What Do Your Neighbors Think?

All of the research mentioned below is in the public record. Most of it was paid for by the city to support decisions made by the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and City Council. But though every source consistently shows that roughly two-thirds of the public opposes delay-causing traffic devices, TAB and Council continue to install the devices. Worse, they not only allow the devices on critical emergency response routes, that's where they put most of them.

July 2000 Transportation Division Opinion Sample

Owners and unidentified residents within 400 feet of experimental traffic circles on Pine Street and Balsam Avenue were polled to determine support for making the experiments permanent. The process was neither a randomized opinion poll (since the sample was self-selected and door-to-door campaigning was conducted by supporters prior to the sampling) nor a fair election (since participant eligibility was uncontrolled and many tabulation errors were discovered). Residents whose emergency response would be slowed by the circles were not allowed to participate. When an audit revealed many significant biases and mistakes, the SECONDS COUNT! organization publicly challenged the process as a basis for policy decisions. After consultation with the City Attorney's office, the City Clerk changed the tallies. Although the city claimed overwhelming support for traffic circles, the participation rate was very low. Only 27 to 47 percent of possible ballots were actually cast in favor of the circles in the various districts, a level of support consistent with earlier, scientifically conducted polls. Thus, even with door-to-door canvassing and participation restricted to those who supposedly benefit the most from the circles, supporters could not muster a simple majority of support for the traffic devices.

1999 Boulder Tomorrow Opinion Survey

Prior to the November 1999 city council election, Boulder Tomorrow, a community organization that has funded a variety of informative research on important municipal issues, conducted a survey of 403 likely voters. Just 36% favored converting the temporary traffic circle and speed bump experiments into permanent installations. Asked explicitly whether they would vote for the Seconds Count! ballot initiative, over 57% said yes! 

February/March 1999 Testimony to the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB)

In preparation for its March 1999 recommendation to City Council on traffic mitigation policies, TAB considered 198 written and verbal statements from citizens in accordance with municipal law. A staggering 83% of those who provided testimony were opposed to speed bumps. Fully 70% opposed traffic circles.

December 1998 Community-Wide Traffic Mitigation Survey

Conducted by the City of Boulder Center for Policy and Program Analysis, this telephone survey of 400 randomly selected area residents had a ±5% margin of error. Less than half, 42% supported speed bumps on local streets. Even fewer, 37%, favored allowing them on collector streets that carry traffic from neighborhoods onto the main arterials. Just 33% favored traffic circles on local streets, and just 28% supported their use on collector streets. The most significant result from the survey was the finding that when informed of the emergency response delays, "a majority of respondents who initially favored traffic mitigation devices would oppose them."

September 1998 NTMP Pre-Demonstration Survey (Moorhead Avenue Area)

Also conducted by the City of Boulder Center for Policy and Program Analysis, this mail survey of 271 residents in the Martin Acres neighborhood had a ±5 % margin of error. Respondents were asked about staggered speed bumps prior to a planned experiment, after traditional raised crosswalks that had been in place for about two years were removed. Only 37% favored the speed bumps. A telling result was that residents of Moorhead Avenue itself, who had the most experience with the bumps, were more strongly opposed to them than residents further away, even though they had initially supported the installation.

September 1998 NTMP Pre-Demonstration Survey (Pennsylvania Ave. Area)

Conducted by the City of Boulder Center for Policy and Program Analysis, this mail survey of 123 residents near Pennsylvania Avenue west of 55th street had a ±3 % margin of error. Respondents were asked about staggered speed bumps prior to a planned experiment. Only 33% favored the speed bumps.  Most opposed any other form of delay-causing device, too.