Information from the City of Asbury Park’s Transportation Department: Understanding Chicanes
Chicanes help reduce vehicular speeds by requiring motorists to maneuver through horizontal diversions of traffic. This can be achieved through a series of two or three curb bulbs placed on alternating sides of the street and staggered to create a curved one-lane segment of roadway. The spacing between the curb bulbs and the distance they extend into the roadway determine how easily motorists will be able to maneuver through the chicanes. The more restrictive the movement the slower vehicles must travel.
Chicanes are best placed mid-block on longer residential roadways as they prevent drivers from building speed on long stretches of road. Depending on how they are constructed, a chicane’s bulb outs can also provide new green space along roadways and improve a neighborhood’s aesthetic.
Chicanes are one of many traffic calming techniques and strategies being evaluated for their effectiveness to determine what work best for our City.
