The City of Vancouver has announced a proposal to implement 40 km/h speed limits on residential streets. WERA welcomes this overdue initiative, however instead would like 30 km/hr speed limits. You can find out more on the City’s website at
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/transport/40kph/index.htm
Lower speed limits will significantly improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The website http://whatstherush.ca/ shows that a child has an 80% chance to die when hit by a motorist traveling 50 km/h. This reduces to 40% when hit at 40 km/h and only 5% at 30 km/h.
This proposal dates back to the 1997 Transportation Plan and is subject to the Province changing the Motor Vehicle Act to give the City the authority to change speed limits. WERA is disappointed that it has taken the City over 10 years to action this initiative and is disappointed that the original recommendation of 40 km/h is not being reviewed.
Each year there are typically between 10 and 20 pedestrian motor vehicle fatalities in Vancouver. The City is suggesting 40 km/h limits as “a compromise” between safety and the rights of motorists. WERA believes the City needs to adopt a “Zero Pedestrian Fatality” policy as is common in some European cities and that pedestrian and cyclist safety should never be compromised.
WERA is encouraging people that support reduced speed limits on residential streets to reply to the City e-mail address set up for this initiative at 40kph@vancouver.ca Please also make a comment “Why not 30 kp/h?”. To ensure this initiative moves ahead please also copy the Mayor and Council at mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca, and Kevin Falcon, the Provincial Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure who is responsible for the Motor Vehicle Act at kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/transport/40kph/index.htm
Lower speed limits will significantly improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The website http://whatstherush.ca/ shows that a child has an 80% chance to die when hit by a motorist traveling 50 km/h. This reduces to 40% when hit at 40 km/h and only 5% at 30 km/h.
This proposal dates back to the 1997 Transportation Plan and is subject to the Province changing the Motor Vehicle Act to give the City the authority to change speed limits. WERA is disappointed that it has taken the City over 10 years to action this initiative and is disappointed that the original recommendation of 40 km/h is not being reviewed.
Each year there are typically between 10 and 20 pedestrian motor vehicle fatalities in Vancouver. The City is suggesting 40 km/h limits as “a compromise” between safety and the rights of motorists. WERA believes the City needs to adopt a “Zero Pedestrian Fatality” policy as is common in some European cities and that pedestrian and cyclist safety should never be compromised.
WERA is encouraging people that support reduced speed limits on residential streets to reply to the City e-mail address set up for this initiative at 40kph@vancouver.ca Please also make a comment “Why not 30 kp/h?”. To ensure this initiative moves ahead please also copy the Mayor and Council at mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca, and Kevin Falcon, the Provincial Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure who is responsible for the Motor Vehicle Act at kevin.falcon.mla@leg.bc.ca
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