Comments on: Not on My Block http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/04/27/not-on-my-block/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:13:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Grant Johnson, PE, PTOE http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/04/27/not-on-my-block/#comment-7221 Grant Johnson, PE, PTOE Thu, 07 May 2009 10:27:10 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=827#comment-7221 The NIMBY's (not in my back yard) mentality is basically selfish. They get their speed humps or a set of stop signs, and then the "thru" neighborhood traffic diverts to another street. The result is another street getting some, and another, until there is an eventual set of over-used traffic control devices littering the neighborhood street system. What we won't go through to control speeds, as important as that is. I have always thought the BEST solution is radar speed enforcement by a cop. Best ever. Get the speeders! Get the stop sign runners. Give 'em a ticket. And show up often to enforce. It WILL work over time to fix it. The NIMBY’s (not in my back yard) mentality is basically selfish. They get their speed humps or a set of stop signs, and then the “thru” neighborhood traffic diverts to another street. The result is another street getting some, and another, until there is an eventual set of over-used traffic control devices littering the neighborhood street system. What we won’t go through to control speeds, as important as that is. I have always thought the BEST solution is radar speed enforcement by a cop. Best ever. Get the speeders! Get the stop sign runners. Give ‘em a ticket. And show up often to enforce. It WILL work over time to fix it.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/04/27/not-on-my-block/#comment-7102 Andrew Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:02:23 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=827#comment-7102 If you don't have the juice to get a physical traffic cut-off, go for needless 4-way stops. They do not "calm" traffic, they are not safer, but if drivers detour to a street with fewer stops, they are, from your perspective, a success. If you don’t have the juice to get a physical traffic cut-off, go for needless 4-way stops. They do not “calm” traffic, they are not safer, but if drivers detour to a street with fewer stops, they are, from your perspective, a success.

]]> By: Nick http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/04/27/not-on-my-block/#comment-7100 Nick Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:16:58 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=827#comment-7100 The basic axiom of the politics of traffic is you always want to live somewhere that's easy to drive to, and you never want to live somewhere that's easy to drive through. The basic axiom of the politics of traffic is you always want to live somewhere that’s easy to drive to, and you never want to live somewhere that’s easy to drive through.

]]> By: Bossi http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/04/27/not-on-my-block/#comment-7092 Bossi Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:42:13 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=827#comment-7092 My opinion (which I stand by professionally, too) is that public roads are for the public. Hence, it's not so much that cut-through traffic exists; rather our duty is to ensure that it is traveling safely. If a community wishes to restrict traffic, however, it is my belief that they should be responsible for its maintenance costs. However, public to private transfers can spurn pocket neighborhoods, shifting cut-through traffic solely to arterials & destroying what may otherwise be a functioning grid system. Hence, public policy should carefully consider what is desired: more suburban-style pocket neighborhoods or urban grid patterns. My opinion (which I stand by professionally, too) is that public roads are for the public. Hence, it’s not so much that cut-through traffic exists; rather our duty is to ensure that it is traveling safely. If a community wishes to restrict traffic, however, it is my belief that they should be responsible for its maintenance costs.

However, public to private transfers can spurn pocket neighborhoods, shifting cut-through traffic solely to arterials & destroying what may otherwise be a functioning grid system. Hence, public policy should carefully consider what is desired: more suburban-style pocket neighborhoods or urban grid patterns.

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