You know Lombard Street in San Francisco?
You know Lombard Street in San Francisco?

**The crookedest street in the world!!!**
**The crookedest street in the world!!!**

Exactly one century later, a city 90 miles  away are building one of their own... kind of.
Exactly one century later, a city 90 miles  away are building one of their own... kind of.

And it didn't quite turn out the way they thought.
And it didn't quite turn out the way they thought.

[TV:] "Some new road lines are confusing drivers.
[TV:] "Some new road lines are confusing drivers.

Take a look at this.
Take a look at this.

These crooked lines?
These crooked lines?

They are real."
They are real."

I've heard of drivers getting DUIs.
I've heard of drivers getting DUIs.

But I've never seen a street get one.
But I've never seen a street get one.

This is the kind of fiasco I have to go see for myself.
This is the kind of fiasco I have to go see for myself.

I don't work for the city.
I don't work for the city.

It must be the orange vest.
It must be the orange vest.

I don't work for the city.
I don't work for the city.

I don't work for the city.
I don't work for the city.

I don't work for the city.
I don't work for the city.

People definitely have an opinion about this.
People definitely have an opinion about this.

[Fallon:] "This is why you just don't tell city employees and just have fun with it."
[Fallon:] "This is why you just don't tell city employees and just have fun with it."

Here's the story of one city's nationally recognized mistake that might not entirely
Here's the story of one city's nationally recognized mistake that might not entirely

be a mistake.
be a mistake.

In fact, the mistake might have happened 25 years ago.
In fact, the mistake might have happened 25 years ago.

(show open)
(show open)

One morning, the mayor wakes up to find a mess in his own backyard.
One morning, the mayor wakes up to find a mess in his own backyard.

[Mayor:] "Several cities were interested in what happened here, and some even called and
[Mayor:] "Several cities were interested in what happened here, and some even called and

said, 'Wow, okay, we see what you're kind of doing.
said, 'Wow, okay, we see what you're kind of doing.

Interesting.'"
Interesting.'"

[Mayor:] "I'm like, 'No, this is not what we're trying to do.
[Mayor:] "I'm like, 'No, this is not what we're trying to do.

This is wrong.'"
This is wrong.'"

Ignacio Velasquez tells me that over the summer, the city paid a contractor to chip-seal this
Ignacio Velasquez tells me that over the summer, the city paid a contractor to chip-seal this

street.
street.

Plug up all the holes so water can't get in and ruin the asphalt.
Plug up all the holes so water can't get in and ruin the asphalt.

But instead of having the contractor re-stripe the lines the way they used to be, the city
But instead of having the contractor re-stripe the lines the way they used to be, the city

wants to try something new.
wants to try something new.

And the contractor got a little carried away.
And the contractor got a little carried away.

For instance, look at this bicycle lane here.
For instance, look at this bicycle lane here.

That can't be right.
That can't be right.

[Mayor:] "Somebody misread the plans.
[Mayor:] "Somebody misread the plans.

It got striped wrong, and they have to fix it."
It got striped wrong, and they have to fix it."

He says these zig-zagging lines are not really a problem.
He says these zig-zagging lines are not really a problem.

The mistake is there are too many.
The mistake is there are too many.

[Mayor:] "These are a little too sharp.
[Mayor:] "These are a little too sharp.

You'll see cars that just keep driving straight through it."
You'll see cars that just keep driving straight through it."

Can we take a look at your plans?
Can we take a look at your plans?

[Mayor:] "Sure."
[Mayor:] "Sure."

He shows me what the city actually wants.
He shows me what the city actually wants.

[Mayor:] "You can see the delineators right there."
[Mayor:] "You can see the delineators right there."

The original four lanes go away, replaced by just two, with gentle curves, round islands,
The original four lanes go away, replaced by just two, with gentle curves, round islands,

and these flappy barriers— separating the bicyclists from the cars.
and these flappy barriers— separating the bicyclists from the cars.

Smoother flow, smoother curvature to it a design a little more thought out than what
Smoother flow, smoother curvature to it a design a little more thought out than what

the city ended up with.
the city ended up with.

So the $100,000 question why zigzagged the lines at all?
So the $100,000 question why zigzagged the lines at all?

Well, the city has a speeding problem.
Well, the city has a speeding problem.

A quarter-mile stretch like this one, wide open, people going 60 or 70 miles an hour.
A quarter-mile stretch like this one, wide open, people going 60 or 70 miles an hour.

Only difference is, Ladd Lane had two lanes in each direction instead of just one.
Only difference is, Ladd Lane had two lanes in each direction instead of just one.

[Mayor:] "Nobody wants to go slow in neighborhood streets.
[Mayor:] "Nobody wants to go slow in neighborhood streets.

And they get to these streets, they might go really fast."
And they get to these streets, they might go really fast."

And not street racers.
And not street racers.

The mayor tells me these are normal people using the medium-sized neighborhood streets
The mayor tells me these are normal people using the medium-sized neighborhood streets

like a freeway.
like a freeway.

[Mayor:] "These are not race tracks.
[Mayor:] "These are not race tracks.

These are neighborhoods.
These are neighborhoods.

Kids crossing the street over here, somebody coming to full speed and hitting that child
Kids crossing the street over here, somebody coming to full speed and hitting that child

is not a good thing."
is not a good thing."

Well, there's your problem.
Well, there's your problem.

The speed limit on it's pretty high.
The speed limit on it's pretty high.

Unfortunately, just lowering the speed limit doesn't really do anything.
Unfortunately, just lowering the speed limit doesn't really do anything.

Only a few drivers notice and obey it.
Only a few drivers notice and obey it.

Everyone else carries along like nothing changed.
Everyone else carries along like nothing changed.

That's the nature of human psychology.
That's the nature of human psychology.

We don't drive the speed a sign tells us to.
We don't drive the speed a sign tells us to.

We drive the speed that feels comfortable for the road, and then the sign reinforces
We drive the speed that feels comfortable for the road, and then the sign reinforces

that.
that.

That's probably why most places have rules that say speed limits have to reflect a typical
That's probably why most places have rules that say speed limits have to reflect a typical

speed the average driver would drive.
speed the average driver would drive.

[Mayor:] "It was getting to the point of having to raise the speed limit higher, which would
[Mayor:] "It was getting to the point of having to raise the speed limit higher, which would

have made it even worse."
have made it even worse."

If we want to succeed in slowing people down, we have to understand why they were going
If we want to succeed in slowing people down, we have to understand why they were going

so fast in the first place.
so fast in the first place.

Think about the quickest thing to hit the pavement.
Think about the quickest thing to hit the pavement.

Not that.
Not that.

What sort of road do you build... 
What sort of road do you build... 

...for a vehicle that routinely hits a ground
...for a vehicle that routinely hits a ground

speed of 175 MPH?
speed of 175 MPH?

Something wide, something flat, something straight.
Something wide, something flat, something straight.

We build a runway.
We build a runway.

We also build runways so drivers can fly from point A to point B in their car.
We also build runways so drivers can fly from point A to point B in their car.

The arteries of our highway system.
The arteries of our highway system.

Freeways, highways, and even big boulevards.
Freeways, highways, and even big boulevards.

That way we can cover a long distance in a short amount of time.
That way we can cover a long distance in a short amount of time.

But what do we do with high-speed traffic once we hit the city limit?
But what do we do with high-speed traffic once we hit the city limit?

One option is to make these long-distance drivers slow the car down at the city limit.
One option is to make these long-distance drivers slow the car down at the city limit.

Bad for drivers, but good for the town.
Bad for drivers, but good for the town.

Option two is to send the highway around the town, but that costs a lot of money.
Option two is to send the highway around the town, but that costs a lot of money.

Leaving option three (and this is the popular one)... plowing straight through town!
Leaving option three (and this is the popular one)... plowing straight through town!

If a city is going to commit to having this high-speed traffic run through the middle
If a city is going to commit to having this high-speed traffic run through the middle

of it, other streets need to change to work with it.
of it, other streets need to change to work with it.

A city swaps out its grid, where every street is treated the same and creates a hierarchy
A city swaps out its grid, where every street is treated the same and creates a hierarchy

like a circulatory system, like a heart.
like a circulatory system, like a heart.

With big, fast arteries that move a lot of volume to serve small, quiet capillaries.
With big, fast arteries that move a lot of volume to serve small, quiet capillaries.

But there's a medium-sized street that connects arteries and capillaries together.
But there's a medium-sized street that connects arteries and capillaries together.

Streets like ol' "zig-zaggy!"
Streets like ol' "zig-zaggy!"

Here on Ladd Lane, the street is a little too important to be a small capillary.
Here on Ladd Lane, the street is a little too important to be a small capillary.

[Mayor:] "Yeah, it's a collector to get you to the main highway."
[Mayor:] "Yeah, it's a collector to get you to the main highway."

But it's not exactly a big artery street either.
But it's not exactly a big artery street either.

And sometimes these collectors get too big.
And sometimes these collectors get too big.

[Mayor:] "We recognize a problem not only this street, but many others."
[Mayor:] "We recognize a problem not only this street, but many others."

Like Hollister's Westside Boulevard, another medium-sized neighborhood collector street
Like Hollister's Westside Boulevard, another medium-sized neighborhood collector street

that people are just flying down.
that people are just flying down.

(Music from "runway" scene a minute ago...)
(Music from "runway" scene a minute ago...)

It's not a runway!
It's not a runway!

When the goal is to keep cars moving, it becomes a lot harder for somebody walking down the
When the goal is to keep cars moving, it becomes a lot harder for somebody walking down the

street to cross the street.
street to cross the street.

We start turning all the medium-sized streets into more arterials and they get really wide.
We start turning all the medium-sized streets into more arterials and they get really wide.

I think it's pretty eye-opening to look at Ladd Lane here and compare it with a freeway.
I think it's pretty eye-opening to look at Ladd Lane here and compare it with a freeway.

This specially designed road for going 65 MPH isn't really different enough from our
This specially designed road for going 65 MPH isn't really different enough from our

medium-sized collector.
medium-sized collector.

All of this was the problem the city of Hollister was trying to address when everything went
All of this was the problem the city of Hollister was trying to address when everything went

all zig-zaggy.
all zig-zaggy.

What do you do with a really wide road that's only three-quarters of a mile long and maybe
What do you do with a really wide road that's only three-quarters of a mile long and maybe

not as important as we think it is?
not as important as we think it is?

From the stop light down there to the entry to the neighborhood is 2,200 feet.
From the stop light down there to the entry to the neighborhood is 2,200 feet.

And to slow down from 45 MPH to 25 MPH adds only 27 seconds.
And to slow down from 45 MPH to 25 MPH adds only 27 seconds.

So, the speed doesn't even benefit drivers much.
So, the speed doesn't even benefit drivers much.

There's a mountain to the south, so, you know the street is never going through.
There's a mountain to the south, so, you know the street is never going through.

No major shopping.
No major shopping.

And there's even a school.
And there's even a school.

[Mayor:] "Not very much traffic, so there's no need to have four lanes.
[Mayor:] "Not very much traffic, so there's no need to have four lanes.

We have the main highway a few blocks down.
We have the main highway a few blocks down.

Very few people now should be really even using this road."
Very few people now should be really even using this road."

Decades ago, when these subdivisions went in, engineers overlooked this because— a
Decades ago, when these subdivisions went in, engineers overlooked this because— a

new subdivision is the city's ONE chance to make the developer widen the street...
new subdivision is the city's ONE chance to make the developer widen the street...

at the developer's expense!
at the developer's expense!

[Mayor:] "I think they're envisioning this street, continuing and building hundreds,
[Mayor:] "I think they're envisioning this street, continuing and building hundreds,

if not thousands of homes over there."
if not thousands of homes over there."

The last thing you want is the developer to finish up the project and walk away, and then
The last thing you want is the developer to finish up the project and walk away, and then

years later find out, oh no, we gotta bulldoze some houses to make room for a wide street
years later find out, oh no, we gotta bulldoze some houses to make room for a wide street

that we need.
that we need.

So, that's why every new subdivision has a big street widening in the front.
So, that's why every new subdivision has a big street widening in the front.

And as cities grow, some of these streets become very busy and filled with cars and
And as cities grow, some of these streets become very busy and filled with cars and

a handful of terrified bicyclists.
a handful of terrified bicyclists.

But other streets never get quite as busy as planners and engineers were afraid they
But other streets never get quite as busy as planners and engineers were afraid they

would.
would.

Problem is, later comes and you find you only needed two lanes.
Problem is, later comes and you find you only needed two lanes.

Now you're stuck with too many of these, well, highways— that are scary to cross on foot,
Now you're stuck with too many of these, well, highways— that are scary to cross on foot,

expensive to repave, and there really aren't that many people driving on them anyway.
expensive to repave, and there really aren't that many people driving on them anyway.

So what do we do?
So what do we do?

Well, the best would be to only make the road as big as it needs to be in the first place.
Well, the best would be to only make the road as big as it needs to be in the first place.

[Mayor:] "If you're going  to build a new development, 
[Mayor:] "If you're going  to build a new development, 

you have to be part of the solution to get
you have to be part of the solution to get

you [on foot or bike] to downtown in a safe manner."
you [on foot or bike] to downtown in a safe manner."

New rules would give new collector roads a new look.
New rules would give new collector roads a new look.

[Mayor:] "You'd have the two lanes, you'd have protected bike lanes."
[Mayor:] "You'd have the two lanes, you'd have protected bike lanes."

But what about our street that's already been built?
But what about our street that's already been built?

Well, that's the second-best choice.
Well, that's the second-best choice.

Tear the road down and build it back to the right size.
Tear the road down and build it back to the right size.

But there are a lot of expensive little details...
But there are a lot of expensive little details...

like the storm drains.
like the storm drains.

They're now all in the wrong place.
They're now all in the wrong place.

And that means moving millions of dollars worth of pipes.
And that means moving millions of dollars worth of pipes.

Cities usually don't have that kind of cash.
Cities usually don't have that kind of cash.

That's why they were making the developer widen the streets in the first place.
That's why they were making the developer widen the streets in the first place.

That leaves option three— retrofitting the existing road.
That leaves option three— retrofitting the existing road.

[Mayor:] "So, I've been pushing for it for quite a while.
[Mayor:] "So, I've been pushing for it for quite a while.

I don't think many people really understood my thinking at the time.
I don't think many people really understood my thinking at the time.

And the conversation started with, how do we create protected bike lanes?"
And the conversation started with, how do we create protected bike lanes?"

Hollister is not that big of a town.
Hollister is not that big of a town.

Just 40,000 people.
Just 40,000 people.

And most of the fast/thru traffic is on the highways on the edge of the city.
And most of the fast/thru traffic is on the highways on the edge of the city.

So, instead of prioritizing moving cars fast through the middle of town, they could focus
So, instead of prioritizing moving cars fast through the middle of town, they could focus

on helping people walking or bicycling get where they want to go in a shorter distance
on helping people walking or bicycling get where they want to go in a shorter distance

and more safely.
and more safely.

[Mayor:] "And that meant stepping back and fixing existing streets, starting with low-cost
[Mayor:] "And that meant stepping back and fixing existing streets, starting with low-cost

ways to slow drivers down on smaller neighborhood streets to try to make it affordable, first
ways to slow drivers down on smaller neighborhood streets to try to make it affordable, first

off, and safe at the same time."
off, and safe at the same time."

Engineers and planners have a toolkit of traffic calming techniques.
Engineers and planners have a toolkit of traffic calming techniques.

Retrofits for the road, so drivers have to slow down.
Retrofits for the road, so drivers have to slow down.

[Mayor:] "We started with the idea of speed cushions"
[Mayor:] "We started with the idea of speed cushions"

Rubber speed bumps that you mount onto the pavement.
Rubber speed bumps that you mount onto the pavement.

The only way for a speeding driver not to be chucked around in his seat is for them
The only way for a speeding driver not to be chucked around in his seat is for them

to slow way down, at least theoretically.
to slow way down, at least theoretically.

(speedy truck stressed-out suspension noises)
(speedy truck stressed-out suspension noises)

Wow.
Wow.

[Mayor:] "But we can't put them on these roads here, only neighborhood streets."
[Mayor:] "But we can't put them on these roads here, only neighborhood streets."

Because fire trucks, trash trucks, and school buses use these medium-sized collector streets.
Because fire trucks, trash trucks, and school buses use these medium-sized collector streets.

And nobody wants to be riding in an ambulance that keeps going over bumps.
And nobody wants to be riding in an ambulance that keeps going over bumps.

[Patient:] "OUCH!"
[Patient:] "OUCH!"

So not those.
So not those.

[Mayor:] "The engineers we have working with us are pulling ideas all over.
[Mayor:] "The engineers we have working with us are pulling ideas all over.

And we finally came to a design that we thought fit."
And we finally came to a design that we thought fit."

The engineers settled on this and a hybrid of these two ideas.
The engineers settled on this and a hybrid of these two ideas.

[Mayor:] "Then we tested out  some of the traffic-calming 
[Mayor:] "Then we tested out  some of the traffic-calming 

circles, because these aren't roundabouts.
circles, because these aren't roundabouts.

These are traffic-calming circles."
These are traffic-calming circles."

A round circular island.
A round circular island.

So anybody charging straight down the street has to slow down to be able to safely drive
So anybody charging straight down the street has to slow down to be able to safely drive

around it.
around it.

And because it's at an intersection, you get to calm two streets for the price of one.
And because it's at an intersection, you get to calm two streets for the price of one.

[Mayor:] "We're still working on the issue of people doing the drifting or donuts in
[Mayor:] "We're still working on the issue of people doing the drifting or donuts in

the centers."
the centers."

(118 horsepower)
(118 horsepower)

[Mayor:] "We're going to put some obstacles in the way so they can't even do that."
[Mayor:] "We're going to put some obstacles in the way so they can't even do that."

And of course, the "peace day resistaunce..."
And of course, the "peace day resistaunce..."

[Google:] "Piece de resistance"
[Google:] "Piece de resistance"

Whatever—
Whatever—

The zig zagging!
The zig zagging!

A combination of a lateral shift where roadway lane moves over and a racetrack feature called
A combination of a lateral shift where roadway lane moves over and a racetrack feature called

a chicane.
a chicane.

Anybody can mindlessly zoom down a straight line, but add a little back and forth and
Anybody can mindlessly zoom down a straight line, but add a little back and forth and

you have to start to think— and slow down a little bit.
you have to start to think— and slow down a little bit.

The first roadway chicane I can find goes clear back to the 1940s.
The first roadway chicane I can find goes clear back to the 1940s.

The British Isles, thankfully, were never invaded by the Germans.
The British Isles, thankfully, were never invaded by the Germans.

But just in case, the British army would chop down trees along the major highways and lay
But just in case, the British army would chop down trees along the major highways and lay

them out like this.
them out like this.

That way the advancing German army couldn't just keep cruising down the highway.
That way the advancing German army couldn't just keep cruising down the highway.

They'd have to slow down and serpentine around the fallen trees.
They'd have to slow down and serpentine around the fallen trees.

That right there would be when the British army would ambush them.
That right there would be when the British army would ambush them.

[Mayor:] "It's slowing you down horizontally, it's keeping you focused that something's
[Mayor:] "It's slowing you down horizontally, it's keeping you focused that something's

changing."
changing."

And it's working.
And it's working.

Even in its imperfect form.
Even in its imperfect form.

Drivers are slowing down.
Drivers are slowing down.

Look, it did its job.
Look, it did its job.

That guy was only going 25.
That guy was only going 25.

[Mayor:] "If we can get 80% of the people to start slowing down, we're winning."
[Mayor:] "If we can get 80% of the people to start slowing down, we're winning."

In the coming weeks, the contractor will come back and fix this street the right way.
In the coming weeks, the contractor will come back and fix this street the right way.

So if your city faces the same problem, should it give this remedy a try?
So if your city faces the same problem, should it give this remedy a try?

[Mayor:] "Different cities can look at it, and we'll give them the data of if it works,
[Mayor:] "Different cities can look at it, and we'll give them the data of if it works,

if it didn't work.
if it didn't work.

We're learning from others, they're learning from us.
We're learning from others, they're learning from us.

But make sure it's not zigzagged."
But make sure it's not zigzagged."

(laugh)
(laugh)

(Captioning made possible thanks to contributions from a ROAD FAN like you!)
(Captioning made possible thanks to contributions from a ROAD FAN like you!)