Traffic problems are easy to talk about, harder to fix

Griping and whining about traffic is a long-established tradition in the Conejo Valley, so here we go again. But first, a bit of good news: One member of the Acorn team lived for many years in Newbury Park. He never realized how well the traffic moves in T.O., Newbury Park and Westlake Village, he said, until he moved to Agoura Hills.

So no matter how bad things are, they could be worse. Furthermore, when it comes to traffic, everything is relative. No matter where you live, if it's rush hour, traffic is a mess everywhere, not just in T.O.

Lynn Road is a classic example of problems throughout the city. It's heavily traveled. People drive too fast. The traffic creates noise and pollution.

Trying to address just one of the problems, the city hit a brick wall when it tried to get the state Legislature to acquiesce to the city and enable reduced speed limits on certain city streets, including Lynn Road.

Former Assemblymember Tony Strickland tried to help, but state Sen. Tom McClintock, a T.O. native no less, quashed it on grounds that the city was trying to establish speed traps.

Regarding this issue, McClintock obviously had lost track of the very people who helped elect him.

It was neither fair nor accurate for McClintock to accuse his former city of trying to raise revenue by ticketing its own unsuspecting residents.

There should be exceptions to every rule. In this case, the Legislature in Sacramento couldn't possibly know what's best for the people of Thousand Oaks.

Our City Council has a far better understanding of traffic safety in T.O. than anyone sitting in Sacramento.

No matter how little sense it makes, city councils in California cannot set speed limits that deviate from state law.

So it's up to residents.

If enough motorists reduce their average speeds on Lynn Road, the city could conceivably lower the speed limit.

In the meantime, watch out for more deputies writing tickets. You needn't worry, though, if you just drive a little slower.