So the other day I was minding my own business, motoring north on Kiwanis Avenue. You know Kiwanis, it's one of the major streets in Sioux Falls. Oh, it's not 41st or Minnesota or East 10th, but it's a pretty busy street here in town.

So I'm toolin' down Kiwanis when I notice a car right on my bumper. I mean right on my tail, and when traffic cleared a bit he pulled around me, gave me his finger salute, and tore down the street.

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When Did Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls Turn Into Talladega Speedway?
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I glanced down at my speedometer and I was doing 35. Now, I know the speed limit on Kiwanis is 30, so yes, I was breaking the law. Speeding. But this new friend of mine thought I was holding up traffic and he wasn't happy. And you know what?

He was right. I was, at five miles over the speed limit, indeed being passed by, quickly and often.

Kiwanis feels like one of those 'open' kind of streets, the ones where before you know it, you're over the limit. I had wondered why the limit was 30 and several years ago, I found out.

When Did Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls Turn Into Talladega Speedway?
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My friend Rick Knobe and I were hosting a talk show and had one of the Sioux Falls City supervisors on the air. I asked him about it, why this avenue called Kiwanis was only 30 MPH.

Because there are many homes and driveways along the street. It might feel 'open', but it's essentially residential. So it's 30.

Oh.

When Did Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls Turn Into Talladega Speedway?
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And so, from time to time, as cars are popping by me, I'll look down and find myself doing that 30-35 range. And my word of advice would be:

Hey folks, slow down a bit. It's Kiwanis, not Talladega.

Oh, and by the way, a few years back I discovered that Oxbow Avenue is 25 MPH, not 36. So now (a little too late) I keep it under 25 on Oxbow. Lesson learned.

9 Sioux Falls Streets Visitors Have A Hard Time Pronouncing

If you are visiting or new to Sioux Falls and trying to find your way around, chances are you really don't need to pronounce street names correctly. All you have to do is enter your destination into Google Maps and your phone will show you the way.

But what if you are trying to tell someone where your cool friend or family member lives in our fine city? Some of our streets and avenues have tricky spellings that may throw visitors for a loop when trying to sound them out.

No one is going to mess up on the big thoroughfares like Minnesota Avenue, Western Avenue, or Louise Avenue but what about these?

Gallery Credit: Ben Davis

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