Too slow or too fast? Coquitlam mayor caught in the middle of Mariner Way speed limit argument
Posted December 5, 2019 6:40 am.
Last Updated December 5, 2019 6:51 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – The mayor of Coquitlam says he’s being called an “idiot” by both sides in a fight over the speed limit along hilly, curvy Mariner Way.
Mayor Richard Stewart has weighed-in on the speed limit along the residential street, posting on Facebook that he’s getting it from both commuters who gripe about it being too slow and residents who say speeders are causing senseless injury and death.
Stewart, who appears to be caught in the middle of the argument, points out he doesn’t set speed limits.
“Both of you should be aware that speed limits in BC aren’t set by the Mayor (they’re set by traffic engineers and provincial legislation), and that local politicians don’t ‘order’ the police (policing in BC is independent of political interference),” his Facebook post reads.
His post is apparently an email reply he sent to a local, whom he refers to as “Ethan.” In it, he references another resident, “Denise” who he says lives along Mariner Way. He says she has “written me many times, and she has called me an idiot because I haven’t reduced the speed limit along Mariner and I haven’t ordered the RCMP to focus more speed enforcement along that stretch.”
Meanwhile, Marisa, who lives on nearby Gatensbury, which Stewart says faces the same speeding-related issues, also draws a parallel.
“Last month, about three cars end up in my ditch in front of my house. So, people can’t go 30, people can’t go 50, they just can’t seem to control themselves at all,” she tells NEWS 1130. “Really, this is about people just controlling themselves. Driving is a privilege, so, if you can’t maintain yourself in a car and keep other people around you safe, you shouldn’t be driving.”
She says people will rev their engines and even “inch up the lines,” putting pedestrians at risk.
Stewart invited both sides to speak with each other rather than him, and to keep him posted on their progress.
He’ll bring the popcorn.
-With files from Amanda Wawryk
