Longtime Westport resident Bob Weingarten writes:
A few weeks ago, I was unloading garbage bags at the transfer station when I tripped over a car stop cement bar. I fell flat on my face.
Two women (I didn’t get their names but would like to thank them also) asked if I was OK. I was bleeding profusely from my nose and lip, with injuries to my arm and side.
They helped me into my car, and offered to finish putting my garbage in the bin. One of them said she had also tripped over a car stop at the transfer station.
After a while I drove home.
I was about to send a note to our first selectman, to ask that the town review the car stop cement bars, because of those two accidents.
(There were only a few, near the garbage bin. I assume they were there to prevent vehicles, which are required to back into the parking spaces, from striking people walking to the bin.)
The danger.
But before I sent the note, I was back at the transfer station. I saw that all the car stop bars were removed.
An attendant told me that recently another Westport resident tripped over a car stop bar, and EMS was called.
Not knowing who had decided to remove the car stop bars, I asked the first selectman. Kevin Christie responded: “I checked with our Department of Public Works director, Larry Roberts. He and Joe Izzo reviewed the issue, and Joe recommended removing the car stop bars to prevent additional injuries.”
That’s a great decision. Larry Roberts and especially Joe Izzo should be complimented for their research and recommendation to remove the car stop bars.
Done! Great work — and great idea to recommend them, Bob.
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Thanks to all involved. I’ve come close to tripping on one myself!