Posted by Frank Lynn, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:06 am

Let I get this straight - our great state mandates that if 85% of motorists collectively decide to be not-so-civily disobedient and ignore posted speed limits - then we change the law to accomodate them? Does this apply to highways - which by this logic should be about 90 mph by now? Does this apply to 25 mph residential streets?

Doesn't sound like a very good law - we have people zooming down Valley Trails posing risk to pedestrians, cyclists and people backing out of driveways, but I guess if this is the norm - then we'll just have to up the speed limit.

Posted by Helen, a resident of the Jensen Tract neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:34 am

How about raising the speed liimit on Black from Valley to Hopyard from 25 to 30? Even the police cruise that stretch at 30-35 miles per hour. It is a "feeder" street, by definition, not simply a "residential" speed.

As far as danger to bicyclists, my experience has been it is the bicyclists in Pleasanton, who are a danger to the drivers....since they do NOT seem to feel they have any obligation to observe traffic laws, and speed through red lights, squeeze between lanes of cars at stop lights, etc.

Posted by Educated, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:39 am

Jeb - in paragraph 2 it should be "exceptions", not "expectations".

Posted by Timely, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 9:22 am

This is good for circulation...making up for time lost because of front cars at intersections who are texting when lights change. Eyes should be up, not down, and hands on the wheel...you are not the only car on the road.

Posted by citizen, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 9:40 am

It is now okay to speed on Black Ave. I'm sure the residents will appreciate that!!

Posted by John, a resident of the Old Towne neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 10:40 am

As a cyclist I'm thrilled that I can now adjust laws to suit my habits and circumstance - 100% of cyclists know that laws designed for cars rarely account for pedestrians or people on bikes. As for raising the speed limits - good to see Pleasanton bucking the trend of making communities safer for everyone outside of cars!

Posted by Christine, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 12:03 pm

How about lowering the speed limit on W. Angela (between main and P-town Avenue to 15 mph. Street is too narrow for 25 with cars and trucks parked on both sides of the street and several hidden driveways. Then you have the speed racers that take the ACE train-going 35 down the street not giving any consideration for the people living on the street. maybe speed humps?

Posted by Mike, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 3:05 pm

I salute this moment of sanity.

Mike

Posted by Truth, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 5:18 pm

How a bought cyclist learn to stop for stop signs. If you wouldn't run it in a car...why run it on a bike?

Posted by Dee, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Well, it doesn't really matter how fast we go becaue we will never drive as fast as the police. I am amazed that they cruise along at about 10 miles over the speed limit and then turn around and ticket anyone that they decide to stop for doing the same thing. Isn't that

about the same thing as calling the kettle black? Why can't they set a good example by obeying the speed limit? Just a thought.

Posted by Its A Good Law, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 7:03 pm

The reason the state inacted this law is to inhibit cities, towns and counties using abusive speedtraps. They would place artifically low speed limits on a section of street or road to entrap unwary drivers, then sock thim with a high fine for the primary purpose of raising funds for their treasuries.

Cities already fudge complying with this law by having the cops rigorously enforce the speed law on a street for a week before they make their required speed measurement (the law prohibits them from enforcing a speed limit during the days they are taking the measurement). I have seen Pleasanton due this time and again (Black Avenue and Del Valle Parkway are two examples).

This is a very good law. It keeps our cities from acting like the gomers in parts of the U. S. that really prey on drivers for funding.

Posted by Roller, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:38 pm

Truth,

From what I've seen, most people in cars do NOT stop at the stop signs.

Posted by Map, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, on Mar 9, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Speaking of stop signs and fast drivers try crossing at St Mary's and main st on foot, what a rush, like running the gauntlet!!!! Nobody stops at that 3 way , especially at commute time with all the cut trough traffic from 1st st. --- DON'T raise the speed limits, it's still a small town layout , SLOW DOWN

Posted by Beth, a member of the Walnut Grove Elementary School community, on Mar 9, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Helen, Black between (I assume you mean Santa Rita) and Hopyard hosts too much pedestrian traffic to justify a speed-limit increase. Walnut Grove Elementary, Harvest Park Middle School, Quarry Lane Preschool, and the aquatic center are all on that stretch of road.

Posted by Eric, a member of the Walnut Grove Elementary School community, on Mar 11, 2013 at 6:57 pm

Helen, there is also Alisal School, Harvest Park Middle, Amador High, two parks a church, post office and the Ginger Bread Pre School on or within a block of Black. So no, I and others of the Black Ave neighborhood would strongly disagree with your assessment.

Posted by Pleasantonian, a resident of the Heritage Valley neighborhood, on Mar 15, 2013 at 4:00 pm

Yes, I am for faster speeds and wish that this could apply to the freeways.

As far as the cyclists, well, there are too many of them; are on roads they should not be traveling on; and they are inconsiderate of how many cars they are backing up. Heck if a slow driving vehicle has 7 cars backed up behind it usually pulls over and lets the faster traffic pass. But cyclists? Oh no, they just pedal away blocking traffic. They create so much road rage, that when I hear a cyclist has been hit by a car. Well, I certainly am not sorry for them.

The idea of letting all these bikes on the road was to encourage people to ride their bike to work and get some cars off the road. Well tell me just how many of these people with their little outfits are really driving to and from work? So they do not belong on the road! Let them go get their exercise elsewhere - not where people are driving.

Posted by JT, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Mar 16, 2013 at 10:27 am

I agree that this is a Very Good Law! Without it drivers would be at the constant mercy of speed traps. Pleasanton does do everything they can to get around it and PPD cops ticket speed traps.

If the sign is not the proper speed it is merely a sign saying please drive this speed, not a legally enforceable speed limit. Cops know that and cherry-pick motorists, because the burden is on the motorist to challenge it in court.