Waltham Residents Sound Off on Safety Issues

Waltham, MA - Summer’s nearly here, and with each walk in the park, day at the pool and backyard BBQ comes the risk of snakebites, drowning and fires, but don’t worry! There’s no reason to stay cooped up inside all season.

Patch put together a list of summer safety tips to keep you safe and having fun while the weather’s warm. Make sure to give snakes their distance and always swim with a buddy to stay carefree during the dog days.

Keeping these tips in mind, there are other possible dangers that affect Waltham residents year round.

We asked Patch readers what they thought the biggest safety issues were in their town. Here’s a list of the most pressing problems, from break-ins to traffic jams:

• "Loitering in areas where children play. Parks, playgrounds before and after hours. Also harassment by groups loitering in front of dunkins, Tedeschi's bus stops etc."

• "The new sidewalks are lovely, but how about fixing Moody Street itself?"

• "The homeless and junkies in the library."

• "Definitely speeding down residential areas and the homeless guy I found in my yard the other day"

• "Speeding in residential areas, especially Lincoln St."

• "Traffic lights need to be more conducive to traffic flow. I have gotten so close to accidents at so many intersections because no one knows who's supposed to have the right of way. There needs to be more consistency."

• "The rotary coming off 128 onto Route 20 made worse by the changes they made. People coming from Weston do not yield."

• "The drugs all over the city - especially Heroin!"

• "Non-compliance of traffic rules by autos, bikes, and pedestrians"

• "Cedar street is a mess for residents who travel that road daily. Please redo our cars are breaking from that road"

Is there a problem that wasn’t mentioned? Share it with us in the comments below or on our Waltham Patch Facebook page.