If you could do just one thing to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians on Sunnyvale streets, top on the list would be to reduce the speed of motor vehicle traffic. When a collision between a car and a cyclist or pedestrian occurs at car speeds that are typical on city streets, even a modest decrease in speed dramatically raises the likelihood that the cyclist or pedestrian will survive. The accompanying chart shows that decreasing a car’s speed from 40 mph to 30 mph to 20 mph correspondingly decreases the victim’s risk of death from 80% to 40% to 10%!
In the past, speed reduction has largely been precluded by a principle first established in the 1930s, and still dominant today, that speed limits must be primarily determined by how fast 85% of motorists choose to drive (the 85th percentile rule). This nonsensical rule encourages motorists to drive fast: the faster they go, the higher the speed limit will be set. The 85th percentile rule does not consider safety of non-motorized road users. But, changes are underway. California legislature passed a state law that has recently taken effect (AB 43) to allow cities to lower speed limits for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, children, the elderly, and other non-motorized road users. AB 43 gives cities a surprising amount of latitude to determine locations that are eligible for speed reduction.
The cost to lower speed limits is usually minimal, while the benefits are enormous. Some nearby cities, like Los Altos and Mountain View, have already studied how to take advantage of AB 43 to reduce speed limits. Other cities, like Menlo Park, Cupertino, and San Jose, have started the implementation of speed limit reduction and in some cases even completed it.
Hopefully, Sunnyvale will soon join the ranks of cities reducing speed limits based on AB 43. With community advocacy, the Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) will propose a study issue to investigate how AB 43 can be applied to Sunnyvale. The City’s Land Use and Transportation Element Policy LT-3.17 supports this study issue: “Set speed limits at the lowest practicable levels consistent with state law.” To turn this study issue proposal into an actual study issue will require much advocacy. So, stay tuned for a Call to Action in February 2025 when Council prioritizes study issue proposals.
About the Author
Kevin Jackson is a long-time active transportation advocate. He served on the Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission for many years and is currently on the Board of Sunnyvale Safe Streets.
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