Thanks to a new law that took effect this year after Delegate Betsy Carr’s HB1903, the “15mph bill”, passed the General Assembly this past session, Norfolk is lowering speed limits in residential and business districts. This is a great step for biking and walking safety, as automobile speed is the single largest factor in crash severity.
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NORFOLK — If you’ve been driving around Berkley, Campostella or other Norfolk neighborhoods south of the Elizabeth River, you may have seen the signs — “speed limit 20.” More of those will be going up throughout the city.
In an effort to reduce accidents and deaths involving vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists, Norfolk is reducing speed limits in residential and business districts to 20 mph, with more than 100 other roads eligible for the slower speed. The City Council approved the move Oct. 26.
While Norfolk is taking advantage of a new state law that allows cities to reduce neighborhood speed limits without traffic studies, the City Council committed to a plan to bolster pedestrian and cyclist traffic safety back in 2019 when it adopted the Vision Zero plan.
The goal is for Norfolk to improve options for getting around without personal vehicles and to eliminate traffic accidents that result in pedestrian or cyclist deaths. To accomplish this, the plan calls for education programs, reduced speeds, improved sidewalks, new road designs and installing accommodations for people traveling by foot, bike or other means that don’t rely on cars.
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In the year before Norfolk adopted the plan, eight pedestrians were killed in accidents with vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows from 2009 to 2018, pedestrian deaths in Virginia increased by 60% and bicycle deaths by 9%.
Speed plays a major factor in the severity of accidents, according to Department of Transportation information on the Norfolk’s Vision Zero website. At 20 mph, an accident involving a pedestrian has a 10% chance for death or severe injury. At 30 mph, that rises to 40%. The city also says that at lower speeds, drivers “have a wider field of view and are more likely to notice other road users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists.”
Two advocates for cyclists said reducing neighborhood speed limits was a positive move, but want to see more from the city.
Melissa Seek, chair of the city’s Bicycling and Trails Commission, said enforcement is the only way to make the new speed limits effective. She felt people would continue to drive 25 mph or faster unless police were ticketing in neighborhoods.
Liz Schleeper, president of Bike Norfolk, pointed out roads that need sidewalks and said pedestrian crossings could be improved with signals and built-in breaks where someone on foot can wait. She said those features could encourage drivers to slow down. She also said adding dedicated bike lanes in certain areas has encouraged drivers to be more aware and stick to the speed limit.
Schleeper said bike lane projects on East Ocean View Avenue, Olney Street, 35th Street and other places all started with requests from the community — cyclists who wanted lanes and neighborhood residents who wanted drivers to slow down.
The major focus of many cyclists in the city is getting bike lanes on Granby Street from Willow Wood Drive to Admiral Taussig Boulevard. At the past two City Council meetings, cyclists have asked for the city to convert two lanes of the six-lane roadway to bike lanes.
The estimated cost for the conversion is $822,000, and state funds would cover the design and construction. For that to happen, the City Council would have to vote to accept the money before the end of the year.
“I’m glad that we have Vision Zero and all these (safety efforts), but we just need the action to back them up,” Seek said. She was pleased with the work the city has done so far, but she said it was unfortunate the vote, which was expected to happen in October or November, was pushed back to December.
At the Oct. 26 council meeting, Councilman Tommy Smigiel said after he spoke with other members about the bike lane project, he’s “assuming it’s going to pass.” Smigiel said he wants more data to make sure the bike lanes don’t create new traffic problems the city will have to address in the future.
Josh Reyes, 757-247-4692, joreyes@dailypress.com
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