Traffic Calming

Installing Speed Bumps is our most often requested measure for Neighborhood Traffic Calming; especially in residential neighborhoods where children play in or near the public street. Before calling or submitting a request to install a Speed Bump on your street, it is important to know that collected volume and velocity of vehicles in residential areas over a typical week rarely justifies traffic calming measures. City of Lynnwood Public Works has also updated policy based on experience analyzing collected data to determine if traffic calming is justified on a street segment. In addition to an 85^th percentile velocity 6 to 7 mph above the posted speed limit, the street segment be observed by a city traffic official or Lynnwood Police patrol officer to be used by motorists as a cut-through during AM and PM commute periods. 

While there is no specific City of Lynnwood ordinance or Washington state law restricting children from playing in the street (residential street or otherwise), state and case laws apply to all pedestrians and bicyclists including children in neighborhoods playing in the public right-of-way. Please see this resource for general explanations: Pedestrian laws & safety | WSDOT (wa.gov)

If after studying and understanding state law you still want to allow your children to play in the street, the following may have at least one point that could be helpful for safety. Legal Disclaimer is hereby stated that by providing the following, the City of Lynnwood in no way encourages parents, guardians, caregivers, educators, siblings, or children to place themselves, another person, or living entity in public or private streets, paved or unpaved, where moving vehicles can legally or illegally travel.   

Maximize Safety Measures

Normally the most effective safety measures when children or adults are actively present on the sidewalks and in the street is to begin by acknowledging that streets are designed for cars and that moving vehicles will be present. Children can be among the most vulnerable. Maximizing safety for children includes:   

• Continuous supervision by an adult or responsible teenager

• Educate children
  • Teach them not to play directly in the street. Show them by example: ride bicycles, skateboard, rollerskating, etc. on the sidewalk or along edge of paved road except when it is safe to use the vehicle lane to turn around.
  • When any person sees a car coming, that first person stops then yells “CAR”; everyone stops, looks, then moves out of the path of the oncoming car. It may be helpful to have adult or teen spotters at one or more locations ahead of the area where children are playing.
  • Demonstrate how far children may ride, roll, walk, run before they must turn back.
• Use one traffic cone, one Children-at-Play “A” sign, or one little green man with flag at each end well ahead (~200 feet if possible) of the street area where children will be playing
  • Place the device in the gutter or behind the rear bumper on left side of a parked vehicle. Do not place the device in the middle of street or lane as this can elicit the opposite response from an aggressive driver.
  • Ensure that the device(s) are not visible to drivers when children are not present. You don’t want to train drivers to ignore the message. Make sure that the message always tells the truth by displaying it only when children are truly present.
• Maximize visibility
  • Daylight hours with good weather only. Overcast days can be ok with extra care and awareness of children and road users. Even the mildest sprinkling or breeze can make it difficult for children to hear those watching them. Drivers can be distracted by wipers.
  • Take every advantage possible by dressing children in bright clothing;
    • Orange or yellow armbands
    • Brightly colored helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, and hand protection
    • Reflectors on wheels and pedals   
    • Ensure clothes and protective gear do not restrict movement of arms, legs, head and ability for child to see and hear