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Lowering the speed limit on 30A?

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SGBBeach Fanatic
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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.

Replies

285
Beach Runner avatar
Beach Runnerbeats on hood
#102
There's no need to lower the speed limit for Tatas. They go 68 mph. Scooty introduced us to them in http://www.sowal.com/bb/weather/23180-climate-change-poll.html#post407449 .

Tata Motors is an Indian company. The Today Show had a spot on the Tata Nano a few minutes ago. It sells for $2500 in India, but if the auto comes to the U.S. market, it is guessed that the price will go up to $4500 due to being modified for U.S. safety and emissions standards.

I am thinking, "Who would ever name a company Tata Motors?" Ah, the jokes!

Edited

Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#103
I'll say this as succinctly as I can. Lowering the speed limit to 35 mph is a BAD IDEA!
carterson2Beach Crab
#104
Please put your 30mph road 30a speedlimit

Hi all S Walton Golfcarters.

Please put your 30mph road 30a speedlimit on this site for all to see.

Welcome to the Wikispeedia, the open speed limit database. We are gathering the GPS-coordinates of every speed-limit sign on earth. You don't need any GPS or cellphone to help, just 2 minutes of your time. Its open source so you can contribute. Peopl

(sorry to barge in, its relevant)

jim pruett
scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#105
Thanks BR! I had forgotten about those. 30-A would be a perfect location to introduce those!

125 mile range and top speed of 68 mph.
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#106
Thanks BR! I had forgotten about those. 30-A would be a perfect location to introduce those!

125 mile range and top speed of 68 mph.

Not to mention the fun of decorating your tata(s) for various parades. 😀
scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#107
I want one for the name alone! 😀 Shame that the Da Bug's Tatas is too long for a vanity plate!
kitlit avatar
kitlitBeach Fanatic
#108
Exactly. So what many of you would like to see, is a Walton County rollback of the LSVability on the 17 miles or so that LSV's are allowed on currently,, not just being against making the last 4 miles uniform.

Uhm. No.

See, the way I'm reading this, is that LSVs should be ticketed as they are not legally allowed on roadways that have posted speeds of 45 MPH or more. Since 30A is, in fact, just one road, I don't think that they should be allowed to traverse the roadway at all.

I think that, rather than lowering speed limits to accomodate them, we ought to start enforcing the law and keeping the LSVs in the resort communities where they belong--to help you get from your rental house to the golf course to the clubhouse, WITHIN the community. As many have pointed out, although you don't seem inclined to listen to anyone but yourself, 30A is not one large resort community but a large community containing many resorts (i.e., Rosemary, Seaside, Watercolor, etc.)

It has nothing whatsoever to do with hindering progress, or not being "green" and has everything to do with public safety and convenience. :wave:
poppyBanned
#109
Would you do that to a cyclist too? I know you're joking kinda, but i mean come on. We're talking about a 1.2 Mile stretch of 45 MPH pavement. It was suggested I move to Sandestin for lowering the speed limit on that stretch LOL:clap:

If you know I'm joking why ask a stupid question? I've read this whole thread and you're the only one who seems to have a chip on his shoulder over this subject. I hope someone gives you a great big hug soon :wub: it will make you feel better.
John R avatar
John Rneeds to get out more
#111
What is an LSV??????

Golf cart driven on road by someone who's primary residence is not in FL.
Minnie avatar
MinnieBeach Fanatic
#112
What is an LSV??????

Low Speed Vehicle.
30A Skunkape avatar
30A SkunkapeSkunky
#113
Coming to a highway near you soon...
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#114
I had no idea that Ignatius exists for real!
robertsondaviesBeach Fanatic
#115
If you know I'm joking why ask a stupid question? I've read this whole thread and you're the only one who seems to have a chip on his shoulder over this subject. I hope someone gives you a great big hug soon :wub: it will make you feel better.

So that's what you call being in the minority on a subject, in this online community. A chip on shoulder? What minority was it that passed the LSV statute in the first place? That out of state minority? That panhandle, GOP, god fearing, coal loving crowd? please.
poppyBanned
#116
So that's what you call being in the minority on a subject, in this online community. A chip on shoulder? What minority was it that passed the LSV statute in the first place? That out of state minority? That panhandle, GOP, god fearing, coal loving crowd? please.

I wasn't trying to insult you, it's just your posts read as if you are taking the opposing view personally. I could be wrong.:wave:
robertsondaviesBeach Fanatic
#117
Uhm. No.

See, the way I'm reading this, is that LSVs should be ticketed as they are not legally allowed on roadways that have posted speeds of 45 MPH or more. Since 30A is, in fact, just one road, I don't think that they should be allowed to traverse the roadway at all.

I think that, rather than lowering speed limits to accomodate them, we ought to start enforcing the law and keeping the LSVs in the resort communities where they belong--to help you get from your rental house to the golf course to the clubhouse, WITHIN the community. As many have pointed out, although you don't seem inclined to listen to anyone but yourself, 30A is not one large resort community but a large community containing many resorts (i.e., Rosemary, Seaside, Watercolor, etc.)

It has nothing whatsoever to do with hindering progress, or not being "green" and has everything to do with public safety and convenience. :wave:

ummm, ok, that's cool you think that. maybe you should change the law to fit your view on ridding 30A of LSV's.

As I've said before, Walton County could really make a name for itself by getting out in front (or behind as it were) on this LSV issue in Florida. I'd love to see the headlines. Perhaps the county could also consider passing an ordinance, which makes putting up solar or wind energy devices ineligible for tax credits from state statutes, while they're at it... and then perhaps 4 lane, or put a raised freeway through 30A, since folks are so convinced it is not one cohesive area. SoWal, should simultaneously announce it is splitting into 6 divisions going forward. 5 to represent each individual community in "SoWal" and 1 to represent the 1.2 mile (or 4 miles) stretch of pavement where people just "gun it" to 45MPH.

YEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWW
robertsondaviesBeach Fanatic
#118
I wasn't trying to insult you, it's just your posts read as if you are taking the opposing view personally. I could be wrong.:wave:


well, I'll give you this. I am getting a bit more intrigued, and impassioned by the rareness of my side of this debate... and for this community in particular. I take the planet personally.

My loneliness in opinion on this thread, stands in contrast to the fact that an LSV statute passed at all in Florida. I'm hearing all the exception to the rule arguments here too.... similar to what you hear anti-environmentalists or flat earthers, or non climate change folks pointing out. Which ride has a bigger carbon footprint I ask you? and I get legitimate rationalizations only, pointing out how legitimate LSV's "might" be more pollutant for jaunts on 30A, than a Nissan Armada.
robertsondaviesBeach Fanatic
#119
Let's have dueling mock press releases. I'll release mine later when I get time. the ANTI LSV one could be quite funny, too, focusing on non conforming (too slow) SUV's driven by sun burned, judgement impaired, gawking vacations who think ALL of 30A (or SoWal) is some kind of damn resort area, which clearly the oasis stretches of 45MPH pavement indicate SoWal is not a cohesive resort duhhhh
sunspotbaby avatar
sunspotbabySoWal Insider
#120
wow. :roll:

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