to that....EMS

We have the same problem on King Street- a thoroughfare much like Shady La. or Hunter-vehicles must be going 50+ MPH! I agree either speed bumps or all way stop signs or both!

what's funny is that last weekend the cops were out in force around Forest Road Park ticketing people for parking violations. However, walking back to my car I observed at least one car speeding and two other cars roll stop the stop sign right by the "meter maid". Selective enforcement for revenue purposes? While I understand the need to enforce parking laws, I would prefer if that time was better spent focusing on cars on the road rather than those on the side of it.

Great commentary - have lived in town since 1999, and Shady has been a problem for me as well. I like to call it "Shady Lane Speedway" The proximity to McGinn back path is a huge concern - we encourage our kids to get more exercise and we have a "Walk to School" day each school year, but I would rest easier if something were down to cut back on the speeders.

Waldon Road is another cut through street that has speeding high schoolers or the parents rushing their kids to school each weekday.

haveaclueplease--You completely missed my point, I recognized the need to enforce the parking laws but was simply pointing out that while they were spending time doing that, cars were speeding right by them and ignoring stop signs. I cannot remember the last time anyone was hit by a parked car but there are plenty of incidents of children and people being hit by drivers ignoring stop signs. Before you go ahead criticizing and calling people names, perhaps you should pay closer attention to what you read before commenting next time. Better to have people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

I'd like to think haveaclueplease was being sarcastic.

I often use Shady Lane and drive 25mph. I do so in respect of the law and the families that live there.
I think speed bumps are the only way to go, if they are unsightly, it may only take only a while to get used to them, and residents would gladly welcome the alternative of noise reduction and safety for all.
There are many reasons I think why people speed, they are late for their classes at the YMCA, the JCC, and now with summer almost here, they are racing to get to swim team classes at the outdoor pools on Martine. The speed bumps are a 24 hour reminder to slow down.

I am a SP resident, but understand the issue full well. The much larger question is what governmental (Fanwood or SP) authority monitors or accepts comments/complaints from the public ? My guess is nada ! I live near the intersection of Rahway Rd & Raritan Rd. Numerous accidents.....there will be a fatality there in my lifetime. Nobody with whom I can register a comment/complaint. There are many other "Shady Lanes" in our towns. The bigger picture of all traffic problems needs to be under on-going evaluation by somebody. Not just put the finger in the crack of the dam at Shady Lane.

From the 06/09/2011 Scotch Plains Fanwood Times: 'Mayor Mahr said the police department has been “monitoring and pulling people over” on the road in recent weeks, but she noted that “the
majority” of those pulled over have been residents of Shady Lane and nearby streets.'

That certainly didn't often happen on the thru street on which I lived for 39 years. The WoWos sat in chairs near the curb, enriching the beer industry, shouting at any car which drove too quickly or recklessly past their parade stand. 15-20 mph was speeding; wanting to drive past an in-the -street basketball or hockey net or car whose driver was conversing with them was reckless. That neighbors had to endure the loud music and increasingly-loud alcohol-fueled banter didn't matter.

After numerous years, the WoWos ended the neigborhood protection gig and actually joined that group of drivers who like to drive 40-50 mph on the street. I never heard that any received citations for that new found freedom.

The 'painless' solution is/are speed cameras with which you forfit your right to face your accuser for the priviledge of paying both corporate America and local government for your (supposed) error. Maybe you can live with speed bumps, even speed humps. It is your choice. But remember, your street was probably a thru street when you moved there.

I've lived on Shady Lane for 26 years. The situation was better when the sign stating that it was illegal to make a left turn on to Martine Ave during certain times (rush hours and when children would be walking to or from school) with a companion sign on Martine stating that making a right on to Shady Lane was illegal. About 23 years ago those signs were taken down. When I called the Chief of Police I was told that they were (and this is an exact quote) “taken down because they were rusty”. I was dumbfounded! I told him that I would be happy to pay for replacements, but he said that they were not being replaced.
Since then the situation has gotten worse and all we’ve ever gotten was additional police. Which if you ask them a good percentage of the offenders live on Shady Lane.
Two things will work for a relatively small expense. Put the signs back and put stop signs on Shady Lane at Winfield and Clement.

From the recent town meeting: Police Chief Richard Trigo revealed the results of a study of traffic on Shady Lane conducted within the past two weeks which revealed that the average speed of cars on Shady Lane is only 24 MPH (the speed limit is 25 MPH) but that traffic volume on the street is higher than it was decades ago. "The problem on Shady Lane isn't speeding," said Trigo. "It's volume."

I disagree. Immediately prior to conducting the survey, speed monitoring signage was set up advising drivers of their speed - they were being reminded and trained to stay under the speed limit. This was followed by the speed and traffic monitoring tubes across the street - which were visible well in advance and marked with orange cones and signs - plenty of time for drivers to slow down. The survey was poorly executed.

The recommendation to restrict right turns onto Shady Lane and Poplar Place from northbound Martine Avenue, and restricting left turns from Shady and Poplar onto southbound Martine, during the peak hours of 8AM to 8PM does not fully address the problem of AM school and commuter traffic - the restrictions should be from 7AM to 7PM.

Interesting article from Wired on how Garden Grove CA has addressed this problem: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/06/ff_feedbackloop