Just briefly tuning into the speed limit debate at #yyccc. There was a bit of heated back and forth, centring on Coun. Farkas, about if this makes the city "a playground zone". He won't retract those comments. They are about to vote on the main motion about reductions. #yyc
Farkas made a motion to refer this over to next year, after the municipal election, but that is defeated.
Coun. Chu is blasting the motion, says nobody will be satisfied until cars are completely removed and even then, people will fall into holes or something and still die. Says people want to create a nanny-state and wrap people in bubble wrap.
Chu also suggests, as has been said a couple of times today, that this should instead be a plebiscite as part of the 2021 election.
"Let's get with the program," says Coun. Keating, as he adds this will make a difference in making residential areas safer. But he does agree that there needs to be more enforcement, and there should be a call to the province for electronic enforcement.
Keating says the people who complain about photo radar are probably just the ones who speed all the time. "If you're going to speed all the time, I will gladly take your money." But Keating also wants there to be a bit of a delay on reducing speeds more, so there's more study
(There's three points on the motion, the last one is about directing administration to reduce them further, but Keating says they should get a bit of data first and then there will be a later vote on maybe moving ahead with more reductions if this works.)
Coun. Gondek talking a bit more about how even low speed collisions can cause bad injuries, and near-misses can also leave you shaken. Says the current situation means there are many areas that are only safe for cars, and this motion can improve safety.
"I can't imagine anything more important than saving lives," adds Coun. Farrell. This can also serve as a way to make new communities safer.
Voting on recommendations one and two now.
Motion PASSES, by a vote of 7-3
On final motion, about future possible reductions, it TIES, and therefore LOSES
So to summarize, the Transportation Committee approves lowering the unposted limit to 40 km/h, and putting up 50 km/h signs on collector roads, until a credible environment for a slower limit on those roads can be created. This will go to the rest of council for further debate.
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