We the undersigned do petition the board of the Waco Downtown Farmers Market to do away with the mini train at Saturday Market.
The train produces noxious fumes and a great deal of noise pollution, which greatly compromises the experience of attending the market.
It in no way fits within the markets stated mission, being neither locally grown nor produced.
The operator of the train does not follow Market rules, does not stay within his designated route, and does not show awareness of pedestrians or other vehicles. He is a danger to market guests and a liability to the market as a whole. He has been observed utilizing public roads to turn around on, and driving on public sidewalks.
Four Saturdays ago, my family was enjoying the shade beneath the trees behind the Bank of America drive thru teller building, and the train continually utilized that side walk as a part of its route, causing us to have to scramble to gather up our children with each pass, as he did not slow down while passing us. Eventually, in a move that felt distinctly aggressive given everything that followed, he drove his train through the grass, a mere foot or two from where I was sitting holding my one year old son. We reported the incident to the market manager and were assured that he is not allowed to drive on those sidewalks as they are not covered by the markets insurance. Later the train operator confronted us, suggesting that we needed to keep our children in the designated farmers market area, that any rational person would move when they noticed a train coming by every five minutes, and that, because he was providing a "much loved service", he should get to drive in this "nice shady place". We informed him of our conversation with the market manager and our knowledge of his boundaries. Nevertheless, this week he was AGAIN utilizing the grass as a part of his route.
The new market site is ill equipped for a mini train. It is a nuisance and a liability. Please suspend its use.
Updates
July 9, 2017
The market board remains silent despite everything I have sent them. It is exhausting to keep pushing when the same dangerous behavior continues every weekend, but I am not walking away from this.
July 9, 2017
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one frustrated by the dangerous situation at the market. Seeing so many people agree makes the exhaustion of fighting this feel a little more manageable.
9 Comments
I totally agree. Thank you for creating the petition. We need to be safe, especially our children.
If the train operator is as rude as people say he is, and he is driving his train on grass where people are sitting, then he DEFINITELY needs to be barred from operating his train at the Farmer's Market.
I've had to save my dog, who is leashed and at my side at all times, from being ran over. Which means I also had to protect myself due to the fact my dog is always at my side or under my feet. Also, I was in the middle of the vendor area of the market with many other customers trying to enjoy a Saturday morning downtown.
This train operator is not only rude to families, he is rude to vendors as well. He has made lude and objectifying comments in the direction of multiple women who work regularly at the market. He has also suggested that those people who do not use or appreciate his train are "just too poor" or "only annoyed because they can't afford it." He needs to go.
I have always found the train to take away from my experience at the market. The problems experienced at the new site make it a good time to take the train out of the market. It dies not serve our enhance the started purpose of the market.
Hate it
For the safety of my kids and their lungs, please get rid of this nuisance.
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We the undersigned do petition the board of the Waco Downtown Farmers Market to do away with the mini train at Saturday Market.
The train produces noxious fumes and a great deal of noise pollution, which greatly compromises the experience of attending the market.
It in no way fits within the markets stated mission, being neither locally grown nor produced.
The operator of the train does not follow Market rules, does not stay within his designated route, and does not show awareness of pedestrians or other vehicles. He is a danger to market guests and a liability to the market as a whole. He has been observed utilizing public roads to turn around on, and driving on public sidewalks.
Four Saturdays ago, my family was enjoying the shade beneath the trees behind the Bank of America drive thru teller building, and the train continually utilized that side walk as a part of its route, causing us to have to scramble to gather up our children with each pass, as he did not slow down while passing us. Eventually, in a move that felt distinctly aggressive given everything that followed, he drove his train through the grass, a mere foot or two from where I was sitting holding my one year old son. We reported the incident to the market manager and were assured that he is not allowed to drive on those sidewalks as they are not covered by the markets insurance. Later the train operator confronted us, suggesting that we needed to keep our children in the designated farmers market area, that any rational person would move when they noticed a train coming by every five minutes, and that, because he was providing a "much loved service", he should get to drive in this "nice shady place". We informed him of our conversation with the market manager and our knowledge of his boundaries. Nevertheless, this week he was AGAIN utilizing the grass as a part of his route.
The new market site is ill equipped for a mini train. It is a nuisance and a liability. Please suspend its use.
Updates
July 9, 2017
The market board remains silent despite everything I have sent them. It is exhausting to keep pushing when the same dangerous behavior continues every weekend, but I am not walking away from this.
July 9, 2017
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one frustrated by the dangerous situation at the market. Seeing so many people agree makes the exhaustion of fighting this feel a little more manageable.
9 Comments
I have almost been run down by the lawn mower train a couple of times. We should replace it with a better kids activity
I totally agree. Thank you for creating the petition. We need to be safe, especially our children.
If the train operator is as rude as people say he is, and he is driving his train on grass where people are sitting, then he DEFINITELY needs to be barred from operating his train at the Farmer's Market.
I've had to save my dog, who is leashed and at my side at all times, from being ran over. Which means I also had to protect myself due to the fact my dog is always at my side or under my feet. Also, I was in the middle of the vendor area of the market with many other customers trying to enjoy a Saturday morning downtown.
This train operator is not only rude to families, he is rude to vendors as well. He has made lude and objectifying comments in the direction of multiple women who work regularly at the market. He has also suggested that those people who do not use or appreciate his train are "just too poor" or "only annoyed because they can't afford it." He needs to go.
I have always found the train to take away from my experience at the market. The problems experienced at the new site make it a good time to take the train out of the market. It dies not serve our enhance the started purpose of the market.
Hate it
For the safety of my kids and their lungs, please get rid of this nuisance.
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I have almost been run down by the lawn mower train a couple of times. We should replace it with a better kids activity