Conference noted::bicycle

2730.0. "Traffic Calming" by POLAR::NEUMANN () Wed Mar 02 1994 20:39

    We've all experienced traffic speeding along our residential streets on
    a shortcut to/from work.  The typical urban solution seems to be simply
    to add speed limit and stop signs to the street.  Of course, we all
    know how effective signs are at controlling traffic!
    
    I've heard rumors of more effective methods, known collectively as
    'traffic calming', apparently being tried in Europe, perhaps elsewhere. 
    I am a member of a citizens' advisory group assisting our city
    goverment in designing cycling routes around town and would like to
    suggest implementing traffic calming along these routes.  Just think -
    traffic moving at or below the speed limit and they could remove those
    energy-wasting  stop signs now found every second block.
    
    Does anybody out there know where I could find substantial information
    about traffic calming (It will have to be good enough to impress our
    politicians and traffic engineers)?  The sorts of things I'm looking
    for are:
    
    - where has this been tried?  Who can I contact for details (urban
    planners, traffic engineers ...)
    - are there studies of the effect of traffic calming projects?
    - are there any other notes files, BBS's which might be able to provide
    leads?  (I'll crosspost this note to UK_BIKING)
    
    As an interesting example, I heard stories about a 'Dutch speed bump'. 
    It seems the Dutch have designed a speed bump that makes it impossible
    (or at least dangerous to your car's mechanical  integrity) to exceed
    the speed limit.  At the same time, you can comfortably drive along at
    the speed  limit AND stop signs that had been added to control speeders
    can be eliminated.  The Dutch speed bump could best be described as a
    series of sinusoidal variations in pavement height, spaced periodically
    along a considerable length of road.  If you drive over them slowly,
    your car simply moves up and down a bit.  If you drive too quickly,
    your  suspension resonates with the periodicity of the bumps and begins
    to bounce violently.  At normal cycling speeds, these bumps would 
    hardly be noticeable.
    
    It would be great to implement this and other traffic calming ideas
    where I live and perhaps turn the tide of steadily-worsening traffic. 
    Any suggestions or sources of information you may have would be greatly 
    appreciated.
    
    Tired of being a second-class road user,
    
    Rick
    

    I have certainly seen traffic calming measures in Cambridge in
    England.  The most obvious thing, probably more appropriate to a
    European environment than the US, is a very narrow >gap< in the back 
    streets which a car can get through but only with care.  It sure slows
    you down.
    
    In general Cambridghe is a very cycle-friendly city (or seens so to be)
    with a working park+ride system as well, so as a first stage you could
    write to the city council there.  I hope that someone living closer 
    to Cambridge than I can provide the address but if needs be I could
    probably dig something out.
    
    Good luck !

I saw a report about how traffic in one US city (Chicago??) is a major cause 
of heart failures and deaths - perhaps you could use that as a fact to 
impress on the values.  Was it in VOGON, LIVEWIRE or Jamies Reuters Service?

(and No, this is not me being facetious - for once...)

    re .0
    Speed bumps may not work for all drivers.  I know I floor it when I
    see one ahead.

    Yes, but, if there are 10 equally-spaced speed bumps in a row, you
    would become airborne before reaching the end.  Somebody who
    deliberately tried driving over these bumps too quickly told me that
    the experience was very disconcerting.
    

    Bordeaux is the pilot city in France for traffic calming, and has been
    running a trial scheme over the last three years. You could probably
    get a lot of information from them, although it would be in French.
    Maybe try addressing your enquiry to "DDE de Bordeaux, 33000, BORDEAUX,
    FRANCE."
    
    Piers