Must we go so slow?

January 31st, 2008 4:02 pm · 12 comments

So I have occasion on occasion to drive Schoolhouse Road in Lancaster Township, a nice little shortcut if you’re headed from Columbia Avenue over to Millersville Pike. But one on which it would be pretty easy to be stopped for speeding.

Which is to say that the speed limit on this road is 25 mph, and I can’t quite figure out why.

Sure, it’s winding - but there are other roads in Lancaster County even more winding where the speed limit is at least 35 mph. At one time there might have been a significant number of kids living in the homes along the road, but that doesn’t appear to be the case now - I’ve never seen any kids walking along the road or playing alongside it.

So why must we go so slow?

I’ve been thinking about this in the context of Lancaster County’s traffic problems. Traffic in Lancaster County is famously bad and getting worse, a fact which helps generate opposition to proposed new developments like High’s planned “Crossings” shopping center along Harrisburg Pike. Traffic is already bad on that road, we say; why are we making it worse?

And the truth is that traffic is bad on most of Lancaster’s major arteries. However bad Harrisburg Pike is - traveled Lititz Pike lately? Or Centerville Road?

The road network in this community is inadequate to handle the traffic we have; that’s one of the great indictment of Lancaster County, I think, the fact that as we’ve grown our traffic network has not.

Now there’s not a whole lot you can do without lots of money - the likes of which High is attempting to get to upgrade the Route 30/Harrisburg Pike intersection. You can maybe widen the roads a bit, add a turning lane where feasible, as planners want to do on Harrisburg Pike closer to F&M. But barring construction of new roads like the proposed new Route 23, which we in this community continually shout down, there’s little that can be done.

Upping the speed limit on some existing roads, however, is an option. Or could be.

Schoolhouse Road isn’t alone. North President Avenue, between Marietta Avenue and Harrisburg Pike, is also just 25 mph; at one time, too, there might have been a lot of kids living along that road. That does not appear to be the case now; so why maintain the speed limit at a mere 25 mph? Why not up it to 35 mph, permitting traffic to flow a little faster?

The people who live along these roads, of course, are likeely to oppose any attempt to increase speed limits. That’s understandable and may be justifiable. But where our options for improving traffic flow are limited, as in the long-ago-developed section of Lancaster County - why shouldn’t this, also, be considered, especially given that it might be the least costly option.

Those who would oppose it will say yes, but it might be costly in other ways. Maybe. But where it feels natural to travel 35 mph, perhaps it is natural; and perhaps this, in some small way, can help ease some of the gridlock that seems destined, otherwise, to only get worse.

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12 comments Tags: Traffic · Lancaster

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Lancaster
2/1/08
1:01 AM

QUOTE(Lancaster Online @ Jan 31 2008, 04:05 PM) [snapback]353117[/snapback]

Post your thoughts and comments about this blog post.

Hey Gil, when on Schoolhouse Road, feel free to stop in and visit our church sometime!

LancCity
2/1/08
5:34 AM

To be honest, I had thought much of this road was 35 except for when you are going in and out of the more congested areas. With that said, keeping the speed limit low may not be a bad thing. It may help keep cars on Columbia Ave and Harrisburg Pike and keep them from taking shortcuts through residential neighborhoods. I don't live in this neighborhood, I am right in the city, but this area would lose it's quiet appeal if traffic increased.

I am glad someone brought up traffic though. I have lived many places and I must say that this area has quite a few drivers who appear to have never passed their drivers test. For example:

-When there is a red light, that means stop. Don't floor it and see if you can make it without hitting someone. If you are in the intersection and making a turn when it turns red, I get that you are finishing your turn to get out of the way, but that doesn't mean that the 10 cars behind you also get to make the turn on red.

-Actually in the city (intersection of Hbg Pike & College Ave) red lights seem, to be completely optional.

-When a spot is marked "No Parking" it doesn't mean that it is reserved for you to park in while you get your coffee. There is a reason it is no parking.....most likely so that other traffic can see through an intersection and such.

-The spot in front of the fire hydrant is not reserved for your lazy butt. Find a legal spot and walk.

-Does the Lancaster City police department only ticket when the meter maids are on duty? It seems like after 5 and all weekend is just a free for all.

-I know it's not legal, but if you are in the city, in the middle of the block, and are stopped in the street using your flashers and people can get around you safely, I can understand stopping to unload your car. (I know this is a little hypocritical of me). However, do not park there for hours on end. Unload and get moving.

-What is the deal with "coasting" into a red light? There is nothing more annoying than getting stuck in traffic because someone has decided that they don't like their brakes and will coast to the light. Ever think of all the people and lights behind you that you just messed up? Many lights are timed to get a certain number of cars through in a certain period of time.

-Those lines down the middle of the road? They are there for a reason, try to stay in your lane! I realize that shaving, flossing your teeth, and putting on makeup may seem like a good idea to you, but pay attention to the road. (Drive on Manheim Pike in the morning, you never know what you will see).

-If you are on your cell phone, pull over. I absolutely love getting behind you and driving 25 mph under the speed limit so that you can catch up with friends. And then there is texting. You know that big piece of glass on the front of the car? That's called a winshield. If you are driving, you should be looking through it, not down to the floor so you can text message. Everyone got along without cell phones for a long time, I think you can wait 5 minutes to catch up with your friends. And if it is an important business call, pull over! There is almost always a parking lot or berm nearby. Since you are already only going 10 mph, a complete stop won't delay your trip much.

-Do not "shop" while driving. This ranks up there as one of my favorites. I just absolutely love (a little sarcasm) getting stuck behind someone on a Saturday while they are going to yard sales. Instead of stopping and getting out of their car, they will slow to about 5 mph and "shop" as they drive by.

Well I have so many more, but I will stop my rant here and head off to work. It's going to be icy this morning so I want to get up Manheim Pike before any of the dumb*** do! Have a good one and everyone be safe out there today.

twinmom
2/1/08
7:55 AM

^^^

Thanks for the chuckle this morning! ITA, a lot of drivers here are questionable, at best. My personal pet peeves are the lack of turn signals (they are there for a reason) and the "wave". A little courtesy never hurt anyone and by not waving when I let you out (I guess they are too busy talking on the cell phone) only makes me want to rear-end you and the next light.

CeeKay
2/1/08
8:52 AM

And don't forget "yielding". Since when does that mean that the drivers already on the highway have to move out of someone's way or slow down so that the car coming off the ramp doesn't have to? I have no problem with moving to the passing lane when it's safe so that others can merge. But when faced with cars on my left, it's a little difficult. Don't know how many times I've had to yield and slow down because the oncoming driver just kept going.

LancCity
2/1/08
9:16 AM

I completely agree with the turn signals. And have to add hazards.......when you are in stopped traffic on the highway or traffic is going extremely slow on the highway, turn on your hazards! It tells the people behind you that something is going on.

Since I moved to this area a few years back, I have come to terms with the fact that many don't understand "Yield". We have two extremes. One is to plow through and try to force people over. I agree with the earlier post, I will always move over if I can. But if I can't, you barreling down at me won't change much. The other extreme is people actually stop for no reason at the sign. I understand that there are times when you have to stop at a yield sign due to traffic, but plan ahead before you get there and if no one is there, proceed carefully through the intersection, don't stop!

But the real reason for this post is headlights. Do people not understand that headlights not only help you see the road but they also help other drivers see you. On my way to work this morning, it was just getting light. It was raining pretty good and it is really "gray" out today. Here comes this brilliant person down Manheim Pike with no lights on.

And then of course we have the people who drive with the yellow parking lights on. Now let's think about this. They are called parking lights for a reason, if they were driving lights, that's what we would call them. I am not sure if some of these people think they look cool by using these without the headlights, but I've got news for them, you don't. So spin the light dial a little more and just turn on your headlights.

rottiemom
2/1/08
9:24 AM

Let's talk about the drivers on any of our "highways" who like to sit in the left lane going 10 miles BELOW the speed limit. Happens to me every day as I commute to Harrisburg. Ma'am, Sir - if you're going 45 MPH, you belong in the right lane. Actually, we all do. Keep the left lane open so I can pass your slow self.

If y'all think traffic is bad here, you've never driven in San Diego or Brooklyn, or D.C. Traffic here really isn't that bad...it's just those idiots in the left lane that kill me. And I'm a woman, so I hate to even say this, but most of the time, it's a darned woman gabbing on her cell phone. Way to perpetuate the stereotype.

Main St
2/1/08
11:25 AM

Getting back to the main theme..........the Hourglass Foundation presented a good forum last evening on traffic--it's not the speed traveled and the number of lanes that make a difference in congestion. It's the number of connecting points between major arteries (our 'pikes'). So all those developments, whether commercial or residential, that have just one access point are the culprits causing our woes.

Mansfield
2/1/08
12:03 PM

Good thing we don't make public policy or traffic engineering decisions based on one person's (Mr Smart, in this case) observations.

There are entire movements afoot intended on getting Americans more active, and making cities more livable, by REDUCING traffic speeds (in Europe, it is known as "Tempo 30" for 30 km/hr, roughly 20 mph).

The first time I was ever on Schoolhouse Lane was my first group bike ride with the Lancaster Bicycle Club, too many years ago. There are people biking, walking, scootering, wheelchairing, or at least trying to, in your neighborhoods, on your retail streets.

And Main Street above hit the nail on the head.

So, slow down, put your headlights on, and try to ENJOY the drive thru beautiful Lancaster City and County, whenever possible.

Bigmaclender2
2/1/08
12:08 PM

QUOTE(Mansfield @ Feb 1 2008, 01:03 PM) [snapback]353434[/snapback]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Amen

gsmart
2/1/08
12:41 PM

QUOTE(Mansfield @ Feb 1 2008, 01:03 PM) [snapback]353434[/snapback]

One of the arguments against the installation of the traffic "island" on Harrisburg Avenue in the area of Franklin & Marshall College was that this would slow traffic even more; that it would contribute to even more congestion along the corridor. And that is obviously true, and that is obviously the intention of F&M. But in this area, there's a sound rationale for it; there is a significant amount of foot traffic, a significant number of pedestrians, and therefore, slowing traffic is a sound strategy in terms of their safety.

Yet do we say, now, that traffic should be slowed, artificially so when necessary, on roads where that is not the case?

If requiring traffic to go slower than it otherwise might on Harrisburg Ave. contributes to gridlock, so too does an artificially low speed limit on roads like Schoolhouse Road - where there is nowhere near the amount of pedestrian or bicycle traffic.

It's nice to think, Hey, we all ought to just slow down. But if we're all just going to slow down, traffic is then going to move slower; gridlock is going to be a result. if that must be addressed - by limiting development - shouldn't it also be addressed in other ways, as well?

LancCity
2/1/08
12:56 PM

I need to ask......has anyone really noticed that the island on Hbg Pike has caused more congestion? I drive it every morning and every evening and have noticed no change in congestion. What I have noticed is that it stopped the people who believe the center turning lane is a regular travel lane. There is still one lane in each direction and the turning sections are never backed up into the straightways. Personally, I think it makes it look a lot better and breaks up all the pavement. I only wish they could teach the students what a cross walk is.

Mansfield
2/1/08
4:35 PM

QUOTE(gsmart @ Feb 1 2008, 12:41 PM) [snapback]353460[/snapback]

Again, any congestion in the area is a function of the signalized intersection capacity, NOT speed on the streets esp Hbg Pike @ F& M. If vehicles are going fast enough that a median would slow them down, then they ARE going too fast. Higher speeds also require, in theory, greater FOLLOWING distances, thus reducing any thru-put gains from higher speeds.

Trust me, I could write on here for hours about theories of traffic flows, and emerging concepts of city planning that ARE working and creating thriving places. Maybe you can't drive your Denali at 45 mph anymore, but now you can ride your bike with your kids in a trailer safely and enjoyably.

The key is matching land uses, densities, transportation and urban design. Mix land uses, at high enough densities and good urban design (streetscapes) and you get walkable cities like Lancaster, where children can walk to the corner store and get a half gallon of OJ ( Charlie Hales' OJ TEST for urban livability).

The new, emerging Paradigm is Accessibility, access for PEOPLE to places and activites we desire, not mobility, the movement of vehicles.

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Must we go so slow?

January 31st, 2008 4:02 pm · 12 comments

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