Community Wellbeing

Your Safety Story

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  Safety and Homeless

  by Nusia, over 1 year ago

  I have two thoughts today.

  The first is about Holly St. Thanks to those who listened to me and moved the street side of the restaurant off the road and made the left turn lane available. But the other changes are just bad. Take the top of the road for example: the parking is up next the curb and the bike lane is clearly visible since it is on the 'outside'. At the bottom of the street, it is behind cars and potential cyclists are simply not visible! If a car needs to turn right, it is a huge... Continue reading

  I have two thoughts today.

  The first is about Holly St. Thanks to those who listened to me and moved the street side of the restaurant off the road and made the left turn lane available. But the other changes are just bad. Take the top of the road for example: the parking is up next the curb and the bike lane is clearly visible since it is on the 'outside'. At the bottom of the street, it is behind cars and potential cyclists are simply not visible! If a car needs to turn right, it is a huge hazard for the cyclist because the driver literally has to drive into the lane to see the bike since it is behind cars! The latest changes in the form of a bike path crossing the traffic line are absolutely terrible. I don't know who could have come up with this idea. Not the one who rides/drives on this street.

  The second thought is about homeless. These ones that are camped out in communities behind Walmart and across from Fred Meyer (for now). I understand that they are squatting and are on private property, which makes it difficult for the city to regulate. Consider passing a provision that allows the city to place trash containers near such camps during the eviction process to preserve sanitation in the city. Cleaning up the area after them will require less effort and money.

  Let's make our city cleaner and safer!
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  Thoughtful Solutions that Help Homeless People and Keep Our Community Safe and Clean

  by Bobarino, about 2 years ago

  It use to be I could go anywhere in Bellingham and feel safe. Now there are places where I perceive a lesser degree of safety. The recent article in the Bham Herald reveals some of the safety issues of concern as they relate to the Homeless Camp by Walmart. Certainly this is on private property and the city is trying to do something about it, as it appears. However, I don't understand why we as a city don't immediately respond to illegal encampments. It seems we allow people to set up a tent here or there and we don't respond... Continue reading

  It use to be I could go anywhere in Bellingham and feel safe. Now there are places where I perceive a lesser degree of safety. The recent article in the Bham Herald reveals some of the safety issues of concern as they relate to the Homeless Camp by Walmart. Certainly this is on private property and the city is trying to do something about it, as it appears. However, I don't understand why we as a city don't immediately respond to illegal encampments. It seems we allow people to set up a tent here or there and we don't respond right away with removing them. For example, the other day a person set up next COA on Sunset. He has been there at least a week and the garbage is growing. Additionally, going downtown, particularly in the evening is rather frightening, especially on Holly Street.

  When we give the message it's okay to set up camp, leave garbage all around, etc., it invites this type of behavior. We DO have options in Bellingham for people who want to be housed. I'd love to see our city officials make this a priority and create policies that immediately remove people from the streets who are setting up camp and at the SAME time provide a menu of services they could access. These services need to have accountability structured into them. We could give people options for care. It's interesting talking to people who have been on the streets. Accountability for making changes in their lives, sometimes made the difference.

  I believe we are moving in the wrong direction to just allow people to camp all over the city. Certainly these people are hurting, and I think our enabling of the behavior in Bellingham ultimately does not help them and it leaves our city less safe as so many of those on the streets, not all, have drug and alcohol issues.

  Lastly, we need something beyond an accountability program for those who are suffering mental illness. We need a caring program for these people, and we need to invite their families into the process, equipping them and providing services that are effective. This, obviously, is a big issue that will involve lots of work.

  People, including myself, don't feel safe around some of the homeless encampments or those some of those sleeping, drinking and doing drugs on the sidewalks downtown. I don't know the reality of how safe it is or isn't, but one thing is for sure, people don't feel safe which makes Bellingham less of a desirable place to be. I'd love to see a change and develop solutions that will help as many people as possible.
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  Pedestrian Safety

  by NatureRocks, about 2 years ago
  Pedestrian safety is two fold for me. I love to walk places but never do so when it's dark out. It's not necessarily the houseless that make me afraid. It's just people in general. You can't trust anyone these days not to jump you. I'd feel safer if there was more light on sidewalks. Even just walking along Old Fairhaven Dr while there are some lights, it's not very lit. I think having the police call stations like they have on campus, around town could also be helpful.

  The other side of that is physical safety crossing the roads and... Continue reading

  Pedestrian safety is two fold for me. I love to walk places but never do so when it's dark out. It's not necessarily the houseless that make me afraid. It's just people in general. You can't trust anyone these days not to jump you. I'd feel safer if there was more light on sidewalks. Even just walking along Old Fairhaven Dr while there are some lights, it's not very lit. I think having the police call stations like they have on campus, around town could also be helpful.

  The other side of that is physical safety crossing the roads and on sidewalks. Bellingham has put in some of the crosswalks that have the stop lights attached, and those are great. If they also spoke to you and told you when to stop and when to cross and even what street you were on they would be a home-run. Overall we need more pedestrian oriented sidewalks that have a buffer between the roads, spots that are a pinch point for cars to slow down and shorten the distance for people to walk, and more of the crosswalk indicators I just spoke about. It's proven that a huge portion (if not the majority) of people want a walkable Bellingham. Imagine if the Merdian area were actually walkable! How many cars would be taken off of it and lessen the traffic! Even the new urban village in Sehome doesn't feel particularly pedestrian friendly.
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  Pedestrian and bicyclist safety

  by K D, about 2 years ago

  I would like to see Bellingham be much safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Physical dividers on bike lanes, intuitive crosswalks that stop traffic instead of just confusing many drivers, and more. Making our streets safer for non-motorized traffic will motivate more people not to drive, which is better for congestion and safety.

  I would like to see Bellingham be much safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Physical dividers on bike lanes, intuitive crosswalks that stop traffic instead of just confusing many drivers, and more. Making our streets safer for non-motorized traffic will motivate more people not to drive, which is better for congestion and safety.
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  Safety

  by BhamBornAndRaised, about 2 years ago

  Safety:

  -I feel safe when I can walk and run through town parks anytime day or night without the worry of who is living in the bushes or sleeping on the sidewalk.

  -I feel safe when there is a low risk of car break ins when parked around town.

  -I feel safe when there is protection and support for business owners in downtown from lawless actors.

  -I don’t feel safe when I know the homeless do not have a number of different options for housing and support.

  
  -I don’t feel safe when Bellingham doesn’t have clean streets and business districts.

  ... Continue reading

  Safety:

  -I feel safe when I can walk and run through town parks anytime day or night without the worry of who is living in the bushes or sleeping on the sidewalk.

  -I feel safe when there is a low risk of car break ins when parked around town.

  -I feel safe when there is protection and support for business owners in downtown from lawless actors.

  -I don’t feel safe when I know the homeless do not have a number of different options for housing and support.

  
  -I don’t feel safe when Bellingham doesn’t have clean streets and business districts.

  -I dont feel safe when there are no or low consequences for theft, drug use, and break ins.
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  Safety on our roads

  by DV, about 2 years ago

  Progress and growth of a small town can bring both positives and negatives. Discovering Bellingham for the first time in 2003 while visiting WWU with our son, we found ourselves drawn to the lifestyle of a city of 60,000 people. The pace of life and feeling safety in a small community convinced us to purchase our home here.

  Returning in 2014 after retiring from a career that includes living in various international communities, we were amazed and somewhat disappointed to see what growth had brought with it.
  From our personal experience living and traveling around the world we are aware... Continue reading

  Progress and growth of a small town can bring both positives and negatives. Discovering Bellingham for the first time in 2003 while visiting WWU with our son, we found ourselves drawn to the lifestyle of a city of 60,000 people. The pace of life and feeling safety in a small community convinced us to purchase our home here.

  Returning in 2014 after retiring from a career that includes living in various international communities, we were amazed and somewhat disappointed to see what growth had brought with it.
  From our personal experience living and traveling around the world we are aware that we bring our unique habits with us wherever we go…this includes our driving faults.

  Our roads, intersections and crossings have become more unsafe as traffic increases result in a more stressful driving environment. I am seeing more drivers exceeding posted speed limits and running red lights with zero consequences.
  Unfortunately due to an increased demand on the local police force coupled with a shortage of personnel, enforcing traffic rules has dropped to the bottom in priorities.

  I suggest Bellingham leaders learn from other WA community leaders and explore and install traffic cameras which will bring a certain level of enforcement to our streets…resulting in safe streets for pedestrians, cyclist and vehicle.
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  What safety means to us.

  by J, about 2 years ago
  Thank you for posing the question of "What does safety mean" to us on The Bellingham Plan website. We feel that this should be the most important issue for Bellingham to address if we are not going to fall into the collapse and despair facing many other cities.

  I would like to begin by describing what safety is not by relating real-life situations in Downtown over the past two years:

  1. Female employees downtown who are afraid to walk two blocks to their cars after work in the evenings because of addicts and vagrants hanging around the area.

  2. Employees... Continue reading

  Thank you for posing the question of "What does safety mean" to us on The Bellingham Plan website. We feel that this should be the most important issue for Bellingham to address if we are not going to fall into the collapse and despair facing many other cities.

  I would like to begin by describing what safety is not by relating real-life situations in Downtown over the past two years:

  1. Female employees downtown who are afraid to walk two blocks to their cars after work in the evenings because of addicts and vagrants hanging around the area.

  2. Employees arriving at work in the morning to find their way blocked by threatening addicts and vagrants in the doorways.

  3. A family driving down a primary downtown alley from work regularly has their vehicle blocked and pounded on by drug addicts grouped around dealers in the alley.

  4. A business owner was trapped in her business for over an hour after closing because a man with drugs and a knife was camped in her doorway. The police did not come.

  5. Businesses with tip jars on their counters have to deal regularly with hit-and-run robberies.

  6. A female business owner was working late at night with her 2-year-old son by her side. A man began pounding on her store window while yelling that he was going to take the child. When this mother called the police, they asked her if the man seemed mentally ill. When she responded that he obviously was or he would not be doing this, the police refused to come and left her on her own.

  7. Families who have worked and shopped downtown for years are often afraid to walk their children downtown where they will be exposed to people on drugs and threatening, irrational behavior.

  8. Businesses regularly have vagrants enter their businesses and threaten customers, steal merchandise, and destroy restrooms.

  9. After a series of robberies during the middle of the day, a hair salon had to start keeping their doors locked during business hours and just opening them to quickly let customers in or out. That salon is leaving downtown due to the constant lack of safety for themselves and their customers.

  10. A local bank has addicts and vagrants constantly hanging out in their drive-through area causing bank customers to no longer want to do business there.

  11. People are regularly seen downtown carrying weapons including knives, machetes, and guns. The police cannot respond to reports on these.

  12. A city-sponsored operation downtown hands out free needles to addicts which obviously attracts drug use to the area along with the crime that entails. This may make downtown safer for addicts but definitely not for anyone else.

  These are just a few of the dozens of examples that have been happening on a regular basis over the past couple of years.

  What 'safety means to us' is the elimination of everything listed above in our downtown area. Families visiting or working downtown should not have to be exposed to any of the situations listed above. The downtown areas that are critical to the health of any city should not be centers for drug use, petty crimes, and threatening behaviors. Downtowns should also not be used for drug and mental health treatment centers or places where drug needles are handed out. These are important services but they do not fit with a safe and healthy downtown business district. A neighboring city recently made fun of Bellingham by saying they would never allow those sorts of things to destroy the health of their downtown.

  What we desperately need are laws and regulations specific to the needs of a downtown business district and the enforcement of those laws. We also need shelters and treatment centers, but not in the Central Business District where they directly conflict with the sense of safety so critical to the health of downtowns everywhere. Let's not follow the disastrous collapse of Portland and San Francisco where faulty priorities destroyed downtown areas.

  
  

  
  
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  Possible crosswalk

  by mylamuss, about 2 years ago
  I live in Festival Square, a 55+ condo complex. Many homeowners cross Stuart at this intersection to walk their dogs in the field. About three years ago I contacted Hannah Stone asking how we could get a crosswalk at this location. Her advice was to contact public works. When I emailed them the response was that I needed to have 60% of the homeowners sign a petition for it to be considered. I let it drop because I felt that it wasn't my responsibility to do this.

  
  

  This is a dangerous intersection because of the amount of traffic and the... Continue reading

  I live in Festival Square, a 55+ condo complex. Many homeowners cross Stuart at this intersection to walk their dogs in the field. About three years ago I contacted Hannah Stone asking how we could get a crosswalk at this location. Her advice was to contact public works. When I emailed them the response was that I needed to have 60% of the homeowners sign a petition for it to be considered. I let it drop because I felt that it wasn't my responsibility to do this.

  
  

  This is a dangerous intersection because of the amount of traffic and the speed of traffic. In my opinion, a flashing crosswalk is needed.

  The facts that my complex and the adjoining complex are both 55+ and a homeowner is visually impaired (she does use a service dog) makes a crosswalk necessary for everyone's safety.

  I'm more than happy to speak with someone about this.

  Myla Musselwhite
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  Safety on two wheels

  by Katie_Harris, about 2 years ago
  The place where I feel least safe in Bellingham is riding my bike. I want to use my bike for transportation because it aligns with my personal environmental values, and it helps my city by not contributing to pollution, reducing the need for parking, and so much more. I appreciate the work that Bellingham has done with bike infrastructure, and we need more. I’d like to see a connected network of protected bike lanes throughout Bellingham so that people of all ages and abilities see biking as a valid transportation choice. Riding with cars is a choice only a few... Continue reading

  The place where I feel least safe in Bellingham is riding my bike. I want to use my bike for transportation because it aligns with my personal environmental values, and it helps my city by not contributing to pollution, reducing the need for parking, and so much more. I appreciate the work that Bellingham has done with bike infrastructure, and we need more. I’d like to see a connected network of protected bike lanes throughout Bellingham so that people of all ages and abilities see biking as a valid transportation choice. Riding with cars is a choice only a few of us will make, and even so, I don’t feel safe doing so.