u/2_cats_in_disguise

Hey Hartford peeps,

Genuinely interested in having a discussion about this. Not trying to be demeaning to those that enjoy other types of fun than I do. HOWEVER...

What's up with the people riding motorcycles and various personal motorized vehicles at 35/40 mph through Bushnell Park on the pedestrian paths?

I walked through the park yesterday in an attempt to check out the Jazz Festival. Before I could get half way through the park, I was pushed off the path multiple times by people recklessly riding their motorcycles and personal motorized vehicles through the park. It seemed like they were intentionally getting as close as possible to people as they passed them, doing laps around the park going faster and faster.

Where is the emphasis on public safety? This is behavior that seems completely out of line with what we should expect to see in a park, especially when the park was filled with festival goers. I ended up leaving before getting to the festival side of the park because I was tired of not having a safe path to where I was going.

There were officers posted on the street to manage traffic safety, yet it didn't seem like there was anyone responsible for the safety within the park itself.

Was I just unlucky with my experience, or is this a common thing? If its a common thing, what can be done? Bike patrols in the park? Rarely do I think that "more police" is a solution, but really, what else is there?

Planning a small group lunch for coworkers at the end of the month, and I would prefer somewhere with LGBTQ+ ownership. Blue Orchid comes to mind, but where else? Safe for work recommendations please - not looking for bars or places with a heavy alcohol focus. I checked the CT LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce website but they didn't have anything listed in New Haven :(