Council approves speed hump at Sunnydale Avenue

A HUMP IN THE ROAD OF LIFE-The city council recently approved installing a fourth speed hump on Sunnydale Avenue between Azure Hills Drive and Gallop Court to slow down speeders.

Despite some opposition, the city council unanimously approved installing a fourth speed hump on Sunnydale Avenue in the Bridle Path area last week.

The move is an attempt to slow down speeding drivers between Azure Hills Drive and

Gallop Court. Sunnydale Avenue has three existing speed humps: one between Erringer Road and Azure Hills Drive and two between Gallop Court and Rambling Road. The speed deterrent is scheduled to be installed by early June and will cost the city $1,350.

"While I don't appreciate speed humps, I'm going to support this one," said Mayor Paul Miller, a Bridle Path resident. "We can't keep a policeman on the corner 24 hours a day."

A traffic study done in October found on the average 1,615 cars a day travel that stretch of Sunnydale and that 95 percent of the drivers exceeded the 25 mph speed limit by about 7 mph.

Nonetheless, several residents from streets surrounding Sunnydale Avenue objected placing another speed hump on one of the few streets they can take to access main roads.

Mitch Hedrick, a 20-year resident of Bridle Path, said speed humps contribute to road rage, car damage and the burning of more gasoline.

They degrade property values and "look cheap," Hedrick said.

Dan Parkinson said by approving the hump, the council would be taking a "myopic view."

"I think we have to consider how many more speed bumps we're going to place on Sunnydale," Parkinson said. "We have to draw the line at how many speed bumps we're going to have out to Fitzgerald (Road)"

Ron Fuckiwaki, assistant director of public works, said the city is installing speed humps not bumps which differ by having a gentle rise and fall.

He said studies show they're effective in reducing drivers' speed by about 6 mph.

Sunnydale residents said their children and pets are in danger of being hit by speeding drivers, who often run the stop sign at the corner of Azure Hills Drive.

Said resident Richard Handorf, "It's dangerous to pull into or out of your driveway."

Jamey Hall, another resident of the street, helped collect 13 signatures-81 percent of the affected neighbors-on a city petition for the speed hump. Among the city requirements for a speed hump is the signatures of at least 67 percent of nearby residents.

Hall said the situation was "serious" enough that his neighbors placed "slow down" signs in their front yards. Two of them were stolen, he said.

Joe Adlhoch, the only supporter that doesn't live on Sunnydale, told the council, "Regret is too expensive; one child hit is one too many."