Vancouver councillor renews call to lower residential speed limits
Posted February 5, 2021 2:46 pm.
Last Updated February 5, 2021 3:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s been a call coming out of Vancouver City Hall for nearly a quarter-century: Claw back the provincial speed limits in residential zones.
This demand is being revived, in the wake of another major city in Canada taking steps to slow its drivers down.
Calgary’s council has voted to reduce its speed limits in residential areas throughout the city. Vancouver City Councillor Chrstine Boyle took to social media this week to once again press Victoria for that, saying lower speeds — down to 30 km/h in Vancouver neighborhoods — would save lives.
“There are significantly fewer fatalities and significantly fewer serious injuries when collisions happen at 30 km/h,” she said.
A reduction in speed limits in residential areas is something Vancouver has been calling for since 1997. Boyle wants to see the province help them out by amending the Motor Vehicle Act. But she says it doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all solution.
“Ideally, the changes would be made in the Motor Vehicle Act to allow local governments to make that decision themselves,” she explained.
Cities are allowed to set their own speed limits wherever they want, but need to post it. Otherwise, the provincial standard applies.
Boyle argues a provincial reduction — or at least flexibility — would save Vancouver a lot of headaches and street sign clutter.
