It’s both interesting and sad how quickly a problem can be fixed when it finally gets the public’s attention.

The bump on North Second Street just north of the Kansas River bridge is a perfect example.

The jarring bump was no secret to anyone who traveled that stretch of road. For those familiar with the intersection, the bump actually served as a speed bump, motivating drivers to slow down rather than scrape the bottom of their vehicles on the pavement.

In fact, the bump already was slated for repairs, but the project was more than a year down the road, until the bump apparently contributed to an accident that seriously injured a 15-year-old Lawrence boy. When it hit the bump, a trailer sprang loose from the vehicle that was pulling it and crashed into the boy, who was walking on the sidewalk on the east side of the street.

Suddenly – and deservedly – attention was focused on this problem. Not only have state officials said work to permanently repair the bump can begin by the end of the year, city crews were out doing a temporary fix on Monday, just nine days after the accident. While North Lawrence residents are grateful for the repairs, it’s easy to understand why some of them are a little cynical about what they see as tardy action by the city.

Something good frequently comes out of sad events, but it’s too bad the order of those events isn’t reversed more often.