Friday and Saturday In The Parks

The guy pictured in Promenade Park with his electric bike by his side entered the park on Friday via the ramp meant for the disabled, elderly and those with baby strollers. (There might as well be a sign at the bottom of the ramp that reads BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC BIKES THIS WAY.)  Winding his way to the top of the ramp with music blaring, he was seated on his electric bike and not moving slowly at all.  At the top, he then sped down the dirt path toward the south end of the park where you see him in the picture, never once having pushed a pedal. Moments later, a group of four women headed the same direction on the path. Two of those women needed canes to walk. 

I have seen this particular electric biker in town a lot lately -- he's one of many easily seen weaving in and out of traffic and ignoring stop signs and red lights. Clearly, he and the others know that the police won't bother them.  This guy is particularly dangerous and fast on his wannabe motorcycle, endangering others and himself.

There are at least 3 NO BICYCLING IN THE PARK signs in the 7th Street Park.  There is not one anywhere in Promenade Park.  In fact, there are no signs at all in Promenade regarding rules for park patrons.  Not one.  Not even one that says NO MOTORCYCLE PARKING OR RIDING ANYWHERE IN THE PARK.  

An electric bike or scooter is nothing but a poor man's motorcycle or moped.  You just don't need a driver's license to ride an electric bike or scooter, but of course riders (including bicyclists) are expected to obey all traffic regulations and signs, including those that read ONE WAY with an arrow and DO NOT ENTER.  Not so much in Hudson, however. 

On Saturday morning after visiting the farmers market, I watched as HPD's large white "supervisor" vehicle took a right on red from Columbia onto 6th without coming to a complete stop.  The cruiser then approached an electric scooter being ridden in the wrong direction on 6th Street between Columbia and State Street.  They passed within a foot or two of one another near the intersection with Long Alley.  There is no way that the officer didn't see the scooter headed his way well in advance of crossing paths with it.  Unsurprising to me, the officer didn't bother blocking the path of the scooter to speak with the rider or issue him a ticket.  They both continued in their opposite directions as if nothing was amiss, the officer in the vehicle seemingly in no rush to get anywhere in particular.  Do you think that officer cared one iota whether that scooter rider continued in the wrong direction for two more blocks to Union Street? 

Late on Saturday afternoon, I called HPD to report a person in the 7th Street Park drinking alcohol.  The bench that the person was sitting on while drinking from a 24-ounce can of beer was surrounded by garbage which had been there since the previous day.  Pure filth.  An officer arrived within 5 minutes but remained in her vehicle for a minute or two while the drunk tried his best to finish his beer.  When the officer finally approached the park's most infamous and disruptive drunken slob, he immediately claimed to her that the beer can by his side was empty.  The officer did not check the can or come close to the bench.  She ordered the drinker to clean up the mess surrounding the bench.  He complied, leaving his can of beer on the bench.  While the officer turned away to communicate on her radio, the town drunk grabbed his beer and took one last huge swig as he headed toward a garbage can carrying a bag full of litter.  

Beer can on bench, partly obscured by 
officer's left hand.  No ticket issued,
no arrest made.

I asked the officer if the person was going to be issued a ticket for public drinking.  The officer told me that the can was empty.  "But how would you know if you didn't check it?" I asked.  The officer responded that it really wouldn't make any difference since "you know that Michael will be back here in a half hour drinking anyway."  Disgusted and yet again sorely disappointed in the Hudson Police Department, I left the park.

A Hudson police officer paid over $40 an hour to drive around town in a vehicle, allowing an electric scooter to ride the wrong way on a one-way street.  A Hudson police officer paid over $40 an hour to look the other way when once again called to the scene of a regular park "patron" once again drinking alcohol without any concern of being arrested.  No Hudson police officers ever on their feet walking through the troubled 7th Street Park unless responding to a call.  Anyone can continually violate park rules and still never be banned from the park because City Hall has no interest in figuring out how to get the park's worst elements banned from the park.  Michael Madison is banned from Lucky's (formerly Citgo) property as well as Speedway.  If he is seen on those properties, HPD can arrest him for trespassing.  But he is allowed to do as he pleases in the 7th Street Park day after day after day.

Tuesday: Same drunk, drugged-out person,
same officer (another one arrived moments later).
  Send him to the park across the street. 
A wonderful use of HPD resources.

There is something deeply, deeply flawed with the powers-that-be here in Hudson, NY.  How does something so broken fix itself?  Is it even possible?