Are speed bumps coming back to Fresno? City installs first set since repealing 2006 ban

Among the things you may have missed in the votes taken by Fresno’s city council last year was a resolution to bring back residential speed bumps.

In October, the council voted to rescind the 2006 policy that prohibited speed bumps in the city. They also put in place a pilot program to help determine where new speed bumps would be most useful, beginning in District 3.

On Monday, Councilmember Miguel Arias held a news conference outside Computech Middle School where a sets of speed bumps were installed along Belgravia Avenue. This was the final part of the pilot program, which also called for a set of speed bumps on Broadway Avenue near Thomas Avenue.

“This is one of the most cost effective ways to improve safety in our residential neighborhoods,” Arias said.

The stretch of road in front of Computech has been the site of drag racing and cars spinning donuts, he said.

Arias said some drivers will no doubt find out the hard way that they now have to slow down, which he is looking forward to.

“We night end up with a muffler or two in the roadway.”

The 2006 ban was put in place as a way to comply with San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District efforts to reduce air pollution. The bumps also slowed emergency vehicles and disturbed neighbors when drivers slammed into them or screeched brakes, according to a staff report to the council (and letters to the editors) at the time. There was even a movement to have some existing speed dumps removed.