Frustrated by chronic speeding and dangerous sideshows tearing through their neighborhood, residents of an Oakland neighborhood took matters into their own hands — installing DIY speed bumps after feeling ignored by city officials.
But their grassroots solution sparked controversy when city crews tore them out, reigniting debate over citizen-led traffic calming measures.
“We’ve had peace for the past eight months, a hard peace," Oakland man Michael Andemeskel told NBC Bay Area. "We paid for that peace with our labor and money and then the city overnight took it away without excuse and without notice.”
What prompted residents to come with their own plan and why did the city rip it away?
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Residents implement their own speedbump DIY solution
A 2023 AAA study found that nearly 60% of American drivers admit to engaging in risky driving behaviors, including speeding, distracted driving and aggressive maneuvers. These behaviors, AAA says, aren’t limited to highways but also occur in neighborhood settings, where they can be particularly disruptive and dangerous.
For months, residents of the Oakland neighborhood watched as their street became a hotspot for reckless driving and illegal sideshows — events where drivers perform dangerous stunts like donuts and drifts.
After multiple calls and complaints to city officials produced no concrete results, neighbors banded together. Pooling their own money, they collectively spent $3,000 building several speed bumps along their street in an effort to curtail dangerous driving.
Residents say their project was verbally approved by the city’s Department of Transportation Director. Confident in their community-backed solution, they believed this would finally end the dangerous driving. Besides, Andemeskel says, the residents were told a planned repaving years down the road would give the city and residents time to find a solution that works for everyone.
"So we’re like, ‘OK, we can work with that,’” Andemeskel told the news outlet. “Within eight years, we can figure out a solution that makes everyone happy, right?" Unfortunately, the residents’ relief was short-lived.
City removes DIY speed bumps, chaos returns
Earlier this month, city workers abruptly removed the homemade speed bumps, citing safety concerns. Residents were outraged. Not only had their efforts been dismantled, but multiple neighbors reported the dangerous driving returned a day later.
The sudden reversal sparked confusion and frustration among residents who felt betrayed by the city’s apparent reversal of their earlier support. Oakland City Councilmember Charlene Wang, now representing their neighborhood, says residents and her staff weren’t warned before the city removed the bumps.
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"It is exactly these kinds of quick build, cheap, easy street treatments that I ran on, especially in face of a budget deficit, of being smart, being resourceful," Wang told NBC Bay Area. "The fact that the residents did that, I think that’s pretty remarkable."
Oakland’s response and residents’ next moves
Josh Rowan, Oakland’s transportation director, says city officials sympathize with residents’ woes but warned that makeshift deterrents can be dangerous. "The behaviors that frustrate everyone frustrate us too," Rowan told KTVU. "When it comes to solutions, their solutions are increasing risk on the street."
Rowan says cars have swerved out of traffic lanes because of the speed bumps, escalating the risks neighbors sought to reduce. "We want to get solutions that are solving these problems," Rowan says, adding the city was exploring additional measures to calm the activity. “But they keep getting out in front of us. And that’s not helping either us or them."
If you have similar challenges in your neighborhood, consider these steps before spending any money out of your — or your neighbors’ — pockets:
Document the problems: Capture videos and photos to prove the extent of reckless driving.
Petition the city: Organize and submit formal petitions demanding traffic calming measures.
Engage local officials: Regularly attend city council meetings, engage representatives and keep pressure for official action.
Request official traffic studies: Push local transportation departments to conduct traffic studies to officially document the issue and expedite solutions.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
