Vancouver could reduce speed limits on side streets to 30 km/h

The City of Vancouver is looking at decreasing the speed limit to 30km/h in 25 neighbourhoods as part of a new safety project.

The City of Vancouver is looking at decreasing speed limits in over two dozen neighbourhoods in an effort to reduce injuries and save lives.

A staff report called, “Safer Slower Streets” recommends city council approve bylaw amendments to decrease the speed limit to 30 km/h on all local streets that do not have a painted centre line and are in a residential area.

According to the report, speed limits are set by the province at 50 km/h, but municipalities have the authority to reduce these limits on individual streets by adopting a bylaw and installing proper signage.

Staff are projecting a cost of $350,000.

The report will be presented to council Wednesday and recommends a phased signage rollout.

If approved, 25 neighbourhoods will be included in the plan.

Speed impacts ‘chances of survival’

Coun. Pete Fry introduced a motion in 2024 that was unanimously supported and prompted this report.

“If you’re hit by a car traveling 50 km/h, the chances of survival are quite low. You have an 80 per cent chance of a grievous bodily injury or death,” he said.

“If you’re hit by a car traveling at 30 km/h, the entire metrics change, and the chances of survival are very high. So that’s the impetus and the science behind this.”

Fry added this issue is of particular importance to him, after a good friend of his died after being struck by a car in Strathcona.

“Really, that galvanized me to take action for this neighborhood,” he said.

“Ultimately, it was one of the first motions I brought forward as a councillor when I got elected in 2018, really following through on that commitment to Paul, who lost his life on Prior Street.”

Modest speed reductions: report

In 2020, council directed staff to test reduced speed limits of 30 km/h by extablishing “slow zones” in Grandview-Woodland and Strathcona,” according to the report.

It resulted in modest speed reductions.

Council will vote on staff’s findings Wednesday.