| Author |
Message |
    
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7447
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 7:38 am: |     |
Marisa, did you use your turn signal?
While nobody agrees with me I think the speed limit on Ridgewood and Prospect should be 35MPH. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 197
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 11:33 am: | |
Bob, you can add me to your list of those who don't agree.
Maybe Prospect could handle 30 or 35 from Tuscan to Parker, since it's wide and fairly straight, has good sidewalks, most houses are set well back, and there's a light near Tuscan School; but it is still residential.
On Ridgewood, though, the sidewalk is intermittent on the west side, there are curves and dips that limit visibility, no traffic control near Jefferson school, and lots of car and pedestrian activity at Cedar Lane where the stores are. IMHO, if there was a 30 or 35 limit, people would feel justified going 40, so let's keep it at 25.
cheers to Bob and all for thinking about local traffic safety! |
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 150
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:41 pm: | |
I have been scratching my head on this: Valley Street is much more crowded and has heavy pedestrian traffic, yet the speed limit is 35 while Ridgewood is only 25.
I remember two incidents on Valley where I was almost wiped out, one by a speeder being chased by police, and another exiting the A&P parking lot where someone was passing another car and was in the lane I was entering. Isn't there a double line on Valley?
Clearly to me, Valley is a dangerous street. The speed limit should be lower. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7459
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:45 pm: | |
I am an advocate of the 75th precentile. This is a traffic theroy that the speed 75% of the cars travel on the road is the proper speed limit. My experience is that most traffic moves at around 35 on Ridgewood and slows at "Ridgewood Commons" because of the congestion. 
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5338
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 2:51 pm: | |
bobk, last I heard, it was the 85% percentile rule. I surmise that it supposes that 85% of the drivers have good sense. 15% having bad sense is still pretty bad. And I believe it is applied on open highways, not streets.
The visual layout is one big cue as to how fast you can safely go. And those cues are often wrong, which is why people speed on Prospect St. It's wide, and visibility is excellent. But that doesn't prepare drivers for people in crosswalks.
Therefore, I think any percentile rule is inappropriate on roads such as these. Given that you advocate it, how much do you think speed accounts for the bad driving and danger? Or maybe I should ask if you are satisfied with the safety of these roads! |
witness
Citizen
Username: Witness
Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 3:06 pm: | |
I am an advocate of a similar theory that says 75% of the driving population will, given the slightest distraction or perceived urgency, ignore their own safety, and that of others, to drive as fast as they can get away with.
The theory also holds that the same 75% believe they are exceptional drivers, despite having neither the reflexes nor the eye-hand coordination to play a decent game of put-put.
The other 25% get rear-ended. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7460
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 3:30 pm: | |
Tom, you may be correct on the urban vs. rural thingy and probably on 85% not 75%.
We live two houses off Ridgewood and have lived their since 1987 and drive on Ridgewood daily. With the exception of a few crazies who exceed 35, the vast majority of people drive around that speed. It is very rare to see anyone obeying the 25mph limit. To the best of my knowledge, that isn't a high accident frequency road.
I would make a small bet if you were to map accidents here the vast majority would be at a handful of intersections such as Jefferson/Maplewood Ave. and "the Wagon Wheel" near where you live and along, in the past, Midland Blvd., although I think the four way stops and the mini-roundabouts have helped there.
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Marisa
Citizen
Username: Rissawerm
Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 4:11 pm: | |
Yes Bobkat, I have learned to put my turn signal on well before it is even necessary to warn people that I am turning because I have had more than one experience with impatient drivers, people pulling up way too close, etc. It is definitely not just me, my boyfriend has the same experience. I would not be ok with the 35 mph on Ridgewood, sometimes I have difficulty even getting out of my driveway - o which reminds me, I use my hazards every time I back out of my driveway as well. I make sure to let people know what I am doing at all times. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1800
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 9:10 am: | |
Keep it at 25 and if you witness a cop giving a ticket for speeding or going through a stop sign (of course only if you saw the violation), offer to be a witness. The violaters won't get off and (maybe), we'll have safer streets. |
Bill P
Citizen
Username: Mrincredible
Post Number: 21
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 3:02 pm: | |
I've actually taken to using cruise control to keep my car at 25-30 on roads like Prospect and Ridgewood. I agree that a lot of people end up simply driving as fast as they think they can get away with. And let's face it: how much faster do you really think you'll get from the light at Tuscan and Prospect to the light at Parker and Prospect by going 35-40? I'm sure someone out there would be capable of doing the calculations, but I can't imagine you'd cut off more than a minute or so. Take that minute and admire the beautiful houses ... no, never mind that, you might run into someone.
Seriously, would it kill people to drive a little slower on these streets? Au contraire, I say.
Hm ... if the 75% rule applies to highways 78 should have a speed limit of at least 80, with drivers from Pennsylvania getting to go 85-90. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7479
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 3:12 pm: | |
Interestingly when the MPD sets up a radar trap on Ridgewood, which a year or so ago they did most Sunday mornings, they don't pull in anyone not driving under 35. Ditto with the State Troopers on the interstates. They give you ten or fifteen miles over the limit.
Back before the 55 mph speed limit the limit on a lot of interstates was 75mph.
And, how many of you always or almost always never drive faster than 25mph of Ridgewood or Prospect? Be honest now. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 201
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 3:29 pm: | |
Bob, I think what you're saying is what I was trying to say earlier: If the limit is 25, people feel free to go up to 35 or so; with a 30/35 limit, they'd be more likely to run it up to 40 or more, which I really think is too much for Ridgewood.
full disclosure: I'm usually a little over 25 on Ridgewood, but like Bill I like to use the cruise control to keep a grip on my impatience (when I have the car with the cruise). |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7481
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 3:33 pm: | |
mjc, I believe in the perfectability of human nature. Most people aren't going to drive over 35 or so on Ridgewood or Prospect. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 203
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 4:01 pm: | |
from your mouth (or keyboard) to God's ear |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3322
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 5, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
I love to drive 25 on Ridgewood. It drives people nuts!
DId I hear that a trafic light was going in on Valley at Oakland (oakview??) well, by town hall? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4886
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 5, 2005 - 1:20 pm: | |
I also heard (from a TC member) that the long awaited and much needed traffic light at Oakview and Valley was going to be in operation by the end of this year. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 1812
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 5, 2005 - 6:15 pm: | |
At some point there was an MOL post (from Vic DeLuca, I thought, but I'm not completely sure) that said the traffic light was planned for late 2004 or early 2005. I was hopeful that it would be done soon ... it keeps getting worse and worse there. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7505
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 7, 2005 - 7:39 am: | |
Marisa, were you leaving your house on Ridgewood around 6:10 this morning? I saw someone backing out with their flashers on. |
JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 16
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 11:20 am: | |
I live near Tuscan, on a corner, and too have a major speeding problem with people coming flying pass that corner.
This is extremely dangerous to my family as well as the kids from the neighborhood and I am very apprehensive of the day someone will get killed or gravely injured. Yes, I say WILL happen because there has already been a few accidents there and, in fact, a year and a half ago, another occured with one of the cars flipping in the air and ending up on my yard - just where my kids used to play everyday in the spring and summer.
This, accompanied by the usual "finger" and cursing when you tell these guys to SLOW DOWN, cannot continue. IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND MAKE OUR TOWN SAFE.
1- Because I had been thinking about purchasing one, I will absolutely second the speed detector motion and further offer this: if others are willing, I will financially contribute toward the purchase of a hand-held speed detector, that each co-owner then could use on a rotation basis. Anyone interested?
2. I have started a "database" of any speedster I am able to catch and have been writting down license plate number, date & time, description of car & driver, and nature of the offense(s). I have even on occasion set up a video tape recorder (I have saved at least one woman who is just as crazy as they get). I had planned to identify some "serial offenders" and file charges with the police and/or take them to a local court. Even if the case is dismissed, these dangerous individuals would suffer the aggravation of a court appearance and an official "record". Perhaps others might be interested and we can start a global database.
What else to do...
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4948
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 4:47 pm: | |
Ask the Police Department if a program like this could be started as part of or an extension to the Neighborhood Watch Program. Find out what kind of documentation would be needed to make traffic violation charges stand up in Municipal Court. If training or certification in the use of such equipment is needed for the results to be accepted into evidence, ask if the police department would be able to provide or arrange for such training. |
Marisa
Citizen
Username: Rissawerm
Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 10:41 am: | |
Bobkat that sounds a little early for me. Apparently others do that as well. And ffof, i do that too!!! I play a game..."how slow can i go?" |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5533
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 12:43 pm: | |
Doing something deliberately to annoy others is not a good idea. Neither is slowing people down for no reason. Of course, there sometimes are good reasons to do it. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4955
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 4:19 pm: | |
Keeping our kids safe is always a good reason to travel the speed limit on a residential street in town. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5540
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 5:44 pm: | |
Who would disagree with that? I was responding to the notion of slowing down JUST to annoy someone. |
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