Re Aug. 7 article, “ Ice cream man gets warm welcome”: I’m glad the ice cream truck is back in Niskayuna for a one-month trial. The people fussing about the ice cream trucks staying banned should think [about] when they were young. I’m a fan of ice cream trucks; there are lots of items you can’t buy at a regular ice cream shop or store. I’m from Rotterdam, and we should have a one-month trial just like Niskayuna is doing. If someone started a petition to get a one-month trial to bring the ice cream truck to our town, I would sign it. One safety [issue] — I think ice cream trucks should have a stop sign on them, just like school buses.
When you see a friend of yours exit the under side of a pickup truck at 35mph you to will think differently
The emptyness changes a neighborhood forever
Drivers today can't stop at stop lights in this town and now we want to risk our future?
Support existing local business. Some are even on CDTA lines
When I was a kid growing up in Rotterdam, we had ice cream trucks. But at that time, families were one car families, the husband used it to get to work, and the wife stayed at home and raised the family. Things are way different now. There is much more traffic, it is the norm for young inexperienced drivers to have their own vehicles, and most families have two cars or more. I have to agree with Tippy, he had a life changing experience, a catastrophe forever etched in his mind. The potential for a repeat occurrence has dramatically increased. Sure, we can't protect our kids from everything, but in this day and age the risk associated with a popsicle or ice cream sandwich far outweighs the benefits. It is an unfortunate sign of the times, but it is a tradition that has seen its day. I would NEVER want to have to witness what he saw, no one would. Kids, have your ice cream at home or at one of the numerous shops in Town where it is safer.
I also agree that rotterdam has ice cream EVERYWHERE! I personally like taking the family out for ice cream. It's a nice little treat.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The ban started in 1975 when a 4 year old girl was killed on Putnam road as a pickup truck hit her when she crossed the road to get more money from her mother because she was short (a nickel, I think). The driver of the pickup truck was going an estimated 7-10mph at the point of impact. He was devastated obviously.
I know the girls family personally, and I remember the wake distinctly as I was 13 years old at the time. There is not nearly enough benefit to put up with the risk. I could care less how good Mr Ding-a-ling's safety record is, one death is too many. The only way I would even think about supporting a change is if they adopted the same rules for these trucks as they have for school buses...with the same penalties for violations.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
The ban started in 1975 when a 4 year old girl was killed on Putnam road as a pickup truck hit her when she crossed the road to get more money from her mother because she was short (a nickel, I think). The driver of the pickup truck was going an estimated 7-10mph at the point of impact. He was devastated obviously.
Not to be insensitive toward the family of the little girl who died. But isn't this more of a parental supervision issue rather than an ice cream truck issue? I wouldn't let my 4 year old daughter walk into traffic without me holding her hand. JMO
Not to be insensitive toward the family of the little girl who died. But isn't this more of a parental supervision issue rather than an ice cream truck issue? I wouldn't let my 4 year old daughter walk into traffic without me holding her hand. JMO
No, I wouldn't think so. Kids are out playing all the time in/along roadways. Bicycles, skate boards, crossing streets to visit friends. The ice cream truck drastically increases the chance of an accident because young children are not skilled at crossing roads, and they don't carry money around on them so they have to run home to get some, or they might miss the ice ctream. These young kids just bolt across the road, they don't process getting struck by a vehicle, they're to young. This was just a plain accident that likely would not have occurred if the ice cream truck were not there, it's not a supervision issue.
How many parents dump their kids off at the malls, and what about online predators. Times have changed. I can remember running like a madman to get money so I wouldn't miss the ice cream truck, but like I said earlier, the risks weren't as prominent then as they are now.
I am in favor of a one month trial in the town.When i was a kid i use to love hearing the music coming from the trucks.Also my kids would love it.......
No, I wouldn't think so. Kids are out playing all the time in/along roadways. Bicycles, skate boards, crossing streets to visit friends. The ice cream truck drastically increases the chance of an accident because young children are not skilled at crossing roads, and they don't carry money around on them so they have to run home to get some, or they might miss the ice ctream. These young kids just bolt across the road, they don't process getting struck by a vehicle, they're to young. This was just a plain accident that likely would not have occurred if the ice cream truck were not there, it's not a supervision issue.
I respectfully disagree. A 4 year old doesn't have the dexterity to play near the road, let alone crossing it. Thousands of parents and children responsibly enjoyed the service of the ice cream truck. To paint the ice cream truck as child killing machine is illogical; drastically increasing the chances of an accident is a gross exaggeration.
But,,,it's definitely a vote getter. Don't we all feel safer knowing there's a ban on evil ice cream trucks in Rotterdam?
Good luck finding a politician to propose a lift on the ban. They would get crucified.
Not to be insensitive toward the family of the little girl who died. But isn't this more of a parental supervision issue rather than an ice cream truck issue? I wouldn't let my 4 year old daughter walk into traffic without me holding her hand. JMO
And you ARE being insensitive by not knowing the entire story. You can not mean to be an a**, and still be perceived as one The incident happened as the mother and her girls got home from Grocery shopping, the mother was putting the groceries in the house and the 4 year old and her 10 year old sister crossed the road to the ice cream truck. The 4 year old needed more money and by instinct, crossed the road.
Why don't you THINK a little, and go back to 1975. Remember all the things we were allowed to do as kids that we wouldn't even think allowing to happen now. Now, lets look at today. People eating lunch, texting and talking on the phone, and generally not paying attention to their driving, and you want to introduce ANOTHER hazard? A month trial is a complete waste of time....so, if nothing happens in a month, its OK? Using that logic, lets take down all the fences that block access to swimming pools and after a month, if nothing happens, its perfectly safe, right?
There is no way I would support a change without the same protections to kids as if they were boarding a school bus.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
To paint the ice cream truck as child killing machine is illogical; drastically increasing the chances of an accident is a gross exaggeration.
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How many deaths are acceptable to you? Go on record and say how many?
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Using that logic, lets take down all the fences that block access to swimming pools and after a month, if nothing happens, its perfectly safe, right?
Lets use your logic. Let's ban swimming pools in Rottedam period. Maybe we can get FDG to propose it. He's knowledgable in that area. Lets ban ALL children hazard that could cause harm if a parent is distracted. Lets make Rotterdam building code limit all houses to single story homes on slabs so there are no stairs, after all, it is a hazard.
C'mon, I could go on all day with this sillyness. Pasing bans like this has no impact on child safety, it's a feel good political ban. A vote getter.
Lets use your logic. Let's ban swimming pools in Rottedam period. Maybe we can get FDG to propose it. He's knowledgable in that area. Lets ban ALL children hazard that could cause harm if a parent is distracted. Lets make Rotterdam building code limit all houses to single story homes on slabs so there are no stairs, after all, it is a hazard.
C'mon, I could go on all day with this sillyness. Pasing bans like this has no impact on child safety, it's a feel good political ban. A vote getter.
No children have been killed running to/from an ice cream truck in the Town of Rotterdam since the ban started in 1975..That sounds pretty effective to me. You still have not answered the question, so I'll ask it again. How many child deaths are acceptable to you? It obviously is more than one, since you trivialize the '75 death of the 4 year old and blame it on the parent.
Another thing that's obvious is that you didn't get my analogy about the swimming pool fences. The fences are there as a deterrent. Allowing the trucks in the town without a "school bus style" deterrent is tantamount to the same thing.
All it comes down to risk/benefit. Ice cream is available at just about every store, the risk of the trucks is unnecessary. What's next, Mcdonalds and pizza hut walk up trucks?
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
No children have been killed running to/from an ice cream truck in the Town of Rotterdam since the ban started in 1975..That sounds pretty effective to me. You still have not answered the question, so I'll ask it again. How many child deaths are acceptable to you? It obviously is more than one, since you trivialize the '75 death of the 4 year old and blame it on the parent.
Another thing that's obvious is that you didn't get my analogy about the swimming pool fences. The fences are there as a deterrent. Allowing the trucks in the town without a "school bus style" deterrent is tantamount to the same thing.
All it comes down to risk/benefit. Ice cream is available at just about every store, the risk of the trucks is unnecessary. What's next, Mcdonalds and pizza hut walk up trucks?
I live for the "roach coach." And why aren't they banned? Or maybe they are banned from selling gummy bears and ice cream. Dunno but Cicero makes a pretty compelling argument I have to admit.
I live for the "roach coach." And why aren't they banned? Or maybe they are banned from selling gummy bears and ice cream. Dunno but Cicero makes a pretty compelling argument I have to admit.
Real simple... because roach coaches are typically near workplace environments where ADULTS patronize them. Its not complicated.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
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