Column: Let's All Drive 20 mph

The traffic in Albany has only gotten worse since I moved to the Village in 1989.

Six years later, I moved to my now-husband's house on Cerrito Street, and the traffic has really gotten bad. However, one of our new residents worked with the City of Albany; our street was tested, Traffic & Safety Commission meetings were held, signatures were collected, and it looks like we may get a speed hump in the near future.

While we neighbors were getting together talking about this, one of my neighbors said to me "I think our speed limit should be 20 mph, not 25." I thought, "Ooh, great idea," and nodded, but she continued: "I think it should be 20 miles an hour all over Albany." That took me aback. Selfishly I thought: "But what about when I'm in one of my usual hurries?"

One of the things I learned the other night during a meeting is that it seems to be against California state law or regulations (I was listening to commission members talking to each other) to post a speed of less than 20 mph without some important reason—like the top of Albany Hill. Sure, people go 30 mph there anyway, but it is posted for 15 mph.

But I like my neighbor's idea. I have been driving 20 mph all over Albany, except on the big street where traffic allows; I go 25 on Marin and San Pablo, or 30 on San Pablo when that's what's posted. But on our slim neighborhood streets, I go 20.

I'd like to invite all Albany residents to join me in a grass-roots traffic calming.

I know when Marin Avenue was about to undergo its big change, someone from the Berkeley Hills wrote in to protest that he had bought his house up there on the understanding he'd be able to get down to the freeway fast (we've seen him or someone like him, all of us), and he didn't like the idea of slower traffic on Marin.  

I think that's typical of visitors to our small town in the Big Megalopolis, where we often stop for walkers and often give and receive thank-you waves. We could start now in educating other drivers about how to drive in Albany; and if they don't like driving at a reasonable pace in our town, they will probably be able to find a way around us. Meanwhile, we can drive at a sane pace and take care of all the cyclists, walkers, other drivers, and neighbors in our town.

Sincerely,
Kirsten Schwartz
23-year Albany resident, looking forward to more

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