There's a little known secret that can be used to stop speeding in your neighbourhood. Make the roads more narrow! A wide, empty street just entices drivers to increase their speed. They will unconsciously readjust their perceived risk and drive at a speed based on how comfortable they feel driving on your street.
My pet peeve. That was a great video and very interesting. So much so I went to his website and watched some more. Thanks for that connection.
Now, how do we motivate the districts to learn from this, incorporate it into new & existing neighborhoods? I'm pretty sure those engineers have super large egos and will poo-poo this idea. Why do egotistics hold powerful, controlling positions?
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I live on the north shore of the lower mainland, but drive throughout the whole area.
Just to give you two examples of modifying neighbourhoods with pedestrian bulges, traffic circles, traffic islands, and speed bumps, go to Google Earth / Maps West Vancouver and drive from the Westmount Chevron down to Marine Drive. An object lesson in how to improve an arterial that's existed for years to assist traffic flow, but now it's been further improved by making drivers want to slow down on the same route.
Or how about Jones Avenue in North Vancouver, between West 23rd Street and West 13th? A natural north/south avenue without the annoyance of multiple stop signs or traffic lights on parallel avenues to the east, (so very efficient for many drivers) this road passes a high school plus a multitude of playing fields, whilst also demanding that drivers park properly in order to keep the sight lines open. They've eliminated parking/stopping immediately in front of the school using 'permanent' cones (instead of signs that will be ignored) and also used a realistic speed limit, along with those pedestrian bulges and speed bumps. There's also a new, wide, pedestrian/cyclist path on the west side, in order to keep that conflict with vehicle traffic separate.
These are just two examples of a multitude of ongoing road improvements, and far more effective than demanding radar here, there and everywhere, or suggesting that traffic engineers in BC are all sitting at their desks, doing nothing.
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NICE IDEA BUT VERY STUPID--HOW MANY CARELESS CHILDREN, PETS & PEDESTRIANS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THE LIGHTS GO ON?
AFTER THE 1970's , MOST CITIES INCREASED THE STREET WIDTH & RESTRICTE PARKING ALONG THE STREETS TO DECREASE VEHICULAR HOMICIDES-IT HELPED!
I NOTICE THAT NOW WE APPEAR TO HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAS WAS LEARNED-STREETS ARE GETTING NARROWER AND VEHICLES ARE PARKED EVERYWHERE--JUST ASKING FOR ISSUES.
SIMPLE SOLUTION - MAKE THOSE PARTY TO THOSE STUPID DECISIONS, PARTIALLY CRIMINALY LIABLE FOR ANY DEATHS AND INJURIES- THAT SHOULD WORK.
AS A DRIVER, FOR SEVERAL MILLION MILES--THE MORE SPACE THERE IS THE BETTER.
REACTION TIMES HAVE NOT GOTTEN FASTER.
STAY SAFE- CHEERS-CLIFF
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Now, I didn't say they are speeding. The blanket speed in Kelowna is 50km/hr. My street, being 18' wide is technically still 50km/hr. The problem? We have no sidewalks, and we are a block from an elementary school. So drivers can go 50km/hr directly beside a group of children walking to school. Is this safe? Heck no. Is this illegal? Well, they are not exceeding the speed limit, I believe they are guilty of driving carelessly.
So far I have been unsuccessful in getting the city to do anything about it. I guess I will just hope my child or pet is not the next statistic. My neighbour's are speed freaks and don't care much for others.
144 (1) A person must not drive a motor vehicle on a highway
(a) without due care and attention
(b) without reasonable consideration for other person(s) using the highway, or
(c) at a speed that is excessive relative to the road, traffic, visibility, or weather conditions.
FYI
Speed limits
146 (8) A municipality may by bylaw direct that the rate of speed at which a person may drive or operate a motor vehicle in the municipality on a lane not exceeding 8 m in width must not be in excess of 20 km/h.
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Speed Mongers