Thanks, Wizard and Steve. Speed bumps seem to slow down some
cars, while a few cars and a lot of motorcycles are largely immune to
them. They reek absolute havoc with big trucks.
Back in the 1960s, during my misspent youth, the local
McDonalds was the first to put in some really nasty speed bumps.
After a while owners of low hanging sports cars figured out that all
they had to do was take a slow run over the bumps and McDonald's
would have to pay for a new exhaust system. Cars with more
sophisticated suspensions, like my mom's Corvair, could take the
speed bumps at any speed whilst spilling nary a drop of coffee. This
became something a challenge, and velocities of up to 70 miles per
hour over McDonald's speed bumps were achieved. We could have gone
faster, but our approaches were either a 45 degree left off the
street in front or a 100 yard or so long parking lot in the rear.
All 3 of my motorcycles can easily take the speed bumps on
Filmore north of Broadway at legal speed with little loss of
composure. However, these same bumps must be crossed at a walking
speed with our Post Office trucks. In fact, when first installed
these speed bumps had a much more aggressive shape. Probably due to
the questionable subsoil composition of the area, the house shook
like crazy every time a truck went over the speed bumps.
Speed bumps are not just an inconvenience for big trucks,
they are a safety hazard. The bumps can cause loads to shift- at best
this only causes cargo damage, and a load of pies is only worth about
$50,000 wholesale. At worst the load breaks loose on the first bump,
then knocks out the back door or front wall of the cargo body on the
next bump... dumping the load onto oncoming traffic or throwing it
right through the cab of the truck. This sort of load shift caused by
poorly placed speed bumps can thusly have fatal consequences.
I suspect it is for this reason that MNDOT has banned speed
bumps on the state aid streets that carry a lot of heavy truck
traffic.
peace,
Dyna Sluyter, unpaid guard, Hawthorn Criminal Containment Zone
>Wizard Marks suggests:
> Using neighborhood money under NRP or whatever other money pots you
>have, get speed tables installed
>
>Steve Brandt responds:
> Nice idea. But it won't work on either 36th or Grand because they
>are state-aid streets. MNDOT won't allow speed tables or speed humps on
>MSA streets. I know that from my experience in working with neighbors
>along 40th Street. If it makes a street more livable, then MNDOT's
>against it. I am told by Public Works people that MNDOT actually made
>the city take out speed humps on a state aid street in another part of
>town.
>
>Steve Brandt
>Kingfield
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