Description
The city installed rumble strips along 2nd Street on Tuesday (10/6). It's clear that these were installed in order to slow vehicles within the vicinity of multiple mid-block pedestrian crossings; however, the rumble strips are cut across the full-width of both lanes, are difficult for cyclists to traverse, and are a tire-wedge hazard.
It seems that the rumble strips could have been just as effective if they were only installed within the center of the road (perhaps extending 5' on each side of the lane line) so that vehicles would still catch the strips with one wheel while allowing cyclists to bypass the rumble strips along the edge of the lane.
It is worth noting that the ped crossing issue at this location is only partially due to high vehicular speeds; the other issue is the poor sight distances at these crossings. Although painted pedestrian bump-outs are present in some locations, the narrow lanes and existing parking lanes greatly limit the sight distance and pose a safety hazard. In addition to addressing the rumble strip issue, perhaps a REAL look should be taken at addressing the pedestrian crossings... like a visible pedestrian signal... something like the newly approved, pedestrian actuated, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons to grab motorists attention. (FYI, the PennDOT approval number is SPD-001X for those beacons.)
A photo is included as part of this updated posting.
23 Comments
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Jeremy Chrzan (Guest)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Thanks for sending this along.
If you have emails for elected officials in this area, we could set up a "public watch area" for them on this site so that they will be automatically notified when issues like these are reported in their neighborhoods.
Other Philly elected officials have been active at monitoring and helping to resolve issues in their areas.
Neighborhood associations have been setting up a lot of watch areas, too.
Lanie (Guest)
John Boyle (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
Jeremy Chrzan, P.E. (Guest)
Moonlighter (Guest)
It in no way slows anyone down and is not the answer. I've already sent my complaint to the tower office. The sound really is abusive and excessive. It's now just a constant source of noise pollution in a quiet neighborhood.
bep (Guest)
Moonlighter (Guest)
Moonlighter (Guest)
I just posted a Youtube video of the strips below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXdXaVPi3oY
Jess (Guest)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Moonlighter (Guest)
The road is dangerous, no doubt. I have witnessed the aftermath of speeding drivers who have "pin balled" down the street against parked cars on two occasions(one driver hit over 15 cars). I personally was outside and watched a drunk driver sideswipe four cars before he stopped. I know a girl who was knocked over by flying car debris from one of the first incidents. It was recorded on a surveillance camera!
I am certain after living here for three years and seeing the patrons late at night between Bar Ferdinand and El Camino walking around and out in the street that someone is going to be killed by a speeding car. Some of these cars are literally going over 70 mph. You can hear them accelerating from Girard. The light was recently put in at Germantown Ave....Kudos to Bart and his hard work. I don't have an answer...tough problem.
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Rachel (Guest)
Jeremy Chrzan, P.E. (Guest)
Today I received notification from Philly 311 that a private developer installed these rumble strips and that the city has notified the developer that they need to be removed.
If you live near the Tower Investment office, you might want to stop in and make a complaint about this issue.... I know I will be stopping there in the next few days.
Ryan Burke (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
http://cbs3.com/local/Philadelphia.Rumble.Strips.2.1332907.html
Don't know if anyone saw that. I haven't heard anything else though. I hope they fix it soon!
The funny thing is, when I inquired in the Tower office about the rumble strips the woman in there said the city installed them, and they had nothing to do with it. Maybe she was ill-informed though.
Ryan Burke (Guest)
Lanie (Guest)
Anonymous (Guest)
Closed BB (Registered User)
Hey Guys.
Don't forget to close the issue when its resolved.
Its the little close button on the top of the issue.
Congrats!!!