Useless barrier on residential street

[bandit957]

Can anyone explain this bit of poologgery?

http://goo.gl/maps/Nhhtv

It's on Mulberry Street in North College Hill, Ohio - near Cincinnati. This barrier is completely, totally useless. And I'm pretty sure I got blocked by this barrier once while en route to a family gathering.

Why does this barrier exist? It seems to be right at the town line, incidentally.

[jeffandnicole]

Based on the pavement, it was put in place after the roads were built, as the pavement on the near side matches the pavement on the far side for about a short 30, 40 foot stretch of road. 

Most likely, it was put there to prevent thru traffic in the neighborhood, and probably petitioned and agreed upon by the residents at the time, and the town at the time was willing to do something about it.

[NE2]

Just go up onto the sidewalk. There are some around here with a solid wall blocking any access.

[Brandon]

Beats me.  It is on a municipal line as you say, so it may have been erected by one municipality to prevent through traffic.  Could be just spite, but that's pretty rare.  Most of the ones I've seen in NE Illinois tend to be for the prevention of through traffic, but they are usually near where the street would've met another street at an intersection, not mid-block.

Examples:

One side,
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.544031,-88.172407&spn=0.004633,0.010568&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.544034,-88.172334&panoid=y3_MiUaqxfKiN_YWS2ZR1g&cbp=12,201.9,,0,7.77
And the other,
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.544031,-88.172332&spn=0.004665,0.010568&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.543166,-88.172416&panoid=-hZsJHNpf9Mvc37Tv3eTsg&cbp=12,0.97,,0,7.95

In Chicago,
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.795713,-87.67679&spn=0.001643,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.795713,-87.67679&panoid=H1Zmp6_a6SbtoiVxk-DmgQ&cbp=12,196.07,,0,7.22
Misuse of a roundabout nearby,
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.796507,-87.67681&spn=0.001643,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.796507,-87.67681&panoid=kEd1X7ssSbQP4LmohNGLjA&cbp=12,16.37,,0,12.61

Another one in Chicago,
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.719117,-87.681466&spn=0.000822,0.001321&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.719118,-87.68141&panoid=3dYNhq6RoSz-9xx4-ymSnw&cbp=12,266.28,,0,6.3

Actually, they're pretty common in Chicago.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.670178,-87.64653&spn=0.001646,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.670178,-87.64653&panoid=CW9fYGsoZA7V0076mK7DKg&cbp=12,11.52,,0,4.2

[1995hoo]

It's almost certainly to prevent cut-through traffic in a residential area by forcing people to use arterial streets. I know of a few similar places not far from where I live. The people in this neighborhood were complaining about high-speed cut-through traffic trying to avoid going around by Kings Highway and Harrison Lane (which entails going through a few lights, one of which used to back up until they built turn lanes a year or two ago). The entrances to this neighborhood all have yellow warning signs saying there's no thru access to US-1, this because many maps and sat-navs make it appear there is. Notice there are posts or fences next to the barriers to prevent people from driving on the sidewalks.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.763542,-77.105438,3a,75y,274.13h,83.51t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sag6l20KWSdiQgGxJgM19wA!2e0  <--I note that one claims to have a video camera monitoring it!

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.764647,-77.099735,3a,75y,204.03h,92.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sEh3Djrz445CSud1wUyMPzQ!2e0

Here is one of the "No Access to Route 1" signs:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.770445,-77.107131,3a,75y,237.12h,94.26t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sMc3KOQBjfy-zM0sUU5pBaA!2e0


There's something similar in at least one place on the line between Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. This one seems somewhat inexplicable when you look at the map because it connects to some back roads on the eastern end, but I think the idea is the similar goal of preventing people from using those back roads as a bypass of Route 7 and Route 193. The area east of this barrier is an extremely wealthy area, whereas the area to the west is much denser, so perhaps it was just an effort to keep out the riff-raff. But panning around the satellite view a bit with the labels turned on shows that a lot of streets end just at, or just shy of, the county line on either side but without having barriers like this. Weird. No Street View, so here's the Bing "bird's eye" view:

http://binged.it/1cTP7Ei



Edited to add:

After posting the above I remembered this odd spot in Fairfax City. This was set up for the reason stated on the sign–preserving easy emergency vehicle access (there is a fire station down the street to the left of where I've linked). The street across the barrier in the photo (University Drive) was the thru street for as long as I can remember until very recently. It connected to Old Town Fairfax to the left and to George Mason University on the right, and the residents had complained about speeding traffic for years. A few years ago the new George Mason Boulevard was constructed to take the through traffic and University Drive was severed into disconnected pieces. This odd solution was put in place to allow for more expedited emergency vehicle access so as not to force fire trucks or ambulances to wind around the long way. I do not know how many of the residents use these in violation of the signs.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.840489,-77.307451,3a,75y,154.16h,57.84t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sSyaneFPRGm8xzK4LmVvsnw!2e0

A few other spots on the same street have similar access:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.839581,-77.308141,3a,75y,329.19h,62.39t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sKm72foXB3kbxhlEZC_AXkg!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.838985,-77.308601,3a,75y,114.94h,67.8t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJqEOTQwhPpZzWCfvXmPr5w!2e0

[Alps]

Pooing is loggy: http://goo.gl/maps/8qJna

[briantroutman]

After posting the above I remembered this odd spot in Fairfax City. This was set up for the reason stated on the sign–preserving easy emergency vehicle access...

Seems awfully short sighted to put up a rigid barrier because of the emergency access issue. I've also seen bendable/crushable plastic bollards used in similar situations to allow vehicles to pass in an emergency.

[Laura]

This one is my favorite: http://goo.gl/maps/Yd3rF

It's a two-way do not enter sign. Naturally I drove through it.

There is one more in this neighborhood, but it is an actual barrier that you can't drive through: http://goo.gl/maps/oIfaK


ETA: I don't know if this quite fits with the topic, but I'm posting it anyway. This is an example of two subdivisions that should connect to each other, but don't. How ridiculous is this? http://goo.gl/maps/7Nu6t

If I were driving by car to get from Lloyd Place to Phillips Place, it would take 1.5 miles or 5 minutes. That's enough in an emergency for someone to die if a police/fire/EMS GPS had these roads connecting.

[agentsteel53]

This is an example of two subdivisions that should connect to each other, but don't. How ridiculous is this? http://goo.gl/maps/7Nu6t

If I were driving by car to get from Lloyd Place to Phillips Place, it would take 1.5 miles or 5 minutes. That's enough in an emergency for someone to die if a police/fire/EMS GPS had these roads connecting.

yeah, but if you eliminate the barrier, then black people will move in, and who wants that?

[Alex4897]

Naturally I drove through it.

Funny, it kind of looks like the Google car did the same thing. 

Here's few that I know of:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=39.673371,-75.688275&spn=0.001901,0.004128&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.673371,-75.688275&panoid=9B1t45x_6dLYl7jm-2shjQ&cbp=12,26.44,,0,13.45

https://maps.google.com/?ll=39.653346,-75.641074&spn=0.00191,0.004128&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.653346,-75.641074&panoid=B0d8bI3vD6LFmZTddT8AYQ&cbp=12,79.27,,0,5.96  (this one doesn't seem to be an after thought like other examples, but I'm assuming the reasoning they had is similar)

https://maps.google.com/?ll=39.768172,-75.741147&spn=0.001907,0.004128&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.768172,-75.741147&panoid=AibY9lfn46skgc6Uzyg7UQ&cbp=12,321.84,,0,9.82  (this one used to connect to the main road where the street view pic is taken from)

[theline]

Here are a couple that come to mind quickly in my area. In both cases, the homeowners petitioned because drivers were allegedly cutting through their neighborhoods to avoid some traffic lights.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.62585,-86.236145,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sx7lzm-4HV_axo4mODOM0_w!2e0?hl=en (It looks like cyclists have been running around this one.)
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.679176,-86.196785,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sRqffBf_3CobHI0F2WbE6dg!2e0?hl=en

I seem to recall a couple of decades ago one of the more exclusive suburbs in the Cleveland area was planning on barricading several streets right at the city limit with a less exclusive neighboring town. There was a huge uproar because the plans reeked of racism. I can't recall if the plans succeeded or were abandoned. Perhaps someone else has a better memory.

[Duke87]

If you really want dumb shit of this nature, go to Tucson:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2317,-110.943863,3a,75y,46.37h,86.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s_DX__5lYdEL8hcYvAjDawQ!2e0
Yes, that is a street leading to a signalized intersection which is wide open and two way, but guarded by a pair of do not enter signs! It seems to be legal to exit the street here, just not enter, unless you are a bicycle or "government service vehicle".

[Alex4897]

If you really want dumb shit of this nature, go to Tucson:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2317,-110.943863,3a,75y,46.37h,86.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s_DX__5lYdEL8hcYvAjDawQ!2e0
Yes, that is a street leading to a signalized intersection which is wide open and two way, but guarded by a pair of do not enter signs! It seems to be legal to exit the street here, just not enter, unless you are a bicycle or "government service vehicle".

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=32.197114,-110.902863&spn=0.535147,1.056747&cbll=32.2317,-110.943863&layer=c&panoid=_DX__5lYdEL8hcYvAjDawQ&cbp=12,282.28,,1,8.77&t=m&z=11
It appears this biker is poised to use this privilege.

[xcellntbuy]

Barriers like this have been erected between the City of Pembroke Pines and the Town of Southwest Ranches in Broward County, Florida.  They serve as both physical impediments to cut-through traffic and politicized spite fences.

There is another similar block with barriers and landscaping at what was long ago an intersection on NW 21 Avenue and NW 38 (or 39) Street in Oakland Park to stop school buses from making a traffic mess on a residential street where a major school bus terminal is located for Broward County Public Schools.

[Jardine]

The Omaha, Nebraska metro area has a few barricades or gaps in pavement that align with the boundaries of sanitary improvement districts.  Some subdivisions have different arrangements with TPTB regarding how they were platted out, how the streets were paid for, and how the water and sewer lines were financed.

Now, how all that translates to unthru streets, hellifiknow, but the gaps are on the boundary lines.

[vdeane]

Naturally I drove through it.

Funny, it kind of looks like the Google car did the same thing. 

Check the imagery again.  On one side it's dated 2009, and on the other, it's dated 2012.  Google did NOT drive through there.  It's just that the streets are close enough that the arrow appears (note that you can actually hop from one street to another by double-clicking in the right place even in the old Google Maps; this is very annoying on elevated freeways).

[Brandon]

If you really want dumb shit of this nature, go to Tucson:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2317,-110.943863,3a,75y,46.37h,86.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s_DX__5lYdEL8hcYvAjDawQ!2e0
Yes, that is a street leading to a signalized intersection which is wide open and two way, but guarded by a pair of do not enter signs! It seems to be legal to exit the street here, just not enter, unless you are a bicycle or "government service vehicle".

That's begging to be ignored.  In Chicago, it would be.

[theline]

It's just that the streets are close enough that the arrow appears (note that you can actually hop from one street to another by double-clicking in the right place even in the old Google Maps; this is very annoying on elevated freeways).

Emphasis added.

I've had just that experience plenty of times. I'm trying to move forward along the freeway imagery, and I click in the wrong place. Zap, I'm on some cross street, often with no way to get back on the freeway. 

[Brian556]

Far as I'm concerned, these barriers should be illegal. People have no right to complain about drivers "cutting through" "their" neighborhood. The streets are owned by the tax-paying citizens of the city as a whole, not the few selfish bastards that live on them.

[Molandfreak]

Far as I'm concerned, these barriers should be illegal. People have no right to complain about drivers "cutting through" "their" neighborhood. The streets are owned by the tax-paying citizens of the city as a whole, not the few selfish bastards that live on them.

+1

[Laura]

Far as I'm concerned, these barriers should be illegal. People have no right to complain about drivers "cutting through" "their" neighborhood. The streets are owned by the tax-paying citizens of the city as a whole, not the few selfish bastards that live on them.

+1

+2!!!

I'm the modern day weirdo who has no desire to live in a cul-de-sac because it shouldn't take a maze for me to get to and from my residence. I live on a main road (former MD state route) and love it.

This is an example of two subdivisions that should connect to each other, but don't. How ridiculous is this? http://goo.gl/maps/7Nu6t

If I were driving by car to get from Lloyd Place to Phillips Place, it would take 1.5 miles or 5 minutes. That's enough in an emergency for someone to die if a police/fire/EMS GPS had these roads connecting.

yeah, but if you eliminate the barrier, then black people will move in, and who wants that?

Lol... While there are barriers in Baltimore City that exist due to racism, this one in the burbs has nothing to do with racism since it is in a mostly white area. I can't verify, but put my guess in the fact that the original residents didn't want to lose their quiet dead end street to a through way, even though this neighborhood has more speed bumps than a shopping center so you can't go more than 5-10 mph anyway.


iPhone

[Alex4897]

Naturally I drove through it.

Funny, it kind of looks like the Google car did the same thing. 

Check the imagery again.  On one side it's dated 2009, and on the other, it's dated 2012.  Google did NOT drive through there.  It's just that the streets are close enough that the arrow appears (note that you can actually hop from one street to another by double-clicking in the right place even in the old Google Maps; this is very annoying on elevated freeways).

I know that, the lighting is different enough on either side to indicate that.  I just thought it was funny how it was laid out.

[NE2]

What happens when counties don't work together on planning sprawl: http://tbo.com/pasco-county/kinnan-street-connector-stalled-645412

[Pete from Boston]

Far as I'm concerned, these barriers should be illegal. People have no right to complain about drivers "cutting through" "their" neighborhood. The streets are owned by the tax-paying citizens of the city as a whole, not the few selfish bastards that live on them.

The problem is, selfish bastards get a lot more laws passed than the average person, who is too lazy or apathetic to get involved.  So those with an interest in having a street legally end someplace then restart ten feet later already have the upper hand by having taken an interest, something most folks will never do.

The selfish bastards, as you put it, used the same mechanisms available to you.

I don't agree with anyone who thinks they have a right to a certain kind of traffic pattern (really?) but I'll defend to the death, as they say, your right to demand it from your government.  But you're going to have to actually do that demanding first.

[1995hoo]

Far as I'm concerned, these barriers should be illegal. People have no right to complain about drivers "cutting through" "their" neighborhood. The streets are owned by the tax-paying citizens of the city as a whole, not the few selfish bastards that live on them.

That depends on where you are. The first two examples I posted may–I don't know for sure–be on streets that belong to, and are maintained by, a private homeowners' association. Whether an HOA can block streets in that manner is almost certainly a matter of state law that will vary from state to state. But it's not always reasonable to assume that a street is "owned by tax-paying citizens."

I've long thought that HOAs having trouble with cut-through traffic should work with the municipality to make the main roads a more suitable option for thru traffic. For example, fight to get the traffic lights synchronized and such instead of throwing up stops signs and speed humps. I especially think this is true for HOAs whose streets belong to the county or state–I don't think it's their place to say "thou shalt not drive on our streets." HOAs that own and maintain their own streets, OK, I have less of an issue with them restricting access (witness all the gated communities in Florida, for example).