Bangor speed ramps .....

BigAl94

Chanlon 1 - do you know if the residents of Robinson Road etc welcome the speed ramps or if not, are they doing anything about objecting?

BigAl94

Thought those following the thread might be interested in this response to a further query to Roads service.

Thank you for your email dated 24 June 2005 regarding the traffic calming measures provided in the Silverbirch area, Bangor.

Firstly, I should point out that while Roads Service is committed to play its part in achieving the targets set by The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy through the implementation of road safety engineering measures i.e.
the provision of traffic calming measures in residential areas, we currently do not provide these measures in any area where we have not been specifically asked to do so by residents.

As part of any traffic calming scheme Roads Service carries out annual assessments over a three year period to ascertain the effectiveness of the measures provided. The assessments take into account a number of before and after statistics such as collisions and the speed and volume of vehicles travelling in the area. However, due to number of comments and concerns made about this scheme an immediate and detailed review of the measures provided was carried out. The review of the existing measures looked to address the main concerns expressed to Roads Service rather than the necessity to traffic calm as we are already committed to providing traffic calming in the area.

The result of this review is as follows:-

· Approximately 1/3 reduction in the number of features

· Speed cushion type road humps on Bexley, Silverbirch, Robinson and
Kilmaine, replaced with either 9m or 11m elongated road humps

· The removal of cycle lane delineation kerbs and posts

The new proposals require further legislation and community consultation.
The first step in the consultation process was by way of a leaflet that was delivered to all properties on the traffic calmed route on 20 May 2005.

I have attached a copy of the leaflets for your information.

You have also raised concerns with the regards to noise and pollution levels. Extensive research has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory into many of the concerns expressed with traffic calming measures. Results of this independent research shows that:-

· noise levels when crossing humps generally increases as speed
increases but still tended to be less than noise on a level surface due to vehicle speeds. Maximum noise levels would not be expected to increase due to the installation of traffic calming measures.

· while mean emission rates increased following the introduction of
traffic calming measures the increase was such that it was unlikely to result in poor local air quality.

I trust you will find this information helpful.


Yours sincerely


Girvin Miskimmin
Traffic Management 3

IvanOpinion

Thanks. Interesting responses ..

BigAl94 wrote:

... we currently do not provide these measures in any area where we have not been specifically asked to do so by residents.

Who did they ask? I live in the area and was not asked nor was anybody that I know off ... in fact I know there has been a petition going round to get these abominations removed.

However, due to number of comments and concerns made about this scheme an immediate and detailed review of the measures provided was carried out.

As above, maybe if they had have asked the people in the first place this would not have been required.

The result of this review is as follows:-
· Approximately 1/3 reduction in the number of features
· Speed cushion type road humps on Bexley, Silverbirch, Robinson and
Kilmaine, replaced with either 9m or 11m elongated road humps
· The removal of cycle lane delineation kerbs and posts

Well that was ratepayers mney well spent then!

The new proposals require further legislation and community consultation. The first step in the consultation process was by way of a leaflet that was delivered to all properties on the traffic calmed route on 20 May 2005.

'On the traffic calmed route'? what about those people that live just off it and can not go anywhere without having to go over umpteen speed ramps. We did not get any such leaflet!

Results of this independent research shows that:-
· noise levels when crossing humps generally increases as speed
increases but still tended to be less than noise on a level surface due to vehicle speeds. Maximum noise levels would not be expected to increase due to the installation of traffic calming measures.
· while mean emission rates increased following the introduction of
traffic calming measures the increase was such that it was unlikely to result in poor local air quality.

Obviously he does not walk in the area - the smell of pollution in the area was very noticeably increased.


Well it will be interesting to see how much more rate payers money they can waste on stupid unwanted schemes such as this ... maybe Albany is safe ... for a while.

Ivan

cruesfan

I saw an interesting incident this evening on Silverbirch. The young guy in front gave way to oncoming traffic at each speed hump so as he had a clear space to pass the humps in the middle of the road. Definitely an accident waiting to happen at these humps!!

jnd

I don't blame him. I slow down myself to allow oncoming traffic to clear so i can go up the middle. Someone walking along gave me a dirty look the other day when I drove down the middle of the 3 on Silverbirch. Don't know what his problem was. The speed limit is still 30mph (which is what I was doing) and there were no other cars on the road.

cruesfan

Ok - point taken and accepted. I also slow down and use the middle of the road when it appears safe to do so. But this guy tonight actually stopped completely just before the humps causing me and 3 other cars behind to stop also. All I am trying to highlight is the fact that these humps appear to encourage bad driving practice, which could potentially lead to more accidents. Surely this defeats their purpose??

jnd

I completely agree cruesfan. I only use the middle if it's safe to do so. I certainly wouldn't hold cars up behind me to do it. Did you blow your horn at him?

cruesfan

No, I didn't blow my horn jnd - my wife and 20 month old son were in the car with me and I'm pleased to say I was quite restrained!! Said a few swear words under my breath though!! This highlights another problem with the speed humps - road rage :mad:

IvanOpinion

cruesfan wrote:

I saw an interesting incident this evening on Silverbirch. The young guy in front gave way to oncoming traffic at each speed hump so as he had a clear space to pass the humps in the middle of the road. Definitely an accident waiting to happen at these humps!!

If the person was driving an MGF it might have been me .. although it has been many years since I have been referred to as a 'young guy'.

The problem is that my MG 'bottoms-out' on a couple of the ramps therefore to avoid damage I will wait until I can go between the ramps. It is not all the ramps but I am not going to risk damage by figuring out which ones are OK. However I agree with you, it is probably an accident waiting to happen ... I could do with a new rear bumper someone scored it at Tesco's a few weeks ago

Ivan

BigAl94

IvanOpinion wrote:

... I could do with a new rear bumper someone scored it at Tesco's a few weeks ago

Ivan

Sorry to hear thant Ivan - in the past two weeks my car has two scratches on a door and my wife's new car has a dent in a door all received in Bloomfield's carpark. In future I will be another of the ones who parks in the middle of two spaces!