Battle over speed bumps in Birmingham’s Crestwood community is escalating quickly

Tensions are rising in Birmingham’s Crestwood South neighborhood as a fierce debate over potential speed bumps heats up. While the city views traffic calming as a solution to safety concerns, some residents are pushing back hard against the proposed installations.

A Neighborhood Divided

The controversy flared up over the weekend when door hangers appeared throughout Crestwood South. These flyers, which feature a drawing of a speed bump with a line through it, urge residents to oppose the city's traffic-calming initiatives. Critics argue that speed bumps serve as unnecessary nuisances that delay emergency response vehicles and damage vehicles.

William “Bill” Meneese, who spearheaded an anti-speed bump petition, describes the measures as a form of “collective punishment” for responsible drivers. As of June 18, the change.org petition had reached 401 signatures. Supporters of the petition, including a resident named Karen, expressed frustration over the potential for vehicle wear and tear and the use of taxpayer dollars for these devices.

The City’s Stance

City officials, however, are pushing back on the narrative being spread by the petition. Forrest L. Johnson, deputy director of the Birmingham Department of Transportation, told 205focus.com that much of the circulated information is inaccurate. According to Johnson, no final decisions have been made, and many of the streets listed on the door hangers—such as 12th Avenue and Claremont Avenue—are not even under consideration.

Currently, only 53rd St S and 58th St S are being evaluated for traffic calming. Johnson emphasized that if the city decides to move forward with installations, it will return to the Crestwood South Neighborhood Association for an official vote, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in.

Neighborhood Association Input

Timothy Hall, president of the Crestwood South Neighborhood Association, noted that the initial interest in traffic calming came directly from neighbors concerned about speeding. Hall stated that during a previous meeting, the neighborhood voted in favor of a traffic calming survey for 53rd St S and 58th St S, with only one dissenting vote.

While Crestwood South debates the issue, other areas of Birmingham have already embraced the devices. Transportation officials estimate that approximately 25 neighborhoods, covering about 40 streets, currently utilize speed bumps. Frank McCrory, former president of the Crestwood North Neighborhood, reported that his community is pleased with the results, telling 205focus.com, “We love the ones in Crestwood North and the slowing down of traffic.”

Looking Ahead

Meneese is already setting his sights beyond his own neighborhood. He plans to launch a city-wide advocacy campaign, hoping to unite residents across Birmingham against what he labels as misguided infrastructure modifications. As the campaign continues, the city maintains its commitment to coordinating with Birmingham Fire & Rescue to ensure that any traffic designs do not negatively impact emergency response times.