99 replies to this topic

[ducky]

I saw the signs as I was driving to Kids Play Park and it made me stop and assess my speed. I was doing the speed limit, but we've all had those days where we're running behind and we forget we are on a residential street. Anything that brings awareness is a plus.

As stevethedad pointed out, this is just a start. If the signs helped a parent to remind their teenage child to slow down, it is well worth it. If a sign reminds a less-than-perfect person like me to slow down, it is well worth it.

There weren't many signs in my neighborhood. Maybe we can change that next year. I applaud stevethedad for trying.

[bordercolliefan]

Soccer moms in big SUVs talking on cell phones - this group really made me sad.  I thought most of the speeders were younger males  - and me when I'm just plain in a hurry.  But, Moms who run around all day, doing errands and carting the kids around, act with an apparent sens of entitlement that can be downright scary AND unwary.  Cell phones without a handsfree device are dangerous - especially in the hand of a speeding Mom in an oversized vehicle.

Kudos to StevetheDad and all the other folks who initiated this campaign to address one of the most dangerous, everyday problems we face in Folsom.

I saw the signs all around town. I also heard/saw a couple of different news reports on the program. I think this was an effective first step in calling attention to this issue.

I admire someone who sees a problem, and takes steps to address it on a community-wide level. Shamefully, I have become aware of a huge crisis in car seat use (or lack thereof) among drivers picking up kids at school -- yet I have not undertaken the type of community-wide education program that StevetheDad and others have initiated on the speeding issue. They are the people who make our communities better and make democracy work -- thank you!!

[Steve Heard]

Kudos to StevetheDad and all the other folks who initiated this campaign to address one of the most dangerous, everyday problems we face in Folsom. 

I saw the signs all around town.  I also heard/saw a couple of different news reports on the program.  I think this was an effective first step in calling attention to this issue. 

I admire someone who sees a problem, and takes steps to address it on a community-wide level.  Shamefully, I have become aware of a huge crisis in car seat use (or lack thereof) among drivers picking up kids at school -- yet I have not undertaken the type of community-wide education program that StevetheDad and others have initiated on the speeding issue.  They are the people who make our communities better and make democracy work -- thank you!!

Border

Thanks for the kind words. We also have to thank Forumreader, who is my partner in this thing. She has worked tirelessly on it, and is responsible for many of the sign placings.

Forum member's Tony and Ahnold were intrumental in helping us understand the technical and legal ins and out of traffic in this town.

Finally, Mayor Miklos, who was good enough to make an official proclamation of Slow Down Folsom month at the city council meeting. He also helped us with code enforcement and city management.

Next year, we'll know what we're doing, and be better suited to make the program a success.

[FolsomRider]

Look at the campaign of the viewpoint of a cyclist as well as a driver, I would have to say it had little effect on overall speeds.

I think a different approach should be taken. "June is 'be friendly' Folsom Month".
Maybe when people in this town can be friendly to their fellow citizens then they will learn to abide by the law. Can't abide by the law when they can't even grant common courtesies.

It may have caused a couple of glances at the speedometer but knowing there were no extra risks for those who exceedthe speed limit, there was no reason to slow down.

Folsom is not a very "guilt ridden" town. Coming to it from the Bay Area, but only having lived in the Bay Area for 2 years after I moved to CA from Connecticut, I have a very different perspective. Driving fast, being in front of everyone else, being rude, talking on the cell phone everywhere and causing real dangers seem to be looked upon as an "Entitlement" in this town. I have family members who won;t even touch a bike anymore because of how many of the Folsom Residents drive.

Until an enforcement agency gets involved, it isn't going to effect the speeds at which people drive. It's been done in CT, been highly publicized by the press and was enforced by extra speed traps and police presence. That had an awesome effect!!!

Border

Thanks for the kind words. We also have to thank Forumreader, who is my partner in this thing. She has worked tirelessly on it, and is responsible for many of the sign placings.

Forum member's Tony and Ahnold were intrumental in helping us understand the technical and legal ins and out of traffic in this town.

Finally, Mayor Miklos, who was good enough to make an official proclamation of Slow Down Folsom month at the city council meeting. He also helped us with code enforcement and city management.

Next year, we'll know what we're doing, and be better suited to make the program a success.

[bordercolliefan]

\We also have to thank Forumreader, who is my partner in this thing. She has worked tirelessly on it, and is responsible for many of the sign placings.

Forum member's Tony and Ahnold were intrumental in helping us understand the technical and legal ins and out of traffic in this town.

Finally, Mayor Miklos, who was good enough to make an official proclamation of Slow Down Folsom month at the city council meeting. He also helped us with code enforcement and city management.
\

Thanks, Forumreader. I knew you were involved but I didn't know you were a founding member of the effort, too. Thanks also Tony, Ahnold, and Mayor Miklos!

[ducky]

Folsomreader, Tony, & Ahnold, I didn't mean to leave you out. As with any type of grass-roots-type campaign I'm sure you are the 5 percent that ended up doing 95 percent of the work. Thanks for trying to make a difference.

[tony]

Glad to be a small part of the effort, but as I understand it, Steve and Forumreader did the lion's share of the work. I think they got off to a great start, and I will continue to support the cause in any way I can, especially since, as Folsomrider pointed out, any improvements in controlling speeding are complimentary to my primary focus, making Folsom more bike-friendly city.

Steve and others have hit on the following points, but I will try and summarize and tie them together. There is a general consensus in the traffic calming world that there are three key elements to effective speed control (the three "Es"), engineering, enforcement and education.

As Steve mentioned, well-engineering residential streets discourage speeding by making it uncomfortable to speed. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Residential streets designed to freeway standards (12-ft lanes, and very wide total pavement widths) encourage speeding by making it comfortable (for the driver) to do so. Unfortunately, at cross-purposes to the desire to slow traffic through street design is the need for fast emergency response times. Some of us are of the opinion that the balance in Folsom is way too far towards emergency response time, without consideration for the daily side effects.

Having lived in 7 different states scattered across the US, I agree completely with Folsomrider of the effects of serious enforcement. California, in general, and Folsom in particular, are places where people generally have no fear of getting a speeding ticket unless they are going at least 15-220 mph over the limit. Contrast that to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland...where you could count on a state trooper behind any given bridge abutment or emergency crossover on the freeway. Without a credible fear of enforcement, most drivers will tend to speed, and the willfully reckless will do so with impunity. These latter folks are only affected by such enforcement.

Finally, we get to education. This is the only one of the three that private citizens can take on themselves (though they shouldn't have to, and the city has promised to help in the future). Kudos to Steve et al for taking it on. The target for the "Slow Down Folsom" type of campaign is the conscientious driver who just isn't paying attention. Several responders here have noted that they were inclined to check their speed after reading a sign. That's the point. And if even a few of those who are speeding only because they aren't paying enough attention are reminded to slow down, they have a ripple affect by slowing down those in line behind them (e.g., it only takes one car driving the speed limit on Sibley to make a line of 6 to 10 cars drive the speed limit (assuming you don't have a complete jerk who will pass the entire line on a double yellow)). And, finally, as Steve mentioned, if you leave the signs up all year, they lose their effectiveness. That's not to say there aren't other things that can be done the rest of the year, but you have to start somewhere.

Go Steve, go (slowly)!

[Terry]

I'm hoping the campaign was successfull, although it may just be temporary. I applaud all of those who worked on this campaign.

Now the question is - who's going to take down all the signs? Was this aspect of the campaign (sign removal) arranged? I really don't want to see these "May is...." signs in mid-June or beyond.......

[Steve Heard]

I'm hoping the campaign was successfull, although it may just be temporary.  I applaud all of those who worked on this campaign.

Now the question is - who's going to take down all the signs?  Was this aspect of the campaign (sign removal) arranged?  I really don't want to see these "May is...." signs in mid-June or beyond.......

Terry

It's still May. Give us a break!

The signs on public dirt will be taken down by me, on June 1st. It is the responsibility of private property owners to take care of their own. One of the reasons they say 'May is..' was to prevent people from keeping them up year round.

[folsom500]

One of the  reasons they say 'May is..' was to prevent people from keeping them up year round.

What might be wrong with that ? I know a few people that put orange cones in the street anytime they are out in the front ...

By the way, Turnpike didnt have ANY SLOW DOWN signs ( and it is normally a pretty fast street) But MAY is the slowest I have seen the traffic in a LONG TIME---

Why you ask ??
Hey we have our own resident K9 Sheriff that just moved in and he has his Police Car at home all the time- Guess he works at night.... and parks the car on the street--

Good luck again next year- Maybe a taller sign- 4 ft at least-- ALso one month a year is really not going to get into the social fabric of the drivers- IMO - Needs to be a contiuous program that the City funds for you..

I think The Bumper Sticker Idea is a good one as well.


Cheers
F500

[forumreader]

In addition to reducing their effectiveness, having signs posted year-round would not be in compliance with the instructions and allowances given to us by the City's Code Enforcement Dept. As most of you know, Folsom has strict rules regarding signage. (Thankfully!) An exception was made for the "Slow Down Folsom" project, allowing us to post signs on public property during the month of May. As Steve mentioned, he and I will promptly remove all the signs which we have placed on public soil. (Or should I say rock?! Wow, have I bent quite a few metal sign posts!)

Don't worry, Terry. Unauthorized and stale signs around town are a big pet peeve of mine. I wouldn't dream of being an offender.

As for those of you who have been given signs for your front lawns, please don't throw them away. They are expensive, and most can be used again next May. If you do not wish to hold on to the signs, please contact me or Steve. We will pick them up from you. Thanks.

I echo Steve in thanking all of you who posted a sign, gave a little extra thought to speed and safety, or talked about it with family and friends. That is how a grassroots public awareness campaign gets going.

Thank you to the City of Folsom for your support.

While May was the month officially recognized by the City as "Slow Down Folsom" Month, our efforts do not stop come June 1st. Steve and I have much work ahead of us in gaining greater participation from businesses, schools and the general Folsom population. We appreciate the ideas you've given us here on the Forum. Many of those we also have thought about. Bumper stickers, window clingies, city trash can decals are ways to keep the message in the forefront year-round.

Not surprisingly, our biggest hurdle right now is a financial one. We had $0 in our bank account when we started, and still do. Had Steve not dug deep into his pockets to personally finance 100 signs (@ approx. $8.00 each), we would not have had a sign campaign. THANK YOU, STEVE!

With the experience of our first annual "Slow Down Folsom" Month under our belts, we hope to more effectively seek government funding and support from businesses and private citizens. If you or your business can help us with ideas, publicity or financial support, please contact us.

And one more time......Thank you to all who have already contributed!

[folsom500]

In addition to reducing their effectiveness, having signs posted year-round would not be in compliance with the instructions and allowances given to us by the City's Code Enforcement Dept.  As most of you know, Folsom has strict rules regarding signage.

I have never heard of this - please enlighten us to what these rules are and how they can be enforced without stepping on a first adendment rights....

Inquiring minds would like to know- --

Say I put a sign up on my lawn- for ANY reason- who and what law can stop that-- ???


Cheers
F500

[forumreader]

Pardon me, folsom500. I should have been more clear. I was refering to signs posted on public land.

So did you get one of our "Slow Down" signs? Am I hearing that you'd like to post it year-round?

[Steve Heard]

What might be wrong with that ?  I know a few people that put orange cones in the street anytime they are out in the front ...

By the way,  Turnpike didnt have ANY SLOW DOWN signs ( and it is normally a pretty fast street)  But MAY is the slowest I have seen the traffic in a LONG TIME---

Why you ask ??
Hey we have our own resident K9 Sheriff that just moved in and he has his Police Car at home all the time- Guess he works at night....  and parks the car on the street--

Good luck again next year- Maybe a taller sign- 4 ft at least--  ALso one month a year is really not going to get into the social fabric of the drivers- IMO - Needs to be a contiuous program that the City funds for you..

I think The Bumper Sticker Idea is a good one as well.
Cheers
F500

I understand that studies show people ignore the familiar. So, putting signs out year round would not be effective. The idea is to get many people involved at one time, putting up notice and positive peer pressure to encourage each other to slow down. We want them to notice the signs because they aren't there every day.

Who knows? Maybe 'slow down' might become our city's slogan? Maybe it should be about a lifestyle. Slowing down might be good for all of us.

[Steve Heard]

Check this out from the Sacbee:

Bob Walter: Slow Down Folsom traffic-calming campaign gets mixed reviews
By Bob Walter -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, May 29, 2005

Slow down: Unless you've been driving way too fast, you must have seen the signs all over town that declare May to be "Slow Down Folsom" month.
As May winds down, we have a split decision on the campaign.

According to city spokeswoman Sue Ryan, the Folsom police haven't noticed any great slowdown trend.

But according to Sue Ryan, private citizen, the campaign is working.

"In my neighborhood, Briggs Ranch, those signs are all over the place," she said. "Every time I see one, I slow down, and I think others are doing the same thing."

And Steve Heard of Bentley Mortgage, one of the organizers of the campaign, is pleased so far.

"I think it makes people more aware," he said, "which is the point."

Steve said he has had a great response and plans to make the May slowdown an annual event.

Seems to me that most of the city's main streets are so clogged that slowing down isn't really an option. What's slower than a crawl?

But in the neighborhoods - especially now that school is winding down - maybe every month should be Slow Down Folsom month. ...