Progress And Main
A Social Network Dedicated to Advancing Sustainable Local Communities
Business Loading zones and trying to live in downtown Blacksburg
Today this truck Coors Light truck from Valley Distributing backed up, one block, the wrong way on my one-way street and then proceed to unload in a area clearly marked "No Parking" and that blocked the alley, This is not the first abuse of the residential part of this street by the Coors light Truck. If your drivers are unable to use the loading zone, They'll need to come back later to see if it has become available and stop breaking the law - Same for every other distributor using this loading zone. It is not the neighborhoods problem. Keep your commercial problems in the commercial area.
I'm ready to swear out warrants myself if that's what it takes. Last week the driver did not pull around the corner at the top of the College Av extension far enough and it took 10 minutes for him to come back out and open the road. These truck drivers have received enough warning from the PD and they need to stop violating the law, blocking traffic or receive tickets, especially for the reckless behavior of backing up the wrong way on a narrow, residential one way street that is a main pedestrin artery to and from campus.
For those of us that live on Wilson AV, this is our only way home from Main ST. I'm leaving a camera by my front door to catch future misbehavior By Edens Distributing and US Food Service out of Roanoke and will be posting the photos and video here. Additionally, I will be identifying the companies that operate the vehicles and forwarding the documented misbehavior to the brand names companies who's logos are displayed on their trucks.
And while your at it, something should be done about the deliver trucks misappropriating the only handicapped space on the street, On Wilson AV and around the rest of town as well.
I have quite a back log of photos and video to add to this collection. Stay tuned and together we can eliminate these kinds of issues and actually help make Downtown Blacksburg a place where Grad Students, young professionals and retirees would want to live.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Hudson on -
Here is another Truck Driver from Carters Bread in Ivy VA backing up the wrong way on our one-way Street recorded the morning of 10/17/2011
Here is a still photograph of the location where the truck came to a stop including the license plate VA TX 30-002 and the US DOT # 385007.
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Permalink Reply by Gob Bluth on -
First off, i agree with you. Trucks should not be backing up the one way street the wrong way. Secondly, it is not always possible for the trucks to park in the loading zone because cars park there illegally. (As you can see in some of the photos above.) What do you suggest they do then??? Oh, right, you say they should drive around until the loading zone is clear. I have two problems with that.
#1) What if the car is parked there all day? Do the local businesses just not get their deliveries? There wouldn't be a downtown Blacksburg if that was the case.
#2) You complain of diesel fumes and noise pollution in the "residential" area of Wilson ave, but you suggest that the trucks should drive circles around your house until the loading zone clears. That seems a little bit hypocritical.
As a member of the "residential" area of Wilson Ave. I have no problem with the trucks that come down Wilson. Fact is, businesses have to get their deliveries. The trucks are their for just a handful of minutes each day. It's not a big deal.
Did you notice how I put quotations around the word residential? The house you live in is zoned as Downtown Commercial. There are allowances for stand alone single family homes, but that does not make it a residential zone. It is still Downtown Commercial. Perhaps if you want to discuss residential zoning issues you should move to a residential zone. The Blacksburg Police Department and the Town of Blacksburg would probably address your concerns better.
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Permalink Reply by Tara Hensley on -
As an employee of Hokie House, it also irks me when I see cars parked in our loading zone. It prevents our delivery trucks from unloading their goods in a timely manner. Mike, what can we do to get the police to come out and ticket these cars? Do you know if it would be prudent or legal for Hokie House to print out flyers to put on the windshields of illegally parked cars warning them that they are in danger of being ticketed or towed? Personally I'd like to see a ticket on every car that parks in that loading zone!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Hudson on
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Thanks Tara, Please check out my reply to Gob Bluth. I put my suggestion for how we can work on this together there. I'd check with the PD before putting anything on anyone car. You might be opening yourself up to some clown saying that you broke his wiper or something. I'd leave it to the PD to put things on peoples cars.
And seriously - If you guys want my support for getting that loading zone switched to towing enforced or to a shorter time limit, or something I have not thought of, let me know. I'll help.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Hudson on
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First let me say that none of the businesses that need to receive deliveries from these trucks are the problem. From my perspective, the responsibility and the penalty should lie squarely on on the shoulders of those who make the decisions to break the law.
That loading zone is the life-line for a lot of businesses in the area. Instead of attacking your fellow collateral victims of it's misuse, why don't we work together to proactively protect it from those that abuse it by parking in all day or use by other non-delivery vehicles that don't belong there at all. Just call the cops and let them know - I will too and if you have contact with the deliver drivers urge them to put the BBPD's non-emergency # 540 961-1150 in the speed dial of their cell phones. There is a limited amount of time that any vehicles are allowed to be in a loading zone. If you need help going to traffic committee and getting more done, like a regular parole, I am with you.
Yes my home is zoned commercial, but it's use is residential in use and my license for my home occupancy business is very restrictive so that the operation of on the business does not negativity impact the residences that surround me. I'm just asserting and defending my right to the same consideration and the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of my home. When that is disrupted, I document it here and invite conversations just like this one.
As far as the trucks driving around go, I just meant to suggest that they try their next location and plan to come back later, not that drive around in a perpetual holding pattern.
I've asked the town PD, Planning Dept, zoning administrators, Town Manager's office and others directly whether I should lower my expectations because my house is zoned commercial. Their answer is consistently "No".
My home is my castle and I am entitled, no matter where I live, to be secure in it and the enjoyment of it, even if it's rented or zoned commercial. I'm sincerely not just trying to be argumentative or a grouchy neighbor. I really believe these things and I really hope you understand.
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Permalink Reply by Gob Bluth on
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I do understand everything you are saying. Everyone wants to have a nice peaceful house to live in with no altercations, crime, vandalism, accidents, or other mysterious happenings, but life just isnt that way is it?
If you live next to an airport or train station you are going to hear planes and trains. If you live in the valley you are going to hear wind and crickets. If you live in downtown Blacksburg, behind or near several businesses and a fraternity house, there are going to be things that may disturb your peace. It comes with the territory.
Like I said before, I completely agree, if people do something wrong or illegal they should be punished. However, I don't think it is worth our tax dollars to have a Police officer sit on Wilson Ave 24 hours of the day ticketing anyone who parks for more than 10 minutes. The problem of trucks missing the loading zone by 10 feet for 3-5 minutes isnt substantial enough to warrant that kind of Police action. The lack of involvement from the town and police department proves that this "problem" isn't significant enough to require action.
Look at it this way. There are probably close to a dozen people that live on the Main Street side of Wilson Ave that have lived there for several consecutive years. The fact that they are renewing leases and staying put tells me that they are satisfied with their location. What it really seems like to me is that you are not happy with where you live. If I wasn't happy with where I lived, I would move to a place where I was going to be the happiest.
© 2012 Created by Michael Hudson.
