Posted by Matt Raschke, a member of the Santa Rita (Los Altos) community, on Jul 31, 2007 at 1:01 pm

"the speed of 85 percent of the traffic"

I wonder if bikes are considered in the speed study measurement? Bikes are treated as vehicles and subject to the same rules of the road. If so, the 85th percentile speed should go down somewhat after a new traffic study.

Posted by Dan, a resident of another community, on Aug 1, 2007 at 5:54 am

The state code, definitions section, specifies factors which can be included in the "traffic survey" used to determine speed limits. "Bicyclist and pedestrian safety", the last element in the list, was recently added. The code is as follows:

627. (a) "Engineering and traffic survey," as used in this code,

means a survey of highway and traffic conditions in accordance with

methods determined by the Department of Transportation for use by

state and local authorities.

(b) An engineering and traffic survey shall include, among other

requirements deemed necessary by the department, consideration of all

of the following:

(1) Prevailing speeds as determined by traffic engineering

measurements.

(2) Accident records.

(3) Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent

to the driver.

(c) When conducting an engineering and traffic survey, local

authorities, in addition to the factors set forth in paragraphs (1)

to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) may consider all of the

following:

(1) Residential density, if any of the following conditions exist

on the particular portion of highway and the property contiguous

thereto, other than a business district:

(A) Upon one side of the highway, within a distance of a quarter

of a mile, the contiguous property fronting thereon is occupied by 13

or more separate dwelling houses or business structures.

(B) Upon both sides of the highway, collectively, within a

distance of a quarter of a mile, the contiguous property fronting

thereon is occupied by 16 or more separate dwelling houses or

business structures.

(C) The portion of highway is longer than one-quarter of a mile

but has the ratio of separate dwelling houses or business structures

to the length of the highway described in either subparagraph (A) or

(B).

(2) Pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

The article is misleading, I feel.

Posted by Teddie, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Aug 1, 2007 at 10:11 pm

Am I missing something here? What does the 55 mph speed limit have to do with this tragic accident?

Posted by Citizen A, a resident of Woodside, on Aug 1, 2007 at 11:57 pm

That's right the 55mph speed limit has nothing to do with either fatality. With all due respects to the families of these people, I'll keep it short and say that one fatality was due a cyclist falling off of her bike. The other fatality was due to the cyclist making a U-turn in the road and being hit by a car going 35mph.