Calgary Speed limits to be standard 30km/hr?

[CaptainYooh]

In other circumstances, I would be really pissed at the sweeping 30 km/h limit proposal for all the good reasons already posted here. But since it's Farrell and Carra proposing it, I wouldn't worry too much about it passing. They will get ignored in Council just like they usually do.

[DiracSpike]

I question the need for speed limits at all, most people including me treat them as speed minimums not speed maximums. People generally drive at the optimum safe speed for the road and you can tell that because the roads that have artifically low speed limits (Elbow drive 40 zone, memorial 50-70-50 transition, Crowchild 80, John Laurie) are favorite CPS hangouts to nab drivers.

I've honestly never thought about what the limit is for residential because I drive to the condition of the roads. If it's a big collector I'll go 50 and if it's the beltline or an older neighborhood with cars along the sides I'll probably go around 30 or slower but I honestly don't know, I never check the speedometer. They can implement this limit but I'll still drive to conditions on residential roads and not worry about enforcement because there's simply too much residential road to enforce this limit properly.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

In other circumstances, I would be really pissed at the sweeping 30 km/h limit proposal for all the good reasons already posted here. But since it's Farrell and Carra proposing it, I wouldn't worry too much about it passing. They will get ignored in Council just like they usually do.

The motion was sponsored by 7 members of Council, so they only need one additional vote for it to pass.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

They can implement this limit but I'll still drive to conditions on residential roads and not worry about enforcement because there's simply too much residential road to enforce this limit properly.

What makes you think the implementation won't be accompanied by a bunch of new random speed camera placements to ensure people are following the new limits? The cameras pay for themselves pretty quickly, I'd imagine.

[Fuzz]

Have any other cities done this? What are the successes/failures?

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by getbak

The motion was sponsored by 7 members of Council, so they only need one additional vote for it to pass.

That changes things... All it takes now is for one councillor not showing up for the vote. OK, you've just ruined my happy thoughts...

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

What makes you think the implementation won't be accompanied by a bunch of new random speed camera placements to ensure people are following the new limits? The cameras pay for themselves pretty quickly, I'd imagine.

Nothing I guess. It seems like those are usually on big roads, I've never seen them in playground zones to enforce 30 limits.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...down-1.4810599

That's my neighbourhood and I am f--king embarrassed for my community right now.


There is no reason that stretch of road should be a 30 zone. It is a main entryway to the community. Additionally, it becomes a playground zone as soon as you approach the park.

[Ducay]

Christ, all of sketchy Sunalta along 12th and 11th (aka arteries) would be 30? You could basically come up with 1 or 2 roads in any community where 30 would be ######ed

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

That's my neighbourhood and I am f--king embarrassed for my community right now.


There is no reason that stretch of road should be a 30 zone. It is a main entryway to the community. Additionally, it becomes a playground zone as soon as you approach the park.

BY the same token though, advocating safe driving by distracting drivers with roadside protests seems counter-productive and kind of stupid.

Like those flashing signs that never work.

**THIS IS A 50 ZONE!!!**

[GGG]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

I question the need for speed limits at all, most people including me treat them as speed minimums not speed maximums. People generally drive at the optimum safe speed for the road and you can tell that because the roads that have artifically low speed limits (Elbow drive 40 zone, memorial 50-70-50 transition, Crowchild 80, John Laurie) are favorite CPS hangouts to nab drivers.

I've honestly never thought about what the limit is for residential because I drive to the condition of the roads. If it's a big collector I'll go 50 and if it's the beltline or an older neighborhood with cars along the sides I'll probably go around 30 or slower but I honestly don't know, I never check the speedometer. They can implement this limit but I'll still drive to conditions on residential roads and not worry about enforcement because there's simply too much residential road to enforce this limit properly.

I'd disagree that John Laurie is artificially low. Since you allow unlit left turns across it you can't have the speed limit more than 60. From a Safety point of view the speed limit is correct. It is certainly a poorly designed road in that it allows left turns across it and yet built almost to freeway standards. So it encourages speeding.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by GGG

I'd disagree that John Laurie is artificially low. Since you allow unlit left turns across it you can't have the speed limit more than 60. From a Safety point of view the speed limit is correct. It is certainly a poorly designed road in that it allows left turns across it and yet built almost to freeway standards. So it encourages speeding.

They do allow unlit left turns with the limit of more than 60. The speed limit along John Laurie between shag and McKnight is 70. Actually I think it’s 70 all the way from Nose Hill Drive to McKnight.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Christ, all of sketchy Sunalta along 12th and 11th (aka arteries) would be 30? You could basically come up with 1 or 2 roads in any community where 30 would be

From the article:

it would not affect "major collectors, arterials, parkways, industrial, and skeletal roads."

They should be saying it's basically side streets that would be affected, not residential roads.

[The Boy Wonder]

It is actually ridiculous to do this in the SW. especially altidore, garrison, elbow park, etc. Altidore and garrison are already so full of vehicles and construction and roads so narrow that you cannot in fact drive 50 along them.

Total waste of time...

[foshizzle11]

We live on a quiet street in Lynnwood and we have people zipping down the road at 50 or more on a regular basis and it is just too fast. So many people walking dogs and kids riding bikes, if the speed limit was 30, I think more people would take it easy on these side roads.

Make it happen.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

We live on a quiet street in Lynnwood and we have people zipping down the road at 50 or more on a regular basis and it is just too fast. So many people walking dogs and kids riding bikes, if the speed limit was 30, I think more people would take it easy on these side roads.

Make it happen.

Changing the speed limit on problem roads such as these isn't a horrible idea. But blanketing the change across the entire city is

[foshizzle11]

I don't agree, on side roads it works fine to blanket it.

Calf quoted the article above with:

"it would not affect "major collectors, arterials, parkways, industrial, and skeletal roads."

How much time do people spend driving mainly on these side roads? It may add a couple minutes to each trip you make but it will save lives. Isn't that a priority for most people?

Sorry but I believe it will be a good thing for the city to do this.

[Bunk]

I thought this was a useful clarification on its application and effect from Councillor Farrell:

https://twitter.com/druhfarrell/stat...399529472?s=21

[Slava]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

I don't agree, on side roads it works fine to blanket it.

Calf quoted the article above with:


How much time do people spend driving mainly on these side roads? It may add a couple minutes to each trip you make but it will save lives. Isn't that a priority for most people?

Sorry but I believe it will be a good thing for the city to do this.

Of course that sounds reasonable. But are pedestrians actually being hit and killed on these roads? It seems like the main danger to pedestrians are the collectors where the speeds would remain as they are?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Slava

Of course that sounds reasonable. But are pedestrians actually being hit and killed on these roads? It seems like the main danger to pedestrians are the collectors where the speeds would remain as they are?

We're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist