Another Crash on Sycamore Speedway
— by Mike Bowermaster — 3 July 2009 — 10 comments below »
I greatly dislike news outlets that focus on “if it bleeds, it leads” style stories. Unfortunately last night on Sycamore Speedway (Sycamore Avenue west of San Pablo) we got ourselves exactly that. A group of kids packed in a VW New Beetle followed by a Honda Civic (which was not involved in the wreck) destroyed a portion of Promenade bridge. The sober driver of the VW was traveling so fast he lost control, crashed into the bridge, spun, and hit the bridge a second time. A fire engine and five or so squad cars responded, and fortunately no one was badly hurt. One could also take the stance that the car’s airbags prevented Darwinism from weeding out knucklehead drivers, such as this one, from the gene pool.
Crash on Sycamore Speedway (at Taraya), 11:30pm Thursday night (deployed airbags saved car's occupants).
Your tax dollars will end up fixing the bridge (note circling skid marks on sidewalk).
Traveling too fast the car spun, hit the bridge twice, ruined all the wheels, causing it to limp away totaled.
This is the fourth accident on Sycamore Speedway in the last 2 years that was the direct result of driving faster than is safe for conditions. While walking to the 4th of July parade exactly one year ago, we came across a bad accident site at Sycamore and North Front Street (current construction pit for Sycamore Downtown). A late model dark Maxima had driven over a street sign and then plowed THROUGH the double-lamp street light. The car was traveling so fast it sheered the massive street light off it’s foundation, and plowed well into the empty lot of Sycamore Downtown throwing weeds, car parts, and street light pieces everywhere. Skid marks were painted on Sycamore over a planter curb, over the sidewalk, and continued mowing through the grass lot.
In addition to this, the fledgling young street trees along Sycamore Speedway have been crashed into several times. As recent as last November another car driving too fast wrecked and took out some trees near the City maintenance yard. More frightening, last night’s crash happened right next to the very popular children’s Frog Pad Park. Speed bumps, speed humps, rumble strips, stop-signs, Bayside-style raised “plateau” intersections, or some physical speed limiters need to be implemented by the City. We’ve had enough wrecks on Sycamore Speedway, it’s time to directly and deliberately slow traffic down. The annoyance physical limiters may have on emergency vehicles is a small price to pay to make our neighborhoods safe from reckless speeding drivers, like the spinning yellow Beetle from last night.
Here’s our City Manager’s response:
From: Nelson Oliva
Cc: Joe Eddy McDonald; Kris Valstad; Ed Balico; Donald Kuehne; Joanne Ward; Fred Deltorchio; Erwin Blancaflor; Lisa Hammon
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 10:11:40 AM
Dear Mike;
Thank you for your e-mail; What type of respond would be appropriate in a case where not being responsible and excess speed for the road conditions has been identified by the police as the potential reason for the accident? I concur with you that perhaps installation of “speed deterrents” may help the situation, I will ask the city engineer to review the possibility of installing some of these safeguards. However, there have been instances when these devices have proven to be a detriment and have enhanced accident probability to unfamiliar drivers with the altered road conditions caused by these measures. Also, the impact on emergency vehicle response has to be evaluated when installing these devices.
The Bayside neighborhood has had some success with these devices, although I would ask you to visit the locations (primary intersections) where these devices have been installed and see the evidence of tire marks (circles/donuts) from drivers who also demonstrate a lack of respect for the road conditions and the community as a whole.
I think we can all reference drivers who disregard posted speed limits and the conditions adjacent to the road (parks, residential uses, children, and pedestrians in general); some of these offenders live within the neighborhoods and should be more aware of the activities within their community.
The Police Department will find a way to increase their diligence in enforcing posted speed limits and issue citations as a reminder of safety to drivers who disregard the law. This matter will be referred to the Traffic Safety Sub-Committee for consideration. I would encourage you to attend said meeting. I will have staff notify you with specific meeting information. Again thank you for your e e-mail and have a safe holiday.
Nelson Oliva
City Manager
From: Mike Bowermaster
Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 10:59 AM
To: Nelson Oliva
Cc: Joe Eddy McDonald; Kris Valstad; Ed Balico; Donald Kuehne; Joanne Ward; Fred Deltorchio; Erwin Blancaflor; Lisa Hammon
Thanks Nelson,
What my neighbors and I would like to know, is how many more accidents on Sycamore Avenue will it take before actual speed deterrents are employed. If these physical deterrents are placed at a small enough interval between each one, the car looking to speed would never have a chance to get moving fast. Personally I think the Bayside raised intersections are rather effective (and are an esthetically handsome solution). The cars doing “donuts” in these intersections is indeed bad, but seems to be an unrelated issue. A great speed deterrent is where the Tsushima bridge hits the Bayside neighborhood. The sharp angle at this intersection forces cars to slow way down to avoid bottoming out. Trying to only increase police presence would seem ineffective, like looking for a needle in a haystack, with the small traffic volumes late at night.
Appreciate your feedback,
Mike
From: Nelson Oliva
To: Mike Bowermaster
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 10:59:10 AM
Thank you for your insight. I am confident we can come a best case resolution to these challenges. I will keep you informed as to what we are working on to deal with the situation. Have a great 4th and maybe we will see you over the weekend
What a terrible acciedent! Even my 3 year old son noticed “there’s headlights down there” as we looked down into the ravine this morning!
Speaking of speed deterrents, how about a stoplight along the Sycamore speedway at Willet and Sycamore?
Since Duck Pond Park will be built in the future with a potential parking lot across from Frog Pad Park, this seems like a reasonable place to implement a stop light, even if it is temporarily flashing yellow. This would cause everyone to slow down, especially on the Promenade bridge.
Thanks for letting us know what happened Mike.
I agree! I think it is time for some stop signs along this long stretch of Sycamore, and quite frankly I am surprised they have not gone up yet. Emergency vehicles can go through them when necessary, and residents or police have an easier time to site someone going through a stop sign than speeding. They should start with a 3 way stop at the intersection by Frog Park!
I think the city should put a stop sign on Sycamore and Taraya, just after the bridge.
I think at the very least a three-way stop or even a light at Frog Pad Park, followed by a four-way stop at the end of the bridge with bumps either there or at Sycamore and Earnest. However, bumps can also create a hazard as I found out when researching them for another HOA. Speeders ignore them, can hit them and careen out of control into whatever is there, houses, landscaping, fences, etc,. so speed bumps need to be carefully placed, motorists need signs alerting them to their presence, and they can’t be too high.
Sue
After reading notes, concerns and questions about what type of speed deterrent might be best, perhaps the approach now being used in downtown Pinole area, with police presence on and off, a sign posting how many citations have been given out, and electronic sign indicating your speed limit will help in short term? Seems towing one of those devices to this area would be a quick fix for now….
MIKE: Our Police Chief gave an apathetic (criminals will be criminals) response typical of all the officers I’ve spoken to regarding the issue of speeders on Sycamore:
From: Fred Deltorchio [Chief Of Police, Hercules P.D.]
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 2:32:06 PM
Nelson,
Thanks for forwarding this. Most accident like this are caused, as you note, by drivers who disregard the law and their own safety. They are as old as chariots and not confined to the “Sycamore Speedway.” There may be a physical improvement which can help but I don’t know what it is…
Fred
MIKE: But more importantly this issues falls under and should be addressed by the jurisdiction of our city engineers:
From: Erwin Blancaflor [Public Works Director/ Assoc. City Engineer]
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2009 7:49:24 AM
My staff will evaluate multiple alternatives to make sure that this issue is correctly addressed.
Erwin
Editor Jeff,
Thank you kindly Jeff for all you do for us. I don’t know much about you, but I appreciate your initiative and perspective. Your stewardship drives a direly needed, invaluable resource and forum outlet for all Waterfront Villagers. By not restricting to fire and safety concerns, you’ve chosen to weave the rather sturdier ‘broadcloth’ fabric reflecting our growth and development as a real neighborhood. I myself am a displaced teacher and counselor.
On behalf of Steve and myself, you have provoked us to dig in and become more grounded by taking greater action in individual ownership and responsibility. The leadership principle is working here. Your ’sparkplug’ social activism challenges us to step-up and become pro-active members of this fledgling all-American New Urbanism social concept, our Hercules Waterfront Village.
With last weeks Sycamore Speedway bridge destruction, I ponder, are we turning on our axis, elevating public perception that we are part of a grand social experiment and not the default expectation, vehicle versus human? I’ve steered clear of the faceless car-centric suburbs most of my life. Last week I saw a real estate site that featured a button URL showing Hercules scoring of a low 35 on a national scale of 100 for ‘walkability’ attributes. I love my vintage bikes, but I’m upgrading to a new Higgins (Penny’s?) 26″ sidewalk cruiser. I hope to pace with Miss MazieLee, our 135# Harlequin Great Dane ‘pound dog.’