New speed bumps installed on every level in the Capital Crescent Trail Garage at Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues aren't the flat-topped "speed humps" used by the County on residential streets. They are the brutal kind that give your neck and suspension a workout even crawling over them at 1 mile per hour.
The Capital Crescent Trail Garage was initially a big success, as many drivers didn't know it was there. Anyone who has spent twenty minutes making the climb from ground level to the top of the other nearby public garage (exacerbated by people who think they are entitled to hold up traffic on the ramps just so they can park on a lower level, apparently unaware that they will be using the same elevator to reach the street as those they block) would consider the CCTG a major improvement. It also has much wider aisles.
Now drivers who don't speed in the garage, and even hesitate or stop at the pedestrian crossing/elevator areas in case someone is going to step out without looking both ways, are being slowed down and their vehicles unnecessarily damaged. Send your repair bill to Montgomery County.
Thank you to our nanny state overlords for your inspired idiocy. #MoCoTermLimits #ThrowTheBumsOut
57 comments:
Mommy's minivan can't take a speed bump Robbie?
If it's such a big deal, why don't you do something about it instead of writing about it? May I suggest climbing to the top of the garage and JUMPING!
Maybe we should just blow up the garage and build another WESTBARD!!!
WEST WHAT??? WEST BARD!!!
WEST WHAT??? WEST BARD!!!
WEST WHAT??? WEST BARD!!!
@7:06 The garage is underground so it would be difficult to jump from the "top" which is 1 level underground.
Did you complain to the County? Or are you just assuming that they actually read your blog?
#RobertDyerIsTwoWordArgumentAgainstTermLimits
Those things are horrible, like driving over a curb. He's right, even at a crawl.
"The Capital Crescent Trail Garage was initially a big success, as many drivers didn't know it was there."
Including Dyer, who slept through both the opening of the garage as well as the re-opening of Woodmont Avenue.
#Snoribund
"exacerbated by people who think they are entitled to hold up traffic on the ramps just so they can park on a lower level"
Didn't you mean, "higher level"? The top level is the one closest to the street.
Who in the county government can we send our auto repair invoices to?
Are you insinuating that you speed through the garage?
#GetDyerOut #MakeBethesdaSafeAgain
Have you driven in the garage? 1mph is jarring over these new bumps.
My hump, my hump, my hump
My humps they got you
Totally disagree, Robert. I've almost been killed several times in that garage by people flying in cars through what seem to be narrower-than-usual thoroughfares. Regular flat speed bumps don't slow people down much. Cheers to whoever came up with this solution--it's about time.
I've never seen speed bumps in a parking garage before. I will avoid this one!
Those are wicked bad. Especially in small cars.
Geez. A lot of hostility and incendiary remarks over some speed bumps in a public parking garage. Granted, they probably are unnecessary, but from the tone of this piece, you would have thought that they put them on the author's driveway.
"They are the brutal kind that give your neck and suspension a workout even crawling over them at 1 mile per hour."
You should see the speed bumps they use in DC.
It's a big story for folks using the garage. If you don't own a car or never come to Bethesda, then it may not be relevant for you.
Speed bumps are fine, but these are poorly designed.
It appears they were set to slow folks down by the entrances to the residential parts of garage. Presumably residents complained and had these installed.
7:09: Just shows how ignorant the troll is - he doesn't even know the new garage is underground.
7:12: You know very well that certain County officials for political reasons kept the opening of the garage limited to 1 or 2 media outlets that are friendly to them. Pretty stupid, given that up to now, I've only had praise for the new garage.
7:19: In that part I was referring to the older public Bethesda Row garage, which is above ground.
8:12: They have some moderate bumps in the garage at Rockville Town Square, but they are civilized enough that they don't send you to a chiropractor if you're driving the speed limit. I didn't even think of that - send your chiropractic claims to Montgomery County Government, as well!
8:53:If you're seeking sweet talk about Montgomery County Government, there are other sites that can accomodate you. For the facts, though, this site is really the best option.
8:59: I thought we were short on bucks and couldn't pay County employees their raises, but we can afford this? Nuts! There are a lot of dangerous pedestrian spots in Bethesda that have been neglected for years, but this gets a quick fix for private residents at taxpayer expense? #MoCoTermLimits An overkill solution to a non problem driven by an ideological War on Cars.
It's amazing how small and petty some MoCo officials are in their approach to Dyer.
Dyer is trying to do good in covering the city.
Dyer @ 9:47 AM - So how much did these bumps actually cost? Did you call anyone to ask? And are you assuming that the apartment building wasn't billed for at least the private part of the garage?
Dyer @ 9:40 AM - Chiropractors are quacks.
"Brutal New Speed Bumps"
#FirstWorldProblems
Just another reason to not go to Bethesda
Meanwhile, the biggest danger to pedestrians is the misaligned Woodmont Ave/Bethesda Ave intersection.
Some would argue Dyer is the bigger danger to pedestrians of all ages.
Dyer - why don't you get an asphalt colored blanket and lay down underneath it in the road - that would be a real killer speed bump!
@ 1:28 PM - Drivers would speed up, rather than slow down, and that would defeat the purpose.
11:17: The bumps are in the public drive aisles.
I don't know the full story behind the installation of those extreme speed bumps. But I have seen drivers going at crazy speeds in the garage, a place where families often interact with their kids. I doubt the authorities would have installed the bumps if everyone was respecting the posted speed limit.
Speed bumps are fine, but not car wrecking bumps
"car wrecking bumps"
Only if you're driving your car at an inappropriate speed in a parking garage.
Nope, going the proper speed would cause damage on these bumps.
That's the point here.
"a quick fix for private residents at taxpayer expense? #MoCoTermLimits An overkill solution"
So private residents are not supposed to see their tax dollars work for them (especially in the area of the county, that pays the most taxes)? This garage, unlike most in this county, is very large levels with long straight aisles, which encourage speeding. I'm sure the elderly and disabled appreciate the speed bumps.
Other large garages in the private sector have similar traffic calming measures.
Also, the council had nothing to do with the speed bumps, I believe that falls under the executive.
No one is saying no bumps. They are saying less severe bumps would be great.
If I want to drive 40 MPH through a parking garage it is my right as an American. Thanks Robert for defending out way of life.
Lamborghenis don't do speed bumps. But a Corvette, Prius or Porche could have problems too. They've got like a 5-6" ground clearance.
7:06AM - I think you should drive 40mph over that bump. Go ahead. Let's see what happens!
The speed bump in that photo reminds me of a boa constrictor. It might be far more cost-effective to simply have a boa constrictor instead of a speed bump. They can paint it like a speed bump. It can double as "moveable art" in the lot. It can keep the lot clear of rats, as well. And having a speed bump that can move about the lot requires that drivers drive cautiously in the lot, which is the whole purpose behind the speed bump in the first place.
7:06AM - Live a little. Go 45.
There are less damage-inducing speed bumps out there. Well, perhaps not there in this lot. Which was the point.
I want to see the looks on pedestrian's faces when a boa constrictor painted like a speed bump starts to move.
Please post evidence of car damage caused by these speed bumps.
Well, I just visited the site of these "brutal speed bumps".
There are exactly four of them in the entire complex. The two shown here on level G1, and another pair immediately below on level G2. They are all of 2 1/2" high, and rounded.
My car is low-slung and with relatively stiff springs. I drove over these bumps going as fast as 7 mph with little discomfort. Even 10 mph was only slightly uncomfortable.
Dyer, you are such an insane drama queen.
Maybe so, but going over them every day isn't good for your tires or suspension. My mechanic called me out on it once. I didn't have enough miles for how the bad the suspension had gotten, he asked if I drove over speed bumps a lot. Yep, 6 each way, a few times a week.
You're one against several other readers who said the bumps were too harsh.
12:58: Exactly.
12:58 PM - Did your mechanic tell you to slow down when you go over those speed bumps? That's the reason they put them there, ya know.
Ya, I know. Nope, just normal slow driving, mostly in traffic. Two of them were in a parking lot, so almost from a stop on those. He said that the damage is incremental over time and plays havoc with your steering and suspension.
Wrong. There would be no need for speed bumps if everyone was going the "proper speed." That's the point.
"New speed bumps installed on every level in the Capital Crescent Trail Garage at Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues aren't the flat-topped 'speed humps' used by the County on residential streets."
Speed humps are designed to be passed at speeds between 20-25 mph. Those speeds are way above the design speed for a typical parking garage - 10-15 mph tops - speed humps would be completely useless in such a setting.
6:01/7:38: Wrong. The speed bumps Montgomery County installs on residential streets with speed limit 25 require slowing to 15 MPH to pass.
Typical elitist bullcrap from the MoCo cartel. You just can't acknowledge the facts for political reasons - the damn things they've installed in this garage damage your car (and your neck) even if you go BELOW 10 MPH or even 5 MPH.
I don't remember anyone claiming that the bumps are OK at 10 mph. Maybe you just need to slow down, Dyer? That's the whole idea. Stop acting like such an entitled brat.
Every time someone drives over these at an excessive speed, the PA system will play a recorded message from Hans Riemer and George Leventhal, "Slow down, Dyer! You're gonna get whiplash!"
Is that an opinion or a fact for it to be wrong? Speed bumps on my street are routinely ignored and 25mph seems to be unfazed.
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