On Tuesday, Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion to implement a pilot project that’ll reduce the speed limit on residential streets.
The motion, which was brought forward in April by Green Councillor Pete Fry, calls for the speed limit on residential side streets in Vancouver to be lowered from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.
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My motion for 30k/h speed limit on residential streets comes before City Council Tuesday. It's work based on advocacy of many local orgs like @WeAreHub and @bccycle, the previous council, my own personal experiences, and a growing worldwide safety-first movement to slow down… pic.twitter.com/ZC9qKp1bEK
— Pete Fry (@PtFry) April 18, 2019
“It’s work based on advocacy of many local orgs like @WeAreHub and @bccycle” reads his tweet.
As part of this pilot project, City of Vancouver staff will pick a local street or area to gather results, with the results to be discussed by later this year.
Word that @CityofVancouver Staff are excited about our safer streets motion passed unanimously at council today. They've brought out last year's Halloween costumes!
Next stop #UBCM #30kph #VisionZero #RoadSafety @UNGRSW pic.twitter.com/kwvL7wKZVV— Pete Fry (@PtFry) May 14, 2019
Speed Limit Pilot Project
The “Safer Slower Streets” motion argues that the probability of pedestrian survival is about 90% if struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 30 km/h. Survival is reduced to 20% if struck by a motor vehicle travelling at 50 km/h.
Furthermore, Fry’s motion touches on the BC Road Safety Strategy, which set out the goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries and discussed safe speeds in 2015.. In 2016, the Provincial Health Officer’s Annual Report also recommended a 30 km/h speed limit in urban areas.
As of right now, the Motor Vehicle Act (“MVA”) stipulates a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour (“km/h”) within city limits. The plan moving forward is for the Union of BC Municipalities to “lobby the province to amend the Motor Vehicle Act to a default speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour”.
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