I sat inconspicuously on the grass on MLK Drive between the Fish Ladder Overlook and Sweet Briar Dr. with our Handy Dandy Radar Gun from Radio Shack and took speed readings for 30 cars in each direction between 2 and 3 in the afternoon.
What was interesting is that some people have radar detectors turn on, I would see people hit the brakes as I pulled the trigger. One guy slowed a platoon of cars that followed him by putting his flashers on and slowing down to 35 MPH. What fun!
Northbound MLK 2-2:15PM single lane with small shoulder
Average Speed - 49.76 MPH
Median Speed - 51 MPH
Minimum Speed 39 MPH
Maximum Speed 57 MPH
Southbound MLK 2:50 - 3:00 PM Double lane with no shoulder
Average Speed - 52.76 MPH
Median Speed - 52.5 MPH
Minimum Speed 39 MPH
Maximum Speed 64 MPH
Pedestrian Survival Rates
50 MPH - <5%
40 MPH - 20%
30 MPH - 60%
20 MPH - 95%
The Spreadsheet can be viewed here
This is the legacy blog of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. It is an archive of posts from 2003 to 2014. Making your ride better since 1972. https://www.bicyclecoalition.org
4 comments:
Great job!!
When I click on the link to the spreadsheet I am redirected to https://webmail.bicyclecoalition.org for a login. I can tell its being held at google spreadsheets from the url but not sure why I am being redirected to webmail.
Beany
Nice work! That thing's pretty small. If radar detectors are that widespread, maybe it'd be worth rigging a radar gun in your seat bag and leaving it on permanently so anyone following you would think they were driving into a speed trap, at least until they drove past you at the speed limit.
This is great investigative work which should ultimately lead to some kind of action. Have you thought of passing this along to some sympathetic media outlet or public authorities? I don't recall what the posted speed limits are along this stretch of MLK, but I presume its less than what you've observed.
The URL for the spreadsheet has been fixed.
The Speed Limit on MLK Drive is posted at 35 MPH.
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