Reducing through traffic via planters and a bollard
Traffic calming via a chicane
2 Oct 2018
Dear Lucia and Simon:
We are following up on our first round of ideas for Sleepy Hollow's Comprehensive Plan.
We all make mistakes. Our streets need to account for that. Ensuring people drive at modest speeds means that when mistakes happen, people aren't injured severely or killed.
Over 240 people were injured (25 seriously) in 430 car crashes in our Village between 2007 and 2016. 2 died.1 That's a huge physical and emotional toll. Beyond that, it costs around $4 million (based on national averages2).
This problem can be dramatically reduced. The Netherlands and Sweden have implemented policies that result in transportation mortality rates 1/4 of the USA's.3
They were able to accomplish this via widespread traffic calming; making walking, cycling and transit safe and convenient; plus reducing through traffic on residential streets. (photos on right)
As a bonus, it makes the Village a nicer place to visit and live.
Smoother speed hump in the Netherlands
Speed humps reduce speeding.4 Unfortunately, the profile of the humps we implemented in Sleepy Hollow make for a jarring, unsafe cycling conditions. The Netherlands have worked out better speed hump designs (photo on left), which we should adopt.
Advisory shoulder
In locations where car access is necessary and streets are narrow, "advisory shoulders" (photo on right) can be helpful.
We updated our RiverWalk page to mention the most effective way5 to complete the trail between the Manors is making Riverside Dr usable only by people walking and cycling. This will make Sleepy Hollow Manor and Philipse Manor more pleasant and safer by reducing the real and present danger, noise, and pollution from cars. People who insist on driving through the neighborhoods can do so via Broadway.
Connection between the Old Croton Aqueduct and Pine Close so southern Webber Park residents can access it without going on Bedford Rd. (map on left) Avoiding Bedford Rd is good due to poor sight lines, narrow lanes, speeds, steepness of the hill and distance.
Adding a contraflow bike lane on Pine St would create a safer, legal way for residents to access their homes on this one way street and the Aqueduct.
The OCA is cut off by one of the High School's corridors. We should put reconnecting this on our long term wish list. Some possible solutions are:
Shrubs blocking the sidewalk on Beekman Ave, just west of Broadway
Several property owners fail to prune their greenery to ensure sidewalks remain clear. The Village needs to take education and enforcement measures to ensure walkability.
It's a matter of equity. 45% of households in the Inner Village don't have access to a car. A tremendous segment of residents don't want to or can't drive. If the shrubs were blocking the street, DPW would remove them immediately. People walking should get similar first class treatment.
FlexiModal palate truck / bike trailer
Healthy Soil Compost's bike trailer
Considering the small size of our village, the administration should adjust its vehicle fleet. There are many task that would be better served by smaller vehicles, electric vehicles and bicycles/tricycles (with class 1 electric assistance where applicable). Village employees who walk, bike or take transit to work should receive a parking cash out.
This would introduce significant cost savings and reduce environmental and crash related harms.
Sincerely,
--Dan
biketarrytown.org | info@biketarrytown.org | T: @BikeTarrytown | F: @BikeTarrytn
