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Slow Down Folsom is a community based
program, with the goals of improving traffic safety and etiquette in
Folsom.
Our little city is growing, with
streets becoming more crowded with commuters, shoppers, vis itors,
kids, bikers and pedestrians. Instead of people slowing down,
they’re driving faster! They drive faster than the posted speed
limits, and too fast for conditions.
Traffic accidents are up, there are
near misses, traffic tickets and the occasional rude gesture.
The police can only do so much. In
fact, some people seem to think that the best time to ‘step on it’
is when we see a cop occupied with writing someone else a ticket!
The police can’t be everywhere, so
it is up to us, the citizens of Folsom, to do something about it.
Our idea was born out of a
discussion on the message boards on myfolsom.com, in February of
2004. It started with talking traffic etiquette, and ended with the
suggestion of starting this citizen’s campaign.
We’ve since learned that communities
around the country have created their own campaigns, and the mayor
of Bogata, Columbia, actually hired mimes to mock the speeders and
make people aware of their behavior. We won’t go to that extreme,
but we will take action!
Most speeders don’t seem to be bad
folks, just folks in a hurry. They need to get to work, get the kids
to school, soccer practice, music lessons, hair appointments, etc.
They’ve gotten used to speeding up.
Heck, everybody does it. So, we know there’s a prob lem,
but what to do about it?
Our idea is to arm ourselves with
awareness, and use positive peer pressure to get each other to slow
down.
Here’s how it will work:
- The city of Folsom will declare
the month of May as ‘Slow Down Folsom’ month. ‘
- The City Newsletter, and local
press will help publicize it. We will distribute signs on a first
come first served basis. We ask that for the month of May, and
only the month of May, residents display these lawn signs, and
encourage others to slow down.
It’s that simple. As we drive
through neighborhoods around town, we find the occasional lawn sign
already. These have not always proven effective, because they are
two few and far between, and if displayed constantly, they become
part of the landscape, unnoticed by drivers. By starting a city-wide
campaign with brightly colored, approved signage, and by focusing on
just one month, we hope to see an immediate reduction in speed and a
new awareness of the way we drive.
DO:
- Be aware of your
own driving habits, speed laws and road conditions.
- Display a sign
- Donate if you
can, to help pay for this volunteer funded program
- Tell your family,
co-workers and neighbors about it
DON’T:
- Become a traffic
vigilante!
- Don’t purposely
slow traffic down below the posted speed limits unless weather or
other road conditions require it.
- Display
signs before May first or after May 31st
For further information, or to
request a sign:
-
slowdownfolsom@comcast.net
- Please call Steve Heard at
Bentley Mortgage – 916 983 3616 or:
- Cynthia Mulcaire – 916 608 4660
- Make checks payable to: Slow Down
Folsom – and mail to 103 Catlin Ct – Folsom, CA 95630
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