Traffic on Santa Barbara’s Eastside has One Resident Making ‘Slow Down’ Signs

One Santa Barbara neighborhood is feeling the impacts where the Riviera, Eastside, and Milpas St. traffic converge. Residents say drivers are going too fast, ignoring pedestrians, school children, stops signs, and crosswalks.

Homemade signs have gone up on many poles to alert drivers.

Police have also been asked to increase patrols.

Resident Kathy Guzman says she has considered taking up the role as an occasional crossing guard for all residents.

Amanda Lopez-Solis lives on the corner of Gutierrez and Voluntario and says, “oh yea, there are people running through the stop sign all the time.”

A resident walking from the store with two bags, Magdelina Bande said she was almost “hurt” by a car speeding by her in the area where she walks regularly. She looks both ways and is cautious but there’s no guarantees.

Other areas of the neighborhood have had strong community actions about safer streets in recent months. The city has responded with better lighting, crosswalks, speed humps or other traffic calming solutions.

Other residents say more street lights are needed on several streets too.