Advantages
Relatively inexpensive
Relatively easy for bicyclists to cross if taper is designed appropriately
No loss of on-street parking
Very effective in slowing travel speeds
Disadvantages
Causes a “rough ride” for all drivers, and can cause
severe pain for people with certain skeletal disabilities Emergency vehicles forced to travel at slower speeds
Increased noise to adjacent residences
Aesthetics
Advantages
Relatively inexpensive
No loss of on-street parking
Very effective in slowing travel speeds
Disadvantages
Large (non-standard) vehicles can avoid the
cushion by passing through the cut-outs
Causes a “rough ride” for all drivers, and can
cause severe pain for people with certain
skeletal disabilities
Increased noise to adjacent residences
Aesthetics
SPEED HUMP
Speed humps are rounded raised areas placed across the road. They are generally 12 feet long in the direction of travel, 3¼ to 3¾ inches high, and parabolic in shape, and have a design speed of 15 to 20 mph. They are usually constructed with asphalt concrete and have a taper on each side to allow unimpeded drainage between the hump and curb.
When placed on a street with rolled curbs, bollards may be placed at the ends of the speed hump to discourage vehicles from veering outside of the travel lane to avoid the device. Speed humps are not installed on emergency response or bus routes.
SPEED CUSHION
The speed cushion is a variation on the speed hump with wheel cut-outs to accommodate the wheelbase of fire trucks and buses so they can pass through without slowing. For standard size vehicles to pass, at least one set of wheels must travel over the cushion. Each speed cushion is typically 6.5 feet wide, 6.67 feet long in the direction of travel, and 3 inches high. Typically, a set of three or four cushions are installed depending on the width of the street. The design speed is 15 to 20 mph. They are usually constructed of asphalt concrete and have a taper on each side to allow unimpeded drainage between the cushion and curb. When placed on a street with rolled curbs, bollards may be placed at the ends of the speed cushion to discourage vehicles from veering outside of the travel lane to avoid the device. Speed cushions are installed on emergency response and bus routes.
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INFORMATION SHEET
ATTACHMENT A