Map of proposed speed humps along Garden Home Road

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In May, 2011, the City of Portland marked twenty locations along Garden Home Road where they are planning to install speed humps or speed tables (both are essentially wide "speed bumps"). The marking of the road was premature. Normally that's done after a public review process, and just prior to construction. The error gives us a preview of where the speed humps would be installed, if the city proceeds with the project. Total cost is budgeted at $42,000.

I bicycled the length of Garden Home Road, from Multnomah Village to Garden Home, and mapped the locations which were painted on the road. Each blue tack on the map above corresponds to a marking on the pavement where a speed hump will be installed, if the project receives public endorsement.

I put up an informal survey on this web page Monday evening, and closed it Friday afternoon. It was announced on the Ashcreek mailing list, and spread beyond that list by word of mouth. 67 people responded. The results are posted below, and a summary will be posted to the mailing list. If you missed the survey while it was open, comments are enabled on this page (free registration required to post). – M. Kisor

Survey results…

Executive summary:

• 84% oppose speed humps on GHR, whereas 10% support it
• 68% support speed reader boards, whereas 13% don’t
• 72% expressed concern that speed humps would cause problems for emergency response vehicles, 8% are unconcerned
• 57% are concerned speed humps will adversely affect property values, whereas 19% aren’t
• 75% of GHR bicyclists are concerned speed humps may be a safety hazard for them
• 67% of respondents left a comment

Although not mentioned in the survey, there were a couple of recurring themes in the comments:

1. Improvements are needed at the intersection of GHR, Multnomah Blvd., & 69th Avenue
2. Sidewalks/pedestrian path/bicycle lane along Garden Home Road are needed

Comprehensive results:

Comments…

____________________________
“I live on Garden Home Rd. and I do not want them to install speed humps. It is very uncomfortable for me to go over speed bumps repeatedly. I purposely avoid roads that have speed bumps/humps. This will cause trips from my home to be a problem for me and I will not be happy with the road I live on anymore. I probably would not have chosen a home with multiple speed bumps in order to leave my house. This is not a good idea, nor a good way to spend $42,000. Please don’t do it. Thank you.”

____________________________
“I would much much much rather see the funding go toward a light at GHR and Multnomah Blvd. Someday there is going to be a horrific accident there and it can be avoided with a light.”

____________________________
“Save the money and actually deal with the situation where Garden Home and Multnomah Blvd meet. This is much more concerning to me.”

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“Speed bumps are not only a nuisance they are ineffective. Kids are only challenged by them to see how fast they can take them. I’m no kid but sometimes I do too, just for fun. They cause a serious increase in noise and pollution. Accelerating after the bump and braking before, increases noise and air pollution significantly. Ground vibration is significantly increased from heavier vehicles. If you live on or near GHR just imagine recycling day as Waste Management trucks brake and then speed up before and after bumps. Those trucks are seriously noise polluting as they are! Now, that is something the city could spend some of this effort and time and money fixing. Quiet down the trash haulers! Give up the bumps, give the cops something to do.”

____________________________
“This is a not helpful plan.”

____________________________
“Half of the number would be better. Reduce cost and result is same. People in a hurry will avoid GHR.”

____________________________
“I’m not sure how other methods of speed control would work. For instance, would photo radar be used 24 hours a day? Do studies show that increased patrol cars significantly reduce speeders and for how long? I’m sure the experts would know much more than me....or most of the citizens around here regarding the details of traffic control options. I’ll go with the experts opinions.
I also think that speed limits need to be posted more frequently on GHR.”

____________________________
“This is an absolutely insane plan that will CAUSE accidents and car damage, lower property values, and cause major danger when driving in icy and snowy conditions on what is already a curvy, shaded icy road in winter with water draining across it in places in the winter. Install a speed reader board on Garden Home and add a SIGNAL or TRAFFIC CIRCLE at the intersection of Garden Home and Multnomah ... that’s where the REAL DANGER lies ... not all along Garden Home. Ridiculous beyond words.”

____________________________
“20 speed bumps on GHR is the worst traffic idea in the area - and there is a lot of competition for that award (GHR entrance to Mult Blvd at Capital, removel of right hand turn lanes onto Mult from 40th and 45th, lack of any extra control at the intersection that most needs it, GHR and Mult, etc).”

____________________________
“Please, please, please put the money towards the biggest hazard--- the intersection of GHR and Multnomah Blvd. --- and a signal. I am well aware that it is much more expensive, but it is the place where help is needed most.
However, if something must be done on GHR itself, I think that the speed reader signs are very effective to slow the inadvertent speeders. The ones who are intent on doing it intentionally will do it anyway, regardless of humps or bumps. Those will only likely cause such a driver to more likely lose control because of the humps...
Another thought for me is that the natural topography --- rises and dips, and curves --- naturally regulate the higher speeds---- especially east of 59th.”

____________________________
“Speed humps penalize all drivers, not just the speeders. Especially when one ends up following other drivers who are so concerned about damaging their cars that they slow to 10 mph under the posted speed limit for each and every hump!”

____________________________
“Actually, now that you’ve asked, I do feel quite endangered when proceeding south to exit 54th Ave to turn either E. or W. Cars are going way too fast heading W. on GHR, by the time I have checked both ways to make a turn onto GHR, sometimes a car is right up on me, whereas, if they were going slower, or nearer to the speed limit, it would probably be less of an issue. I was thinking one of the speed reader boards would help. It always makes me slow down when heading W. on Multnomah Blvd. To me, 7 humps one direction and 9 humps the other, seems a little extreme. We are actually trapped smack in the middle without alternative routes to avoid the excessive amount of humps. The road is 30 mph and that would make the whole road 25 mph. AGAIN, MY VOTE IS FOR SPEED READER BOARDS, or fewer humps, Caps for emphasis, not yelling. I was also thinking about signs that alerted the driver to cars entering the GHR roadway just around some of the corners, like just before 54th ave heading W.”

____________________________
“I think a traffic light at the intersection of Garden Home and Multnomah Blvd would be a better use of tax dollars.”

____________________________
“What a silly waste of taxpayer money. My wife and I will have to traverse five speed humps daily over a relatively short stretch of Garden Home Road to take two children to school. This stretch does not have a speeding problem. The unsafe portion is the intersection with Multnomah. Crossing that during rush hour is to risk your life. Use the money for a traffic light!”

____________________________
“This should not be a priority item. Put in some stop signs and address the issue of a traffic light at SW Garden Home and Multnomah before someone gets killed there.”

____________________________
“A better use of $42,000 would be to put in a traffic light at Garden Home and Multnomah where one parking lot and 2 side roads + Garden Home + Multnomah all intersect. There is one at Multnomah and 45th where 5 streets meet at that intersection.”

____________________________
“I have provided comment to Roger Averbeck via e-mail on May 31. Thanks for the opportunity to provide comment and express my opinion.”

____________________________
“I think speed bumps are a very bad idea along GHR. Most streets that have speed bumps seem to have just a few. GHR will require 20! I think people will tend to take back streets instead of driving on GHR.
The issue of collateral shaking has not been adequately discussed. I have heard neighbors complain about the shaking when large trucks and buses pass their homes. It seems to me that speed bumps would make this even worse.”

____________________________
“I would much rather that the money be spent on a light at the intersection of GHR and Multnomah Boulevard.”

____________________________
“GHR is treacherous when we have wet, icy or snowy conditions. Placing speed bumps on it while only increase the danger during adverse driving conditions.”

____________________________
“I really hate to see speed bumps put in on GHR. I’ve lived in this area for 30 years and do not see the need for it. I think the speed radar signs are much more effective”

____________________________
“Use the less expensive speed reader boards and take care of the real issue on GHR which of course is installing a traffic light at the intersection of GHR and Multnomah. That’s where the real problem lies. Its time Portland officials started to make the changes that will truly help and not create more problems for the people who pay their salaries. I have lived in Ashcreek for 23 years and with this new speed bump proposal I’m thinking its time to move, and move out of Multnomah County.”

____________________________
“I’d love to bicycle GHR but it isn’t safe due to lack of bike lanes, or even decent pedestrian pathways. I absolutely don’t think speed bumps are an answer to any of the problems along GHR. I know when I speed, all it takes is a speed reader board to remind me to slow down.”

____________________________
“Although the high speeds on Garden Home Rd. is a huge concern, I am more concerned about the intersection of Garden Home, Multnomah and one other small street where the Old Market Pub is. That intersection is scary when there is heavy traffic and bike riders in the bike lanes. We really need some help there.
Speed bumps on Garden Home make me afraid that it might drive cause even more cars down my street, Lancelot Ln., on their way out of the neighborhood via Knightsbridge up to Orchid near Smith School.”

____________________________
“Don’t ride bike on GHR because it’s too narrow and because of the speed of the most cars. Couldn’t answer question: “How would bumps affect me?” since there was no choice option for “no major affect.” Bumps are not my favorite and can be annoying, but it’s not major and they DO slow traffic. They’re everywhere & seem to work.”

____________________________
“Spped bumps would be a hugh anoyance for everyone !!! I would rather see you enstall a light at GHR and Multnomah to control access to each of these roads.”

____________________________
“DON’T INSTALL THE SPEED BUMPS!!! Spend the money towards a signal at GHR & Multnomah. Install Speed Reader Radar Boards or occasionally post patrol cars on GHR to penalize the speeders and not the rest of us.”

____________________________
“There are so many better uses for the money than speed humps”

____________________________
“I live along Garden Home Road and do not want speed bump. When we had the speed reader board and that worked great. It made motorist stop and realize how fast they where going.”

____________________________
“I live on GHR. I bicycle and drive and take the bus and walk my dog here. There are occasional speeders, yes, but do we need speed humps on GHR? No, we do not. I believe city dollars could be spent in a much more constructive manner. Perhaps finish paving Multnomah Blvd first...”

____________________________
“I frequently bicycle GHR. If the speed bumps go clear to the edge of the road this would be a problem.
I have come close to having an accident several times over the last 25 years at the intersection of GHR and Multnomah Blvd. This is the most hazardous intersection that I go through. Having recently come back from Spain where traffic circles are common when there are 5 roads entering and exiting a circle, it seems such a logical way to go. If not feasible, as least a traffic light is badly needed at this intersection!”

____________________________
“Please no more speed bumps. Smaller and/or older cars are affected much more than the SUV’s and buses that they are designed for. Most speed bumps require us to slow down to 10-15 MPH to prevent launching us into the air verses SUV’s that don’t even notice the bumps!”

____________________________
“Speed bumps seem like an inexpensive way to help protect our neighborhood.”

____________________________
“Our kids deserve SiDEWALkS!!! Forget the speed bumps - people will just speed over them. But sidewalks would increase our property values and make safety on GHR a priority.”

____________________________
“Excessive vehicular speed on GHR is a problem. Speed bumps may be effective in reducing speed, but at a high cost of inconvenience. A variety of other measures should be employed, including public education, speed reader boards, signage and speed limitation at marked pedestrian crossing points (near bus stops, for instance), patrol, photo radar and ticketing, etc. (and, perhaps, a smaller number of humps). Improving pedestrian features would also make GHR safer overall. “

____________________________
“With two small kids, we are DEFINITELY in favor of effective speed control on GHR (the reader boards don’t seem to help much). However, 20 plus seems excessive. GHR is a widely used road and it seems like 20 speed bumps would feel like an irritating roller coaster ride...even to the point of causing people to detour through neighborhood streets, which wouldn’t be ideal. Perhaps there is a happy medium? Fewer bumps? More tickets as a deterrent with photo radar/police? In any case, something needs to change. We would love to walk or bike along GHR but never do because it feels so dangerous and there has been at least one serious crash per year on our corner since we have lived here.”

____________________________
“A ridiculous waste of public money in a time when we’re laying off teachers and enlarging class sizes. I’ve lived off of Garden Home Road for 14 years and see this as a solution looking for a problem that’s minor at best. Generally, people don’t speed on GHR.”

____________________________
“Transit service will be impacted, emergency service slowed, bicycle use will become non-existant and better solutions exist - roundabout or signal at Multnomah/Garden Home would be a better focus - discussed since the 1980s and NEVER improved. Humps on curves and hills is not appropriate - particularly in the winter. This is not the proper solution - reader board with periodic photo enforcement would be fine and would not impact bike use or transit. Improved walking space would also be a better investment. Humps are are permanent wound to the neighborhood.”

____________________________
“The question about how the speed humps affect me is skewed. There is no opportunity for me to respond that I might feel safer as a pedestrian along GHR, allowing me to make safer walking trips to the Village and to Thriftway with my dog and my children. I think that speed humps are a great idea. Bumps, no. Humps, sure. If they are done well, buses and other large vehicles won’t have a terrible. time. Also, I like the traffic calming measures that Corbett Ave did recently. Lane dividers, plantings, etc. Pedestrian safety is a much bigger concern for me than people concerned they’ll get a headache if they drive over 6 humps in one direction. I think it will return slow traffic and a neighborhood feel to a street that has become a fast connector for many people.”

____________________________
“It does not make sense to me to impose the speed humps on everyone when only a few actually speed. I would rather see a traffic light be install a the dangerous intersection of Garden Home Road and Multnomah Blvd.”

____________________________
“Speed bumps on GHR is a terrible idea for the reasons listed above. In addition, much of the recent speeding traffic is a result of the construction on Multnomah Blvd. diverting traffic to GHR. Once construction is done on MB the traffic on GHR will decrease. Unfortunately, the construction on MB has taken much longer than anticipated - - in part due to having to rip up the road again becasue the city contractor placed the sewer line to close to the clean water line.”

____________________________
“I am supportive of a traffic signal at Garden Home and Multnomah but haven’t heard that mentioned lately.”

____________________________
“I have many concerns about speed bumps on this road. I often see (and hear) fire engines on this road. Speed bumps will slow them down considerably. The noise level and vibration will definitely increase, both by large and small vehicles. During snow and ice events, GHR will be basically impassable (ever try to get over a snowy speed bump?) and plowing effectiveness by the city will be greatly diminished. Speed bumps will push traffic off of GHR and around the smaller streets in the neighborhood in order to avoid the bumps. No one like them.
Once installed, they will never go away, no matter how many complaints there are. There are so many other methods for dealing with the speed issue that it surprises me the city is pushing ahead so fast with this. I am sure a high percentage of the speeders are local residents. An Officer patrolling or occasional visits by a photo rader van would be something local residents would encounter and then be more attentive to their speed.
Thank you for this survey!”

____________________________
“I travel Garden Home Rd at least twice a day sometimes 4-5. With the curves and buses and other slow traffic i think most people travel close to the speed limit. I don’t think the ones that do speed will just speed between the humps. this will just put MUCH more traffic on Multnomah Blvd
BAD IDEA”

____________________________
“I’ve lived near streets with speed bumps. The increase in noise is at least double, not to mention they are very annoying if you have to deal with them on a daily basis. If these are installed, I will probably use Taylors Ferry to enter/exit the neighborhood, rather than deal with the bumps on Garden Home Rd. I suspect I will not be the only one. This will just greatly increase the traffic through the neighborhoods that aren’t used to seeing this much traffic. Sadly, this includes myself! I prefer to leave the street as it is with no speed bumps.”