New speed‑bumps and curb installations on Białołęka roads have angered local residents, who protest that the measures increase danger and undermine long‑standing demands for sidewalks.
New Traffic‑Calming Features Roll Out
Speed‑bumps and curbs have appeared on straight stretches of Szamocin and Wałuszewska streets, as well as on an uncomplicated road along railway tracks at Choszczówka. The devices are intended to slow traffic, especially at night when downhill runs could lead to serious crashes.
Residents Demand Sidewalks, Not Traffic Calms
Local residents point out that the areas affected have no record of accidents, and that for years they have campaigned primarily for sidewalks. “Living here is getting harder,” one resident tells the newsroom, “I moved to the outskirts because of massive traffic jams, frequent repairs, and lack of parking. We wanted a sidewalk, not curbs or speed‑bumps. The curbs damage our cars for years—who will reimburse us?”
Safety Concerns Emphasize Existing Risks
In warnings to a “Mehoffera” and “Polne Kwiatów” pilot project, residents note that the safety of wide‑speed areas was already disastrous before the new devices: ninety‑five percent of drivers no longer drive in the required 50 km/h zone. The introduction of the speed‑calming devices is seen as a temporary fix that might actually increase risk, as observed after a similar change on the Lucerny viaduct.
Political Voices Clash Over Implementation
Some councilors say the proposal came from residents, others say it originated with activists who presented petitions without community consultation. Councilor Filip Pelc comments, “I don’t know why such solutions were chosen. I would have sufficed with ordinary curbs.” He awaits an official answer to his interpellation.
One resident accuses the Warsaw Road Administration of manipulation: “The Office should start by admitting that they lied in the text. Residents have repeatedly asked for a sidewalk. Until it is built you were supposed to use a temporary solution. The reduction of road width is the worst possible solution, a statement echoed by the director of ZDM at a 2024 meeting.”
Calls for Removal and Better Consultation
Residents demand that the current speed‑calming measures be evaluated for true benefit to safety, visibility and traffic flow and removed if they are harmful. They also call for the construction of sidewalks as the priority, arguing that they have not solicited such changes and that the initiatives were imposed without proper consultation.
