Speed bumps.

[JockoT]

Here in the UK more and more towns and cities are introducing 20 mph limits which are often tightly enforced, either by speed cameras or by speed bumps. Edinburgh, the nearest big city to me, has introduced a 20 mph speed limit for the entire city centre which is being gradually extended further and further out. Eventually only the four main routes into the city will not be 20 mph.
My dilemma is how to drive economically in such conditions. Here in my town many of the speed bumps are quite fierce and even 20 mph is unsettling or risks damaging suspension parts.
They reduce speed in town, but have been proven to increase pollution, as most motorists speed up and slow down between speed bumps. Other than trying to keep as constant a speed as possible, is there any other advice you can give for coping with town driving here in the UK? Luckily my Honda Jazz/Fit is fairly low geared/torquey and I can creep about in 3rd gear for most of the time.

[ECO-AKJ]

Pulse and Glide if a manual transmission, when you see it coming up, kill engine, then restart right before your front tires go over it and rinse and repeat!!!

Just a thought I had

[JockoT]

I more or less do that, though because of the short distances between bumps it isn't really feasible to switch the ignition off between them. On suburban roads they are about 30 - 50 metres apart. It is really just a case of clutch down, over the bump, clutch up, throttle if needed, clutch down and on I go. They are a total pain, and I am always replacing drop links and suspension bushes, irrespective of the car I have.

[redneck]

.

They are a total pain, and I am always replacing drop links and suspension bushes, irrespective of the car I have.

Not if you have one of these...

https://goo.gl/images/qEVp2L





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[JockoT]

You can't coast with the engine off in one of those! Would cope with the speed bumps though.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Speed bumps are a PITA. Anyway, if you can anticipate them and simply take your foot out of throttle and go gliding as further as you can while you approach them, that might help.

[Stubby79]

Perfect scenario for a hybrid...

[vskid3]

Petition the city to remove the speed bumps or replace them with ones that can be driven over at the speed limit? You can dream, right? :P

[JockoT]

Maybe in the US but not in the UK. They would point out that you can drive over them at the speed limit. Only if you don't care about your vehicle. The big motoring organisations and the Green Party have been campaigning to have them removed but their protests fall on deaf ears. And small awards for damages in the UK mean it is not worth suing the local council.

[jakobnev]

You have to go slow between them too!