Lower speed limit initiative ‘absurd’
I read that city councillors believe “most Calgarians” support the proposal to lower speed limits in residential areas and I was taken aback. I have heard little support for this. I would argue that many people are too busy to draft a letter questioning the merits of council’s proposed actions.
Of course, we would all like fewer car collisions, fewer fatalities and injuries. I believe that is why council has spent the last few years and several millions of dollars implementing “traffic calming measures” citywide. Our community saw two lanes reduced to one, the construction of speed bumps and safer sidewalks.
My children are very active riding their bikes, at times walking to school. We have taught them to look both ways before crossing the street, to meet drivers’ eyes if possible, to be aware of their surroundings. In short, they have taken the responsibility for their safety (in part) on themselves and thrived.
By lowering speed limits in residential neighbourhoods, am I now to tell them that the city government doesn’t believe they can safely cross the road without incident? I hope I can tell them that (a) there was a problem that needed to be addressed; ( b) that statistical research was done on the issue; and (c) the solution was well thought out and addressed the specific problem identified.
Instead, I fear they will hear some squeaky wheels (with perhaps good intentions) convinced the city to adopt a course of action neither needed nor effective. There has been a lot of attention on this last point, from statistical studies of intoxicated pedestrian fatalities to collisions where the driver was not at fault in any way. I would add one more — have we considered how many collisions occur due to bad weather?
I would urge you to reconsider this notion that Calgarians are in favour of lowering the residential speed limit. We are not in favour, we are simply working hard and giving back to our community, too busy to draft a note to city council on initiatives so absurd that no one thought they could possibly be turned into law.
Heather Lilles, Calgary