A speed bump on 30A... As citizens strive to lower speed limit, bigger plans emerge | 30a, speed, change - Local News - WaltonSun.com
A SPEED BUMP ON 30A: As citizens strive to lower speed limit, bigger plans emerge
January 08, 2010 10:30 AM
By Matt Algarin
Will 45 be a thing of the past on 30A?
Friends of Scenic 30A and members of the public gathered on Jan. 4 to discuss lowering the speed limit on 30A to 35 mph for the entire 18.5 mile stretch. The change would let low-speed vehicles, like street-modified golf carts, share the roadway with cars.
Bill Freeze, Chairperson for the Friends, believes the change will have nothing but positive end results.
?These beaches have been voted as one of the 12 best places to see in 2010.? Freeze said. ?We have noticed that we need to educate the tourists and the residents about what we have here in paradise.?
Freeze added that LSVs have to be registered and licensed, which will provide additional income for the county.
About two dozen supportive residents and industry experts gathered to hear the proposals made by the group.
In order for an electric cart or LSV to share the roadway with cars, the speed limit can be no greater than 35 mph. There are currently four miles of roadway on 30A where the speed limit is 45 mph.
In addition to allowing LSVs to traverse the roadway, supporters say the change would help to alleviate some of the traffic by encouraging motorists who are in a hurry to use the feeder roads that run north and south to get to their destinations.
Graham Fountain, chief of special operations for the Sheriff?s Office, clarified that this only pertains to electric carts, not golf carts.
?Because it looks like a duck, talks like a duck and quacks like a duck, but it?s a goose,? Fountain said while describing that anyone who is caught driving a gas-powered cart on 30A would be ticketed.
?The sheriff?s office will be taking a neutral position on the topic,? Fountain said of the speed-limit change. ?We haven?t pulled traffic (data) to see how many crashes involved these types of vehicles.?
?We do have some concerns because 30A is a little atypical than the usual roads you may do this on,? Fountain added. ?When the building starts up again on 30A you are going to have a lot more dump trucks and mixers going up and down the road.?
Tim Paul, who is a former district five commissioner and developer of Topsail Village on 30A, said changing the speed limit should be the first step.
?I think the whole idea is to have a complete system,? Pauls said. ?You shouldn?t have to only be able to use your LSV on 30A. You should actually be able to make a useful trip with it.?
Tom Stein, the Director for the Friends of Scenic 30A, agreed.
Stein said he ?has always had a lifetime interest in public transit and was a cable car grip man in San Francisco for four years.
?With my background in public transit and in addition to living here for the past 30 years or so watching the traffic load increase here on 30A,? Stein said, ?it has led me to the conclusion that some kind of public transit needs to be established on 30A.?
Stein said that the time is imminent and that something has to happen now.
The Friends of Scenic 30A will be holding another public forum on the first Monday in February to discuss updates on traffic crashes and the price tag for redesigning 30A for a bike path and low speed vehicles.
SGBSGBBeach FanaticSouth Walton1,034 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
SGBBeach FanaticSouth Walton1,034 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic51,440 views
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scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertI think a much better idea would be to promote the use of smaller vehicles (like Smart cars or Mini Coopers) that have to meet crash requirements and that cannot be mistaken for a golf cart.
30-A is a heavily traveled traffic artery and the high amount of (clueless or fancy-free) visitors makes this idea a very bad one IMO.
Yes, you can take 98 if speed is your major concern to get to Destin or PC or 331, but there are not enough alternate routes or N/S connectors to lower the speed limit and encourage even slower moving vehicles w/o causing major issues for many businesses, residents, and visitors.
Semis, oversize loads of building equipment and materials, garbage trucks, delivery trucks (furniture, UPS, Fed-Ex, food, beverage, gas, landscape), dump trucks, firetrucks, ambulances, and other large vehicles HAVE to use 30-A and they do NOT need to be sharing the road with golf carts!
And don't get me started on the horrific probability that they will frequently be driven by kids w/o licenses and be full of unrestrained little kids (which we all know will happen).
I am all for promoting alternate forms of transportation and improving 30-A and other roads to make them safer, but we need to be very aware of the practicalities of these proposals and the fact that one of the things that makes this area special is that it is a full-time COMMUNITY, not just a collection of resorts.
I predict that as the Boomers age and the economy improves (and yes, when the airport opens) we will see more and more full time residents living in the area and we need to plan our infrastructure with that in mind.
30-A is a heavily traveled traffic artery and the high amount of (clueless or fancy-free) visitors makes this idea a very bad one IMO.
Yes, you can take 98 if speed is your major concern to get to Destin or PC or 331, but there are not enough alternate routes or N/S connectors to lower the speed limit and encourage even slower moving vehicles w/o causing major issues for many businesses, residents, and visitors.
Semis, oversize loads of building equipment and materials, garbage trucks, delivery trucks (furniture, UPS, Fed-Ex, food, beverage, gas, landscape), dump trucks, firetrucks, ambulances, and other large vehicles HAVE to use 30-A and they do NOT need to be sharing the road with golf carts!
And don't get me started on the horrific probability that they will frequently be driven by kids w/o licenses and be full of unrestrained little kids (which we all know will happen).
I am all for promoting alternate forms of transportation and improving 30-A and other roads to make them safer, but we need to be very aware of the practicalities of these proposals and the fact that one of the things that makes this area special is that it is a full-time COMMUNITY, not just a collection of resorts.
I predict that as the Boomers age and the economy improves (and yes, when the airport opens) we will see more and more full time residents living in the area and we need to plan our infrastructure with that in mind.
Andy AAndy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Andy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticIf the speed humps in Grayton Beach keep you out then they are doing their job. In other words, if you feel the need to drive faster than 20 in Grayton then I'm sure residents would prefer you stay away. Even with the speed humps people seem able to get up to about 50 mph between them.I am sure you are right about the 50 mph between them and, no I don't need to drive faster than 20 mph. I hate speed bumps anywhere as, as far as I concerned they not only insult my and other people's intelligence, they are hard on vehicles. IMO, they serve no useful purpose other than to make a few local residents feel they have done something to correct a situation that only applies to a minority of the driving public.
As the sign says, "slow down, you are here".
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminFor people who want to go slow on 30-A and not get exercise, another alternative would be nonmotorized bicycle taxis on the bike path. Could add local color to the area and provide jobs for area residents. (I'm only half kidding.)
I believe rickshaws have been mentioned a few times. They might require foreign operators though
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertI like the pedicabs like they have in Key West. Could be quite fun to have those going during season within some of the communities.
miznotebookmiznotebookBeach FanaticStone's throw from Inlet Bch974 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
miznotebookBeach FanaticStone's throw from Inlet Bch974 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticI believe rickshaws have been mentioned a few times. They might require foreign operators though:lol:
BluznbeachBluznbeachBeach Lover185 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
BluznbeachBeach Lover185 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverThis is insane in so many ways I hardly know where to start. :idontno: WHAT would the community gain by allowing electric carts on that road??!! Traffic jams, underage drivers, accidents, and a lot of frustration. It makes about as much sense as the infamous blue signs. :bang:
Matt JMatt JSWGB24,862 postsJoined View profileMessageSWGB
Matt JSWGB24,862 postsJoined View profileMessageSWGBRobertsondavies, do you own, work, or have any affiliation with a company that sells, rents, repairs, or conducts business with LSV's?
johojohoBeach Fanatic1,133 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
johoBeach Fanatic1,133 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticOne afternoon I witnessed a driver in a licensed electric cart have three cars pass it (on a solid Line) after picking up children from Van Butler Elementary. The area in which this happened was 35 mph.
It seemed a bit dangerous to me.
It seemed a bit dangerous to me.
TeresaTeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,970 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Guide
TeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,970 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal GuideI'm not sure what the best answer will be but I hope they find it in the end. whatever works - lower speed, speed bumps, and anything else it takes to keep everyone safe - do it. rules for mopeds and golf carts need to be established (on the road or on the path) and enforced.
lowering the speed on 30A won't hurt my feelings. there is absolutely no rush. but I am not sure I want to be driving on the same road with golf carts and mopeds.
tourists and others driving into Grayton have torn through the main street all the way to Red Bar - for years and years. stop signs, warning signs and speed bumps have helped a great deal. (the round traffic table put in several years ago - not sure what that was all about)... but we still see visitors fly through now and then - especially at night time. the residents of Grayton have taken every precaution to keep their children and everyone safe in their community,. I am thankful for that.
I think they made a mistake in paving the little adorable sandy roads in Grayton. the nice wide paving was just an invitation for fast driving cars!
lowering the speed on 30A won't hurt my feelings. there is absolutely no rush. but I am not sure I want to be driving on the same road with golf carts and mopeds.
tourists and others driving into Grayton have torn through the main street all the way to Red Bar - for years and years. stop signs, warning signs and speed bumps have helped a great deal. (the round traffic table put in several years ago - not sure what that was all about)... but we still see visitors fly through now and then - especially at night time. the residents of Grayton have taken every precaution to keep their children and everyone safe in their community,. I am thankful for that.
I think they made a mistake in paving the little adorable sandy roads in Grayton. the nice wide paving was just an invitation for fast driving cars!
Edited
gmarcgmarcBeach Fanatic506 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
My question is who passed the law to allow electric carts and mopeds on 30-a?much of the beauty of 30-a is it won't become another pamama city. this past summer there were many kids speeding wrecklessly around 30-a. THE AREA OF 45 MPH NEAR GRAYTON IS MOSTLY STATE PARK WITH FEW HOMES AROUND. if they change this it is souley to appease the electric carts and TO PROBABLY FURTHER EXPAND THERE USE. my question again is of the people in power pushing for this do they have a vested financial interest? Is somebody who's pushing for this reduced speed limit about to unleash 100's of these annoying vehicles on 30-a?
sunspotbabysunspotbabySoWal InsiderSanta Rosa Beach5,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
sunspotbabySoWal InsiderSanta Rosa Beach5,000 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderIs somebody who's pushing for this reduced speed limit about to unleash 100's of these annoying vehicles on 30-a?
good question. :scratch:
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertAll I know is that I have not been favorably impressed by the LVL's I have seen being used so far and REALLY don't want to see more of it~!
Yes, I could see them being great in a different place with different roads/geography/population etc. but not here.
I also think lowering the speed limit on 30A and filling it with slow moving traffic will funnel more people off the main road and onto residential side roads - where they are more likely to hit bicyclists, kids, pets, and other vehicles etc.
P.S. Add those damn rented mopeds being operated w/o helmets or a clue to that disgust list too. (People who own them and know how to ride them are welcome.)
Yes, I could see them being great in a different place with different roads/geography/population etc. but not here.
I also think lowering the speed limit on 30A and filling it with slow moving traffic will funnel more people off the main road and onto residential side roads - where they are more likely to hit bicyclists, kids, pets, and other vehicles etc.
P.S. Add those damn rented mopeds being operated w/o helmets or a clue to that disgust list too. (People who own them and know how to ride them are welcome.)
totallytotallyBeach Comber42 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
My question is who passed the law to allow electric carts and mopeds on 30-a?much of the beauty of 30-a is it won't become another pamama city. this past summer there were many kids speeding wrecklessly around 30-a. THE AREA OF 45 MPH NEAR GRAYTON IS MOSTLY STATE PARK WITH FEW HOMES AROUND. if they change this it is souley to appease the electric carts and TO PROBABLY FURTHER EXPAND THERE USE. my question again is of the people in power pushing for this do they have a vested financial interest? Is somebody who's pushing for this reduced speed limit about to unleash 100's of these annoying vehicles on 30-a?
State Statutes allows for LSV's to drive on roads that establish speed limits of 35mph or less.
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertDoes that mean they aren't currently allowed on 30-A because it has speed limits of more than 35?
I asked about that in another thread and was vehemently told they COULD drive them on it, but just in those areas that were 35 or lower (not that they go close to the speed limit or anything, which I think is a safety and traffic issue).
Either they aren't currently allowed (which would make my day) or they are - in which case why do they need to change the speed limits?
I asked about that in another thread and was vehemently told they COULD drive them on it, but just in those areas that were 35 or lower (not that they go close to the speed limit or anything, which I think is a safety and traffic issue).
Either they aren't currently allowed (which would make my day) or they are - in which case why do they need to change the speed limits?
Edited
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