The Observation Deck

Tom Bullock always told me that he wanted speed humps and speed tables on Belle Avenue and other residential neighborhoods where drivers often speed but that the prior and current mayors, as well as the prior and current city council members (pre-Cindy Marx and Sam O'Leary days), always insisted that speed humps and speed tables can't work in Lakewood.

I understand the speed bump issues.

But why can't speed humps and speed tables work in our residential neighborhoods?

A portion of today's Akron Beacon Journal article entitled, Akron council members consider speed humps for residential neighborhoods, reads as follows:

Stephanie Warsmith wrote:Speeding through neighborhoods is the No. 1 complaint Akron City Council members get from residents.

Akron council members are considering steps to curb this problem, including speed humps. Yes, they are talking about speed humps, and not the smaller bumps that people are used to driving over in private parking lots.

“Speed humps are not speed bumps,” said Akron Councilman Mike Freeman, who has been championing speed humps for many years. “Bumps and humps are two different things.”

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-council-members-consider-speed-humps-for-residential-neighborhoods-1.504792.

Compare the differences:

I am hearing every street needs speeds bumps, which borders on insane.

When no one obeys a simple safety law, one has to believe you have a bigger problem.


.

I'm all for slowing down drivers that recklessly speed on my street at 45 mph but some things need to be considered about this particular solution.

Both are great in warm weather climates but notorious in areas with snow plows. Also, both lower response times of emergency response vehicles which would be a problem near Lakewood Hospital. (Bumpy rides for ambulance patients too!)

It would be great to have a solution though since I've seen several pedestrians/bikers get grazed or hit during my time in Lakewood. I never could understand why a car would blow by at 45 mph only to sit at a red light.

Geoff Wopershall wrote:I'm all for slowing down drivers that recklessly speed on my street at 45 mph but some things need to be considered about this particular solution.

Both are great in warm weather climates but notorious in areas with snow plows. Also, both lower response times of emergency response vehicles which would be a problem near Lakewood Hospital. (Bumpy rides for ambulance patients too!)

It would be great to have a solution though since I've seen several pedestrians/bikers get grazed or hit during my time in Lakewood. I never could understand why a car would blow by at 45 mph only to sit at a red light.

Geoff

I agree that with any city that needs to plow streets, one needs to think long and hard about
any obstruction put in their way.

One would also ask, why suddenly do we need to make the roads nasty for everyone
because of a couple asses that can't slow down?

I still say the thing that slowed me down most was not obstacles but tickets. I never got
higher than 4 points on my license, but that jacked my insurance rates up enough to
slow me down for life.

How about nice streets and strict enforcement?

Seems pretty cost effective to me.

.

After driving to work on Nicholson today, I realized that the city doesn't need to add speed bumps...they just need to NOT repair the roads.

One would also ask, why suddenly do we need to make the roads nasty for everyone
because of a couple asses that can't slow down?

3 words: Political Knee-jerk Reaction.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I still say the thing that slowed me down most was not obstacles but tickets. I never got higher than 4 points on my license, but that jacked my insurance rates up enough to slow me down for life.

How about nice streets and strict enforcement?

Seems pretty cost effective to me.

Jim,

I agree.

But, since City Hall doesn't agree, speed humps and speed tables may work.

I seem to recall Mike Summers referring to drivers speeding through residential neighborhoods as a "soft issue" for City Hall.

Nonetheless, it's a "hard issue" for our residents.

Matt

... and ... there is always this option ...