Natalie Arroyo | On traffic-calming in our communities

Humboldt County has been abuzz lately with discussions about traffic calming and roadway changes designed for all modes of transportation. I don’t pretend to think I will change hearts and minds by writing about it, but if you’re curious and open-minded, I’m excited to share some thoughts and information. One of the top things people contact me about as an elected official is roadway safety. Most of these complaints are, at their core, about people driving too fast. People often advocate for what they think the right solution is to slow down traffic traffic control devices, speed humps, speed limit changes, increased enforcement but once I get the details, it just keeps coming back to vehicle speed. Humboldt County is No. 1 in the state for collision-related pedestrian fatalities at 6 fatalities per 100, 000. We are No. 3 for bicycle fatalities, and we have a very high number of driving under the influence fatalities. Vehicle speeds matter immensely. Research on the severity of injuries to pedestrians in collisions has shown that under 20 miles per hour, injuries are often not severe. Between 21 and 34 miles per hour, injuries steadily increase, and above 35 miles per hour, a pedestrian-vehicle collision is usually fatal. A common refrain I hear is that pedestrians or bicyclists were doing something wrong when they’re hit, and the data shows that about half the time, that’s true. My perspective is that, while pedestrians and bicyclists should certainly be careful and follow the rules of the road, all roadway users make mistakes and that does not mean that they deserve to die or be grievously injured. If we can offer basic protection especially for children, youth, seniors, and other people whose judgement or physical mobility may not be optimal then as a society, we should do it. The U. S. Department of Transportation says that traffic calming’s purpose is to “support livability and vitality of residential and commercial areas” through “self-enforcing or psycho-perception means.” In short, “traffic calming reduces automobile speeds or volumes, mainly through the use of physical measures, to improve the quality of life.” What are these physical measures and self-enforcing means? They are changes to the “built environment” which require or influence people to go slower and make their movements more deliberate. Drivers don’t need someone to tell them to slow down, the environment forces them to do it. That brings us to some of the most colorfully debated new features around our towns. Bulb-outs are the rounded curb extensions that create a place for pedestrians to stand so they are more visible to traffic while slowing drivers’ turns. A. B. 413, enacted on Jan. 1, 2025, requires that drivers slow to a safe speed when turning around a bulb-out, which may be lower than the posted speed limit (note: it is much, much lower). It also disallows parking within 15 feet of a bulb-out and requires 20 feet of distance in parking or stopping from a crosswalk, whether it’s marked or unmarked. That means any intersection! Narrower lanes are another traffic calming approach, and this touches on “psycho-perception” people feel uncomfortable driving fast when lanes are narrower, so they slow down a bit. You may notice this all over the country and certainly all around the state, and it’s not an accident, it’s a new norm. Meanwhile, reducing travel lanes, as we have seen on Eureka’s H and I Streets, means that fewer drivers pass dangerously, there is room for bike lanes, and very importantly, that there are fewer lanes of traffic to cross at intersections. I live in the neighborhood and see local high school and middle school students crossing these busy streets often. Seeing kids run at a sprint with their backpacks across 3 lanes of 40+ mph traffic used to scare the bejeezus out of me. Traffic has slowed and driver behavior has improved with the reduction to two lanes, radar speed signs, additional painting and striping, bright and visible crosswalks, and pedestrian-activated lights at key intersections. Lastly, we are seeing some innovative approaches like the unique C Street Bike Boulevard, which I bicycle on to go to work, errands, and appointments on a regular basis now. The fact that the design is inconvenient for cars while still providing access to residents and emergency vehicles has made it a dream for bicycling, walking, and lots of little kids learning to bike or skateboard in the neighborhood. There are plenty more design changes that I didn’t describe or point out here. While these take some getting used to, the safety data is sobering for Humboldt County. What a joy it would be to reach our “vision zero” for Humboldt of no collision fatalities! Natalie Arroyo is a Humboldt County supervisor representing District 4 (Eureka, Myrtletown, Samoa, and Fairhaven). at Email her at narroyo@co. humboldt. ca. us.
https://www.times-standard.com/2025/11/21/natalie-arroyo-on-traffic-calming-in-our-communities/