The 15 mph speed limit on the campus of Hampshire College has increased a little to honor a recently retired math professor.
Dave Kelly says he’s been pushing for a 17 mph speed limit ever since he arrived at Hampshire College more than 40 years ago.
“Somehow it captured for me even then, the uniqueness of Hampshire and kind of a little bit of a quirkiness about it,” Kelly says.
And as a retirement present, the school has granted Kelly his wish. Seventeen is an important number in mathematics, he says, that’s always fascinated him.
But does this longtime professor actually obey the speed limit on campus?
“Of course not,” Kelly says, dryly. “However, I suspect that more people are aware of the speed limit now that it’s 17.”
In fact, Kelly says, some people have told him the had no idea the old speed limit was 15.