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(48 posts)

Drivers on 35th... a warning.

Started 2 years ago by velo_nut
Latest reply from anonyme

velo_nut
Member Profile

So... you folks that like to use 35th ave sw as a highway. Yeah.. you people that like to drive 50+ on my neighborhood road.

Prepare to get an egg or two on your car.

Just preparing you. I've had enough.

Posted 2 years ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

He he. I'm with you in spirit. :-D

Posted 2 years ago #
olderwomenforobama
Member Profile

I agree totally ... I live on 35th and people drive so fast, it's unreal ... There are never any cops around to give tickets and it's dangerous ... God forbid you have to make a turn, either right or left ... If it's left, you just pray the guy behind you who has been driving in your trunk, doesn't smash into the back of you ... If you turn left, same deal ... What will it take to get people to slow down there? ....

Posted 2 years ago #
guidosmom
Member Profile

I live on 34th and often have to turn left at a light onto 35th. I can't tell you how many times drivers speed through the light long after it's been red. It's ridiculous. I want to have a fake person to throw at then so they really have a moment of panic and think they hit someone. Maybe then they'd slow down.

Posted 2 years ago #
flowerpetal
Member Profile

And then perhaps they would panic and veer into your car, or someone else who is innocently driving by.
I get the frustration, I too travel 35th daily. But the level of anger and fantasy retaliation to me is disturbing too.

Posted 2 years ago #
WSB
Member Profile

Come to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council's next meeting and talk about it - the traffic unit works out of downtown but they certainly come out to West Seattle for spot enforcement. Also depending on where you are along 35th, work with your local neighborhood association. (If you don't know who that is, I can probably tell you, since we cover 99% of them.) High Point activists have worked on issues regarding that stretch of road, for example.

But I do want to note after getting a question about this thread - what is proposed in #1 is illegal and could wind up killing someone if you throw anything at a moving vehicle. (Even if the vehicle is not moving, it's vandalism.) Discussing your frustration with the speeding situation is fine but not taking illegal action. Thanks.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lucian
Member Profile

Guidosmom is right on.
The light at 35th and Raymond is particularly bad.

So many cars on 35th speed through the red light that you nearly have to count to 3 after the light goes green.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

<NOTE> I'm not REALLY going to throw eggs at cars. I would rather eat them (eggs, not cars). It makes for a great fantasy though.

C'mon people.

I would really like to see them shift to one lane of traffic each way with a turn lane. It would bring the speed down AND create safer turning.

Posted 2 years ago #
guidosmom
Member Profile

I don't want them to veer out of the road in panic hitting another car... Just something very drastic to slow people down. I've almost been hit way too many times, but luckily am now an extremely cautious driver, especially along 35th.

Posted 2 years ago #
cakeitseasy
Member Profile

What works? Getting a speeding ticket. I know several people who have, and that's slowed me down too. That and the digital signs. Still, when the police let up, the speeding continues. It should be more like California Ave, rather than a highway. It's so tempting and easy to speed on 35th because there are few lights, crosswalks and barriers.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

i like the digital signs..
it's too easy to find yourself speeding if you are keeping pace with 35th traffic.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

My favorite part is when I slow down, blinker on, just to turn into MY OWN DRIVEWAY.... and I get the honk.

Honk? Really?

sheesh people. you can't REALLY be in that big of a hurry.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

I might add that throwing eggs at someone damages the paint job and if caught you would be facing some times.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
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Luckymom30... read the entire thread before you post.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
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I live on the stretch of 35th south of Roxbury where the speed is reduced to 30 mph. What a joke - average speeds are in excess of 40 mph with many at 50 and above. Occasionally the cops will sit at the school zone near Arbor Heights Elementary, but there is never enforcement at any other time. Some of us have lobbied SPD and SDOT for better controls, to no avail. Stan Lock, our neighborhood association 'leader' has been utterly worthless. When we complain to him about a lack of response from appropriate agencies, his answer is only a dismissive "keep trying, good luck". Hey, thanks a lot!

Posted 2 years ago #
swimcat
Member Profile

When I head to work in the morning I get stuck at every damn light on 35th- it's impossible to go over 35 MPH. I'm usually stuck behind people going 30 MPH. You can easily drive 35-40 on this road safely. I too get irritated by the ones that ride my rearend, trying to go 50 MPH. Those speeds are completely unnecessary unless you are bleeding to death and trying to get to the hospital or need to get to a toilet ASAP. There is a happy medium, unfortunately there are too many people at the extremes!

Posted 2 years ago #
WSB
Member Profile

Anonyme, Stan is not a "neighborhood association leader," he is a city Department of Neighborhoods employee whose job is to coordinate city services information for the entire Southwest District (basically the western half of the peninsula).

But ultimately that means coordinating information, not directly fixing the problem. We see him at many neighborhood association meetings but his role is more of a liaison - ultimately in everything we've seen on both halves of the peninsula (the city splits it arbitrarily into two districts), the neighbors are the ones who make things happen. Have you followed up with Stan directly? And as with any city employee (or other entities for that matter), if you have a problem with them, I'm sure their supervisors would be happy to speak with you as well. DON info starts online at
http://seattle.gov/neighborhoods

Also, that area in particular seems potentially to be part of the area covered by the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition, which meets tonight, 6 pm, Wiley Center at Greenbridge, as mentioned on the home page this morning - if you or a rep from your neighborhood can be there, police reps from both SPD and KCSO are always there, and there's always time for open discussion of problems/concerns. If you're close to 35th it might be a little far north BUT the same agencies handle the area so it would be worth bringing up - the same speeding drivers affect Roxbury all the way to the freeway, I'm sure.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

I threw an imaginary egg 8 times this morning.

Posted 2 years ago #
AdamOnAlki
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I think I am going to make eggs tonight.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

Now THAT'S funny.

Posted 2 years ago #
dufus
Member Profile

Maybe you all could stage a speeding protest (no violence like egg throwing at passing cars--but you could have an egg toss perhaps as symbolic gesture to the fantasy) You all could get signs, like strike signs, and parade naked. That ought to slow people down.

Posted 2 years ago #
jschu
Member Profile

White car dude here. How dare you sir, threaten me with an egg. You are a cad! Prepare to defend yourself. 30 paces with a wet teabag.

Posted 2 years ago #
wilson
Member Profile

UHHHH.....you chose to buy (or rent?) on a main arterial..clearly because the price of the home or the rent was appealing (cause, again...you're on an ARTERIAL)...and now you're pissed about the amount of traffic, noise and speed??? LMAO
OK....I can't go to forums anymore....there should be a law against??????

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

Yes... buy. and yes I bought a house on a main arterial, NOT a highway.

speed limit is 35, Wilson, not 60.

Posted 2 years ago #
austin
Member Profile

"..there should be a law against?????? "
Speeding. And there is, the problem here is that people like 'wilson' don't realize it.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

dufus...

a nude protest this time of year?

i guess shriveled blue bodies would stop traffic... they wouldn't even have to throw eggs..

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

I wonder what Wilson would have to say if the vehicles on his (presumably)non-arterial street were traveling at 20-40 miles over the speed limit, consistently? Wilson seems to be suggesting that anyone who can't afford to buy a house in some posh cul-de-sac should expect to put up with criminal activity. This assertion is absurd and elitist. I bought a house on this street not because the price was "appealing" but because it was what I could afford. The issue is not one of arterial vs. non-arterial, but of adherence to laws that apply to EVERYONE. BTW folks, the speed limit on all non-arterial side streets is 25mph.

Dufus, I like your protest idea. However, I think I'll forego the nudity bit. The idea is to educate, not frighten.

Posted 2 years ago #
flowerpetal
Member Profile

I like the protest idea too; far better than egg tossing or dummy throwing. I am appreciative of the peace protesters in the Junction. I believe that kind of activity could work on 35th SW and ultimately could save lives.

Posted 2 years ago #
bsun
Member Profile

They should put speed cameras on 35th in about 5 different locations along with 4 speed cameras on Admril going to the West seattle bridge.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

Waiting for Wilson's response.... Obviously not gonna happen.

Posted 2 years ago #
bsun
Member Profile

They also need to put 5 to 6 cameras going East and 5 to 6 cameras going West on the West Seattle Freeway.

Posted 2 years ago #
bluebird
Member Profile

Big asses need to interject ignorance as part of a diet regime. Jumping from thread to thread with nothing more to offer but LMAO!

Is it not enough that at least three people have been killed on this street in the past year or two? Type "accidents on 35th ave SW" into the search results on this page and look at all the returns? Arterial is irrelevant. It's a residential neighborhood with a 35mph speed limit.

Posted 2 years ago #
CrazyDogLady
Member Profile

How about a few strategically placed speed humps? Is 35 MPH too fast for that?

How about you enlist all the folks along 35th to make giant signs (you supply the boards to make it easy, or have a big painting party) reminding people of the speed limit. I have a friend on 35th; I'd be happy to make a sign to put in front of his house.

Years ago when I lived in Ohio there was a stretch of Rt. 32 that locals dubbed "Highway to Heaven" because of all the accidents and deaths caused -- it was a road that was not very improved but used by students to get between Cincinnati and Miami University. They made an enormous sign that said "Entering Highway to Heaven. Reduce Speed. Fasten Seat Belt. Pray." And then they erected markers on every spot where a fatal accident had occured -- it was pretty freaky and sobering, and eventually ODOT took notice and did something about the road.

Not saying you need to be THAT drastic but it would help get peoples' attention. I've been tailgated on 35 too.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

The speed limit on the stretch of 35th south of Roxbury is actually 30mph. We applied for a permanent radar speed sign and have been told we might get one next year. I'll believe it when I see it. Even so, radar is not the same as a camera; it can only inform, not enforce. I was told by SDOT that the death rate was not yet high enough to warrant changes. They did a speed study a few years ago indicating that the average speed is more than 10mph over the limit. For the average to be this high, the majority of vehicles must be traveling far in excess of that. SDOT has also told me that they will not install speed bumps on arterials. Am I dreaming or did I see speed bumps on Beach Drive? Must have been Wilson's house...

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

anonyme...

the saddest part of this all...

"the death rate was not yet high enough to warrant changes"

not the accident rate..
the death rate.

When you reduce people to statistics too many have to die to create change.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

JoB, to be fair and accurate, the quote itself may not have been "death rate." However, the conversation was regarding the number of accidents vs. fatalities and I was told that the fatality rate was not very high. Quite a few pedestrians have been struck by speeding cars on this stretch and managed to survive...so they don't count? My interpretation.

Posted 2 years ago #
2krazy4words
Member Profile

the "Highway to Heaven" may be the only thing that gets noticed. Officer Cooke is no longer around (and was only around after 10am when there was far less traffic and it was less critical).

The speed-o-meters are nice for those of us that are actually trying to watch our speed, yet the majority are speeding by too quickly to notice.

I live on 35th and now also drive a school bus, so I'm driving 35th all the time. I can not believe how many people blow past the STOP paddle on the bus when we try to pick up and drop off kids. If the state/county wants to end the budget deficit they should find a way to put cameras on the STOP paddle and mail tickets to every car that ignores them too ...

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

A warning to all of those folks who like to speed on 35th.

Turns out one of our new neighbors past Thistle is a Seattle police officer...

Please note the new cruiser in the parking space.

Break the law at your own risk, d-bags.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

velonut...we used to have a police officer who lived down on our stretch of 35th, south of Roxbury. He got so frustrated with the speeding that he moved. What does that tell you?

Swimcat...it is not up to you to determine a "happy medium" when it comes to speed. Just because you decide that 35-40 is safe does not mean you can drive that fast if the speed limit does not allow it. The speed is 30 mph south of Roxbury, so if you're behind cars going that speed (which would be rare) it's because they are obeying the law. Too many people share the attitude that the speed limit is whatever they personally deem as safe or convenient, whether it be 30 or 60.

Speeding brings with it issues other than safety. The noise level rises exponentially with an increase in speed. Forty is considerably louder than 30. While some folks clearly believe that those of us who "choose" to live on an arterial have no rights, I would suggest that we have the same right to peaceful enjoyment of our homes as any other taxpayer. Heavy traffic at 30 mph may not be enjoyable, but it is tolerable.

WSB/TR...I and several other neighbors have frequently contacted Stan Lock and never received an iota of information, support, or action of any kind - regardless of his title. We gave up including him in any of our petitions. We have not yet attended a White Center safety meeting, but have been told by other neighbors who have that the police have been dismissive of their concerns. They were told to start a block watch. Actually, I got exactly the same response from the Mayor's office,so I know for a fact that this is the 'fix' being offered by officials, ridiculous as it sounds.

I appreciate the info and suggestions, but we've pretty much tried it all at this point. I just want to make it clear that we are not just whiners who have taken no action on our own. We have been extremely pro-active in trying to deal with this issue (and others) but bureaucratic stonewalling has arrested our every attempt.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

i personally wouldn't mind seeing a couple of speed traps on 35th.. to remind those who see it as a mini-freeway that there is a speed limit there.

bet that idea will go over big ;-)

traveling 40 or 45 in a 35 looks pretty safe until you realize that children, dogs and the elderly all live on that road... and none of them have the reflexes or resources to get out of your way fast enough if you aren't paying attention...

not to mention the driver who has attached themselves to your tailpipe and is unlikely to see either your tail lights or what made you suddenly stop.

Too many possibilities for your own personal tragedy..
and too little time saved by speeding to justify the risk.

Posted 2 years ago #
josie2006
Member Profile

Seems like the speed traps in other places have worked--like the Highland Park hill for example. I travel that way frequently and average speed during the morning commute is definitely less than it used to be before the random morning police sting ops started. Not perfect, but better.

Posted 2 years ago #
MargL
Member Profile

I -have- seen the occasional speed trap on NB 35th near Brandon St. and Camp Long. I've seen motorcycle cops sitting on the corner of a cross-street and parked on the sidewalk with radar guns pointed at traffic. Apparently, from the number of complaints, speed traps and the 'hey you're going really fast' flashing speed-check signs do not work as well as people would like.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

MargL..

too many reminders
and not enough consequences...

Posted 2 years ago #
MargL
Member Profile

I've always liked the idea of some sort of car-mounted paint ball or nerf-dart system. Basically if you see someone who is driving like an idiot - you 'tag' them. If you get enough 'tags' on your car the next cop you see pulls you over and cites you for driving like an idiot. Power to the people!
This could be rigged up as part of the speed check signs, too.

Posted 2 years ago #
guidosmom
Member Profile

MargL - I like that idea. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

MargL..

LOL

i'm in

could we tag pedestrians who break the law too?

Posted 2 years ago #
Trisket
Member Profile

I once lived on Thistle Street. It was too busy and the cars drove very fast. I didn't like it so I moved. Good street for free stuff though.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

MargL, love your 'tag' idea.

We'd welcome a speed trap, but so far our requests have gone unheeded. The cop who formerly lived on 35th used to squirt speeding cars with a hose. Story goes, it ticked off a few speeders who jumped out of their cars to confront him, but decided to back off when they saw the 'companion' in his shoulder holster.

CrazyDogLady, your sign idea is interesting. Maybe we could get a lot of people along the corridor to put them out as sandwich boards on the planting strips. BTW folks, the correct term is 'planting strip' not 'parking strip' although that is how these areas are commonly(and illegally)used on 35th.

Posted 2 years ago #