Rather than bumping drivers to reduced speeds, Wildwood officials are investigating a newer “traffic calming device” called speed cushions.
Industry sources indicate that the 3-inch-high speed cushions have several distinct advantages while slowing drivers, compared to traditional 6-inch-high asphalt speed humps. Cushions are designed as several small speed humps, placed in a row across a street. Made of a durable rubber, they can be more easily moved to different traffic locations if desired.
Drivers will have to slow their speeds to proceed over the cushions. In addition, speed cushions require less material, so in general are less expensive than speed humps.
“Over the years, some residents have requested the use of speed humps on residential streets,” Wildwood Director of Public Works Ryan Thomas said. “To date, speed humps have not been used because each of the fire protection districts prohibits their use. We believe speed cushions could be a new, effective way to slow traffic and improve safety on some of our most traveled streets.”
Speed cushions have been used in Europe for the past several decades, but Wildwood’s Board of Public Safety recently learned about the option and recommended it to the Wildwood City Council for consideration.
Officials with local emergency services are concerned about any physical street deterrent that slows down their response times.
But manufacturers claim the wider axle of emergency vehicles allows that type to pass through the cushions without slowing down.
Of the three fire protection districts that service the Wildwood area, the Metro West Fire Protection District crew was the only one willing to try the speed cushions first, Thomas said.
He said the current plan is to set up a cushion on Old Fairway Drive as the first pilot project, with the next one planned for Fox Creek Road.
At the Sept. 14 Wildwood City Council meeting, City Councilmembers asked Thomas to check the references of Traffic Logix; to ask if the cushions are easy to steal or tamper with; to see if the company would lease a trial cushion; and to inquire if both ambulances and fire trucks are able to pass through the gaps between the speed cushions.
James Weatherall, senior account manager for Traffic Logix, said they have 400-plus clients in North America and have not had any cushions stolen. He also stated that the company had no leasing plans. He said that emergency staffs in other cities have been working with the cushions.
Wildwood City Councilmember David Sewell (ward 6) asked Thomas at the Oct. 12 City Council meeting how long it would take to erect or take down speed cushions in one location, if it was decided to move the set around. Thomas said he was told 2 hours.
Other City Councilmembers raised questions about ordinances in neighboring municipalities that prohibit these types of speed deterrents. Another question that surfaced was about the effect snow plows have on the products. The company’s representatives said many cities remove the cushions during winter to avoid any problems.
One potential problem with speed cushions is how bicyclists pass through them, particularly if they do not stay to the utmost right-hand side. Riding through the gaps will put cyclists into the main portions of roadways.
Thomas said the first set of speed cushions arrived Oct. 19. Depending on weather, he was expecting to get the cushions installed before month’s end
