Clock at 5-Way Stop Improvements v r
Bussey, Donna
To: Honorable Mayor&City Commissioners
Cc: Hanson, Jim; Shaw, Jeanne /
Subject: FW: 5-way stop improvements
118 1
AB_TideClock.doc
(440 KB)
Original Message
From: Hanson, Jim
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 8:42 AM
To: Bussey, Donna
Cc: kbodge@olsen-associates.com; captain@fleetlanding.com
Subject: FW: 5-way stop improvements
Donna;
Can you send copies of the attached letter to the Mayor and Commissioners?
Jim
Original Message
From: Kevin Bodge [mailto:kbodge@olsen-associates.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 8:36 AM
To: Hanson, Jim
Cc: Carper, Rick
Subject: 5-way stop improvements
Jim: I've attached a letter that proposes a potentially intriguing addition/alternative
to the five-way stop improvements, for consideration by the Commission or appropriate
committee. I'd appreciate it if you could pass it along appropriately.
I guess these sorts of ideas are what comes of having too long of a commute from the beach
each morning. .
Thanks,
Kevin.
Kevin R. Bodge, Ph.D. , P.E.
Senior Engineer / Vice President
Olsen Associates, Inc.
4438 Herschel Street
Jacksonville, FL 32210 USA
904.387.6114 / Fax: 904.384.7368
1
o
1 November 2005
Dr. Kevin R. Bodge, P.E.
336 1 r Street
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
904.249.7032
Mr. Jim Hanson
City Manager, City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Re: Clock at Five-Way Stop Improvements
Dear Jim:
I read that one of the proposed landscape improvements to the 5-way stop at Plaza
and Seminole might include a clock. A clock tower could, indeed, be an attractive
vertical accent to the work. It occurred to me that an intriguing alternative or addition to
a conventional 12-hour clock for Atlantic Beach might be a'tide clock'.
A tide clock counts the hours until the next high tide or the next low tide. It uses
a single hand that sweeps clockwise on a 12.4-hour cycle, toward high tide at the top of
the dial and low tide at the bottom. Examples of typical tide clocks are shown below.
Sometimes a second hand is used to show motion(seconds) or to point to the lunar phase.
, 44111111W111111111111111Pr3
ii u i.
•
o �• 1:c-...
.8 - • a.
.
O
,. 11.1.�..•
P Iry
gli1
4 0 w6T 10 , ///- iiii
I thought about a tide clock for a number of reasons. First, a tide clock(in lieu of,
or in addition to a conventional clock) would accent our city's connection with the beach
and ocean. It teaches and reminds people that there is a second natural daily rhythm at
the beaches -- lunar versus solar. And, a tide clock would be unique to our city. As you
•
J. Hanson/ 1 November 2005
Page 2 of 2
know, I work in coastal communities throughout the United States and the world; and I
do not recall that I have ever seen a tide clock in a public square.
One could argue that conventional time clocks in public squares are somewhat
passé. In today's busy world, almost everyone wears a watch or has a clock in their car.
Sometimes, a large public clock is yet another reminder that we are probable `late' for
something! The origin of the public clock—usually in town centers or at railroad stations
-- dates back a couple of centuries when few people had watches and there was a need to
establish a standard time between towns in order to facilitate railroad schedules.
Many people whose interests are tied to the sea have tide clocks in their home,
including boaters, fishermen and surfers. My family has one prominently displayed in
the house, and it has been a great teaching tool for my children and an intriguing
conversation piece for our `inland' guests.
Lastly, on a less-important practical note, a slip of a minute or two on a tide clock
is not be noticed (or nearly as important) as on a conventional time clock. Clock
adjustments by Staff may be required less often (and complaining phone calls about 'the
clock time' less frequent).
I would appreciate it if you might pass this recommendation on to the City
Commission or to the committee which is overseeing the five-way stop improvements. I
hope that the idea might be considered for implementation.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Kevin R. Bodge, Ph.D., P.E.