City of Calgary converting all school zones into playground zones

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Yes, the entire Calgary should've been made 30km/h so there'll be no accidents and motorists won't have to tell playground zones from the other. I believe city hall is leaning towards this way in the not too distant future.

I actually believe city hall is leaning towards commissioning all roads as bike paths instead with a speed limit of 20 km/h. Even safer!

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I actually believe city hall is leaning towards commissioning all roads as bike paths instead with a speed limit of 20 km/h. Even safer!

That's why the CalgaryNext project has no parking space. Everyone bike or walk there with a separate crawl lane for toddlers.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Slava

So the speed limit should just be 50km/hr and we should have no school or playground zones?

Living in a brand new community- I can see where playgrounds are purposely being built beside major residential roads as a traffic calming measure. Whereas the playground could have been put further away from the busy road. I used to live in a cul de sac that had a playground- and didn't mind living in the zone. We were separated from the main road. But now they are putting them in to slow traffic- not with children's safety in mind.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Duh.

The issue isn't the speed. Some might get miffed at the inconvenience, but I think very few people are going to get properly upset over the 15-40 seconds out of their day. The issue is the gigantic waste of money that goes into implementing these zones, then constantly changing them like they have been in the last year. Then the police is enforcing the wrong issues in the wrong way.

They're spending money to solve a problem that never existed. It's a feel good circle jerk made so idiots can pat themselves on the back under the guise of improved safety, but it's no safer than it was before.

I'm all for improving pedestrian safety. Especially involving children. But this doesn't do that. It's a waste of time

Bologna. The issue is, and always will be, people getting annoyed because it's yet another way for cops to ticket you. People will get busted. And people will get fined.

Is it a gigantic waste of time? Perhaps. Does it make the streets any safer? Probably not. But let's not pretend that's why people are upset about it. The real issue is that people who speed in playground zones and get busted will now have another hand in their pocket and will lose out on their hard earned cash. That's the real issue.

[psicodude]

The worst type of law is a vague one or one open to interpretation. When exactly is sunset? When does winter end and summer begin? It's a school day, technically, but I think it's a PD day, so maybe not. Is this a year round school? The Catholic schools are open today, but public are closed...

My guess is that the old laws were too difficult to understand and there are far too many really stupid people out there. Make the law as simple and clear as possible and the chances of it being adhered to increase greatly.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Is it a gigantic waste of time? Perhaps. Does it make the streets any safer? Probably not.

Slowing down in a playground zone where there's no kid there, or a school zone when there's no student there, doesn't make anybody safer. Which is why people are upset about this. And there is the cash grab aspect to it too.

From shark fin banning to playground zone re-designation, this city council sure tried to answer a lot of questions that weren't asked.

[corporatejay]

I'm a fan of speed bumps, they should install those in high risk areas and actually force people to slow down.

[RedHot25]

Do we really have 5 pages on this already?

I don't get it.

You have to go 30 for a few minutes.

And that's it. That's all.

I guess I just need to rile myself up a lot more about things.

(not trying to be snarky or anything, I just honestly don't get it).

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Cameron Swift

Oh no, cash grab!!! It's only a cash grab if you're caught speeding.

Wrong. It's a cash grab when the only purpose of the speed trap is to generate revenue not educate people and help prevent traffic accidents and deaths.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by habernac

What's the hurry through residential neighbourhoods? Too many morons driving too fast out there, I welcome 1 zone that is valid year round.

Here in Vic 50km zones are now 40km. In Oakbay and James Bay all streets are 30kms.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I'm a fan of speed bumps, they should install those in high risk areas and actually force people to slow down.

1. Thanked

2. As per my last post we In vic also have speed bumps in areas yhat are known to be Famlily oriented or residential streets that can be used to cut from on major road way to the next. In some cases intead of a speed bump they construct mini roundabouts at residential intersections.

[Red Slinger]

Messing with the driving culture is a sure-fire way to irrationally anger an unproportional number of Calgarians.

[Bunk]

I think on local residential roads and collectors the default speed should be 30km/h anyway. 50 is too fast.

Even better, we need to design our streets (much narrower) so it feels completely unnatural and unsafe to be going over 30 in residential areas. We have designed our roads so that going really fast feels natural and safe to the driver. It's a public safety hazard we've created for ourselves.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Even better, we need to design our streets (much narrower) so it feels completely unnatural and unsafe to be going over 30 in residential areas. We have designed our roads so that going really fast feels natural and safe to the driver. It's a public safety hazard we've created for ourselves.

Yep. The worst is the long, curving, broad roads that cut through suburban neighbourhoods. People drive them too fast, and they become a hazard to anyone - especially kids - walking or bicycling in their neighbourhood. Straight, narrow streets with lots of stop signs and crosswalks make for walkable neighbourhoods.

And to pre-empt the Won't Someone Think About the Children jpg: Yes, I think residential neighbourhoods where family housing is prevalent should be designed and managed with children in mind. If you don't like it, buy a condo in the beltline.

[Looch City]

I agree with narrower roads as well, but keep in mind winter conditions with snow build up and clearing.

How do the northern European countries do it?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I'm a fan of speed bumps, they should install those in high risk areas and actually force people to slow down.

Hogwash, you just unleash your inner 'Duke of Hazzard!'

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I think on local residential roads and collectors the default speed should be 30km/h anyway. 50 is too fast.

Even better, we need to design our streets (much narrower) so it feels completely unnatural and unsafe to be going over 30 in residential areas. We have designed our roads so that going really fast feels natural and safe to the driver. It's a public safety hazard we've created for ourselves.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yep. The worst is the long, curving, broad roads that cut through suburban neighbourhoods. People drive them too fast, and they become a hazard to anyone - especially kids - walking or bicycling in their neighbourhood. Straight, narrow streets with lots of stop signs and crosswalks make for walkable neighbourhoods.

And to pre-empt the Won't Someone Think About the Children jpg: Yes, I think residential neighbourhoods where family housing is prevalent should be designed and managed with children in mind. If you don't like it, buy a condo in the beltline.

I think this issue is why we see some many kids riding their bikes on the sidewalk. I am teaching the kids to ride on the road. Teaching them the rules of the roade.

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I agree with narrower roads as well, but keep in mind winter conditions with snow build up and clearing.

How do the northern European countries do it?

If snow removal on the road is done properly is it pushed onto the area between the road and sidewalk (I can't think of the name of that to save my life).

[calgarygeologist]

Following this news, I noticed this morning that the school zone by my place has been converted to a playground zone. I don't even know when this happened but I certainly haven't been slowing to 30 this summer when driving through. I didn't even look at the sign anymore because I just became accustomed to where the school zone started and ended.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

I agree with narrower roads as well, but keep in mind winter conditions with snow build up and clearing.

How do the northern European countries do it?

Poorly. They're definitely not designed with driving in mind. Let alone driving your grocery getting F150 or Pathfinder Armada.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by polak

Poorly. They're definitely not designed with driving in mind. Let alone driving your grocery getting F150 or Pathfinder Armada.

My experience driving in many different European countries was that the "roads" predate the Model-T by many years.