Street abuse by design? Then change the design.

Recently I had a meeting at Wick's, and we sat outside to accommodate the smokers among us.

At frequent intervals, all conversation halted as huge trucks passed on State Street at ear-splitting volume. Almost all of them turned right onto Main, and judging from their markings, most were from out of town vehicles in route to the recycling company.

We construct streets to create problems, and then expect problems not to materialize, in part from a forlorn hope that human nature will result in restraint, but if not, then a few speed traps will treat the symptoms without a commensurate need to diagnose the disease, and bring a few farthings jangling into the coffers.

Speed traps are vile, and I don't condone city police targeting trucks any more than I defend the state police's practice of poaching outside taverns. Of course, the best answer is for the city to take back its streets now, before speeding, truck abuse and  (eventually) toll evasion get worse, by creating a new "complete streets" paradigm  that recognizes these problems as design issues, not enforcement issues.

New Albany’s East Main Street residents complain about shaking from semi trucks, by Daniel Suddeath at News and Tribune

... David Schickel, founder of Schickel Masonry Restoration in Floyds Knobs, said he also examined Hawkins’ house at his request. He said he “couldn’t believe” how much the sidewalk shook when heavy trucks drove by, and that vibrations aren’t good for historic houses.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the speed of vehicles on Main Street,” Schickel said.

The issue will be tabled until the traffic study is performed, Wilkinson said. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour for that area of Main Street. NAPD Chief Sherri Knight said the fastest patrol officers clocked a semi truck driving in the stretch during recent weeks was 36 miles per hour.

She said police can’t just target trucks.