I’ve heard that motorists ignoring residential neighborhood speed limits is a stubborn and persistent problem in Menlo Park, a view confirmed by one MP officer I met after experiencing a close call on a bicycle. As he answered, he shook his head wearily and looked off into the distance. It seems hopeless, judging by his response.
While it’s very dangerous out there, for their part motorists tend to stay in their lanes. They just drive too fast. In fact, one guy I cautioned to slow down pulled up to his house where we continued our exchange. He acknowledged that he was speeding, but excused himself by virtue of his having noticed my presence. “But I saw you!” he said several times, as if that was exculpatory.
Such excuses seem to come with living on Creek Drive, where this happened and where the posted speed limit is 15 mph. The other day, another resident roared up to his driveway and pulled in, passing me on the way.
I rode back to remind him of the 15 mph limit. He loudly denied it, saying the limit was 25.
Perhaps that’s because that’s the default and the two speed limit signs are old and posted where they’re unlikely to be seen, at the very ends. (Calling this passage a drive seems a misnomer to me; a 15 mph limit implies an alley, according to the vehicle code. On the rare occasions of two-way traffic on this road, usually one vehicle stops to let the other go by.)
When I informed him of the posted limit, he replied, “I live here!” as ii that was exculpatory. When I replied that I did, too, he countered, “I’ve lived here 30 years! How long have you lived here?!?” as if length of residency was exculpatory. I said 25 years.
At this point, apparently out of retorts, he pointed away from his residency and said, “Get out of here!” Our exchange went on for another few seconds until he went inside.
As you may know, Allied Arts has no sidewalks. Creek Drive is narrow, winding and popular with pedestrians, including children, along with dogs and cyclists. An old man who cannot raise his head regularly walks Creek Drive. A family with young children routinely extends its recreation area into the street. People walk it at night and before dawn without reflective gear.
This is an alley alongside a wooded creek, regardless of its official name. It is a recreational thoroughfare, a destination in and of itself.
Two old speed limit signs are not appropriate here. At the very least, these signs need to be replaced so as to draw new attention. But lots of traffic enters via the intersections with Yale Road, with Princeton Road, with University Drive, and with Cornell Road, none of which are posted. Modest signs that drivers could not ignore at these intersections would do wonders, I’m thinking.
Dave Boyce
Cambridge Ave.
