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The solution is to make the streets safer. There are well-documented traffic calming methods that work. On neighborhood streets like the one you may be describi

The solution is to make the streets safer. There are well-documented traffic calming methods that work. On neighborhood streets like the one you may be describing that could include things like chicanes and mini roundabouts. The rub is that they make driving less convenient, so it’s hard to get people to support them. But between making our streets safer for kids and making driving a little easier I will always choose safety.

acuozzo 4y ago
> The solution is to make the streets safer. This assumes that maniacs and teenagers won't work their ass off to make those traffic calming methods ineffective. My neighborhood has regular speedbumps, curvy roads, and a speed limit of 25mph. The local crazies accelerate to 50+mph right after they drive over the speed bump.
- ryukafalz 4y ago
  Speed bumps and curvy roads aren’t necessarily going to be effective at traffic calming; it depends on the context. For example, are they very wide curvy roads? Because those aren’t actually going to slow down drivers. Beyond that, yes, even with traffic calming some people will be reckless. That’s when enforcement comes into play, but it only works effectively on neighborhood streets in concert with traffic calming. (Otherwise you’ll waste your resources and make people mad because everyone will be speeding!)
philips 4y ago
Absolutely! Traffic calming can play a role. In fact I have been working with the County on traffic calming here. But their process is silly: paper ballots sent to homeowner’s (but not apartment renters!) along the road and a 67% turnout is required for a vote to pass. We worked hard canvassing and educating and “only” got a 52% turnout and a 100% yes vote for traffic calming. So the vote failed. I wrote a 10 page report on all of the ballot design failings, administrative issues, equity issues, etc and they are reforming the program and introducing digital ballots. Still working on that 67% requirement though (a recent 9 figure school bond passed with a 37% turnout). As someone involved in election systems to some degree it was eye opening seeing something so poorly designed and executed. That said traffic calming isn’t necessary if the roads are designed to prioritize pedestrians from the beginning. It is a patch to a bad design- or at least a design that prioritizes the wrong thing.

acuozzo 4y ago

> The solution is to make the streets safer. This assumes that maniacs and teenagers won't work their ass off to make those traffic calming methods ineffective. My neighborhood has regular speedbumps, curvy roads, and a speed limit of 25mph. The local crazies accelerate to 50+mph right after they drive over the speed bump.

ryukafalz 4y ago
Speed bumps and curvy roads aren’t necessarily going to be effective at traffic calming; it depends on the context. For example, are they very wide curvy roads? Because those aren’t actually going to slow down drivers. Beyond that, yes, even with traffic calming some people will be reckless. That’s when enforcement comes into play, but it only works effectively on neighborhood streets in concert with traffic calming. (Otherwise you’ll waste your resources and make people mad because everyone will be speeding!)

philips 4y ago

Absolutely! Traffic calming can play a role. In fact I have been working with the County on traffic calming here. But their process is silly: paper ballots sent to homeowner’s (but not apartment renters!) along the road and a 67% turnout is required for a vote to pass. We worked hard canvassing and educating and “only” got a 52% turnout and a 100% yes vote for traffic calming. So the vote failed. I wrote a 10 page report on all of the ballot design failings, administrative issues, equity issues, etc and they are reforming the program and introducing digital ballots. Still working on that 67% requirement though (a recent 9 figure school bond passed with a 37% turnout). As someone involved in election systems to some degree it was eye opening seeing something so poorly designed and executed. That said traffic calming isn’t necessary if the roads are designed to prioritize pedestrians from the beginning. It is a patch to a bad design- or at least a design that prioritizes the wrong thing.