Resident urges Winter Haven to stop installing and to remove many speed bumps

Tim Steorts, a Winter Haven resident who gave his address to the commission, told elected officials that numerous speed bumps on west-side streets have made routine travel difficult and are causing ‘‘wear and tear’’ on vehicles. He named several streets where bumps are installed, including 17th Street Northwest, streets that feed into it, 26th Street, South Lake Howard Drive and a newly installed bump on Lake Howard Drive at a curve. "Every one of these speed bumps causes wear and tear, damage to many systems of a car," he said, and asked the city to stop installing additional speed bumps and to consider removing most existing ones.

Steorts said he understood speed bumps are intended to slow reckless drivers but argued the installed devices punish drivers who are not causing problems. He also raised bicycling and called for more bike paths to address bicycle safety rather than more speed bumps.

The city manager said staff would follow up with the speaker to obtain contact information and continue the conversation. No engineering reports, collision statistics or staff recommendations were presented during the public comment period.

The exchange concluded without a commitment on policy or a timeline for evaluation; commissioners did not vote on any change to traffic-calming policy during the meeting.