Vecinos del Bosque
Neighborhood Association
Friday, April 9, 2004
Sunset Speeders Protested
By Barbara Armijo
Journal Staff Writer
There are no speed bumps to slow down careless drivers on Sunset Road
in the South Valley and residents are fed up with speeders.
On April 23, the Vecinos del Bosque Neighborhood Association will
organize a roadside demonstration from 4 to 6 p.m. to make drivers
aware that speeding is not welcome on residential streets in their
neighborhoods. They will gather in front of the former Serna Trucking
property, which soon will become a park off Sunset Road, south of
Central.
Charlotte Walters, a member of the Vecinos del Bosque Neighborhood
Association, said residents will carry signs making speeders aware that
the speed limit is 25 mph on most stretches on Sunset.
"This is the beginning of the process," she said. "We want to do
something to slow these people down before the park is built and before
there are children and other people out there."
The peaceful demonstration will hopefully make people aware of the true
speed limits, said Richard Rivas, Vecinos del Bosque president.
"We want people to slow way down," he said. "We don't want anyone to get hurt."
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department will be on hand to make sure the residents are safe during the event.
There are some speed barriers along Atrisco and Tapia, but none on Sunset.
Speed limits on most residential streets are 25 mph. One stretch of
Sunset owned by the city, from Central to Gonzales Road, is 30 mph. The
county owns a stretch that is 25 mph from Gonzales to Bridge Street.
"People have been clocked doing over 50 mph," Rivas said. "There are
schools in this neighborhood. People would like to walk their dogs or
go for a bike ride, but it's not safe with the way people are ignoring
the speed limits on some of these streets."
Walters said she is pleased residents are becoming responsible for safety in the neighborhood and educating drivers.
"We're doing this now before someone gets hurt or killed," she said.
She invites anyone who would like to join the group to attend the peaceful demonstration.
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