Caution: Speed Humps Ahead

Problem: There’s a rise in pedestrian accidents.
Solution: Install speed humps that force drivers to slow down.
Sounds like an excellent plan. What could possibly go wrong?
If you drive in and around the City of Richmond, you’ll notice that the new administration has been placing speed humps (what used to be known as speed bumps) all over the city. Most potholes are still there, but Public Works is feverishly constructing tire-busting, suspension-harming, first responder slowing and general nuisance asphalt ramps in “high-traffic corridors.”
Instead of doing the obvious thing – enforcing the existing speeding laws – the city (after careful consideration for more than five years) produced its Final Report on the so-called Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NMTP) in 2022. The report is “the result of an extensive outreach program initiated by the City’s Department of Transportation Services (now in the Department of Public Works) to solicit input from the City’s residents, from the Transportation and Technology Council Standing Committee (now called the, Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Council Standing Committee), from the City Planning Commission and from the City Council.” Sounds like hundreds of people were involved in this hodgepodge.
I’d be interested in seeing if the new measures actually help, because speed is a factor in only 8% of pedestrian fatalities according to NHTSA. (The other factors are poor street lighting, distracted driving, jaywalking and 35% of pedestrians killed or injured are impaired by drugs or alcohol).
If the various NTMP committees did their research, they’d find multiple reports that speed humps simply don’t work as intended….and usually cause a host of other problems.
- Experimental speed humps placed on a street at a school in Portland, Maine registered an increase in accidents of 35%.
- A study conducted by the fire department of Austin, Texas, showed an increase in the travel time of ambulances of up to 100% transporting victims after speed humps were installed.
- Cities like Bethesda, Maryland and other local governments like San Diego County have removed speed bumps after ADA lawsuits, since people with disabilities are adversely affected by them.
- The United Kingdom has been quietly removing speed humps since 2001, after a report showed they lead to higher CO2 emissions from cars (up to 50%-60%.)
Caution: There are speed humps ahead.
MONDAY:
SVCC JOINS THE CREW
We were proud to help highlight higher education here in the Commonwealth through our partnership with Southside Virginia Community College! We helped them build awareness for what they can offer students, boost their enrollment, and get folks of all kinds on the path to better lives and careers with accessible and excellent higher education.
TUESDAY:
GIVING AND TRIVIA-ING THIS TUESDAY
The Madison+Main-iacs gathered on Tuesday to help prep our yearly gifts for our amazing clients, and to wrap up a little internal food bank of items our team donated over the month of November! Tuesday we took everything over to a local Feed More drop-off point, to help further their mission to take care of our community and feed our neighbors in need.
Some of our team trekked over to the newest Zorch Pizza location on Forest Hill Tuesday night to face some fierce competition at their trivia night, and eat some incredible pizza pie! We’re thrilled to be working with amazing clients like Rob and his team and can’t wait to drop by for more delicious collaborations.


WEDNESDAY:
LET’S HEAR IT FOR LEANNE
Our team is celebrating and honoring 8 years of the brightest light at Madison+Main, our VP Leanne Pillow! It’s unanimous and if you’ve had the chance to chat with her, you’ll agree: she’s such a joy to work with and keeps us on the grow, and going with the flow. Clients and crew agree, she’s easy to celebrate. Happy 8 years, Leanne!

THURSDAY:
ELFIN’ AROUND
The Main-iacs loaded up this week, getting on the road to visit clients and drop off our wheelie wheelie cool Christmas gift! We’re so grateful for each year with our clients and getting to pop in and say hi in person made the season truly bright. Pictured are some new friends from First Call Environmental and some of the home team, too!

FRIDAY:
DAVE ON THE (AIR)WAVES
I rejoined Rich Herrera on the air this morning on Richmond’s Morning News to chat about fun things to do this weekend in RVA, even with the white and fluffy precipitation. ICYMI, here’s the link.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Zorch Pizza Parlor’s Holiday Market Presented by Artisan Events
Date: December 7, 2025
Location: Zorch Pizza Parlor | 7524 Forest Hill Ave | (757) 358-6597
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Price: Free
Join us for a Holiday Artisan Market at Zorch Pizza Parlor in Forest Hill. A fun event for the whole family! Shop holiday gifts made by local vendors! We bring together amazing local artists and makers selling handmade home décor, art, jewelry, woodworking, vintage, handmade apparel, and more! Amazing Pizza, Full Bar, Games, Dog friendly, Outdoor Event, located in Zorch’s Backyard area.
Follow us on Instagram @artisanmakersrva
“A camel is a horse that was designed by a committee.” – Sir Alec Issigonis, Inventor of the Mini Cooper