Speed limit change in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood launches to mixed reviews

Monday marked the start of a new policy in Regina as the city's first "community safety zone" officially came into effect.

The zone in the city's Cathedral neighbourhoodis part of Regina's city-wide "Vision Zero" program, meant to reduce crashes, major injuries and deaths.

The speed limit in the safety zone has been reduced to 40 km/h from 50km/hthroughout the neighbourhood, 24 hours a day. The city has alsobuilt crosswalk bump outs on portions of 13th Avenue.

Not everyone in the neighbourhood welcomedthe changes.

"With the speed limits that have just been imposed into the area, the signage is kind of ambiguous," said Mark Gilchrist, operator of Cuppa T' Tea Shop on 13th Avenue.

"As you drive along, suddenly it's 40 km/h, then you come to the playground areas, 30 km/h. But after that there's a whole area where you don't know if it's 40 km/h or if it's 50 km/hany longer."

Gilchrist saidthe decision to introduce bump outshas cut parking spaces on 13th Avenue, potentially reducingthe number of customers that will visit businesses.

He also believes the bump outs could potentially be damaged and need to be replaced when it comes time to clear snow.

John Klein, an avid cyclist,has his own problems with the bump outs.

He said that while they do make it better for pedestrians, they make it more dangerous for him to cycle down 13th Avenue, as they force him back into the main roadway.

"There is only one lane. So that means if you're on an e-scooter, a bicycle, a horse or a car, you have to use that lane. And before there was a parking lane, so late at night when there's no cars parked, you could just bike alongside and a car could pass you on the left. Now there's nowhere to pass, so you literally have to wait," Klein said.

WATCH |New lower speed limit launches in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood to mixed reviews:

New lower speed limit launches in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood to mixed reviews

1 month ago

Duration 2:02

The "community safety zone" in the Cathedral neighbourhood is part of Regina's city-wide "Vision Zero" program, meant to reduce crashes, major injuries and deaths.

2 deaths prompted changes

The deaths of two peoplein separate incidents on 13th Avenue last yearhelped push the city to implement thechanges.

The zone is meant to be a potential model for anew safety standard in Regina neighbourhoods that are a mix of businesses, houses and schools.

But the change implemented this week is already a watered-down version of what city staff initially recommended.

Staff wanted toimplement the 30 km/h speed limitalready usedin construction and school zones throughout the city.

City staff put forward evidence that showed a lower speed limit made it easier for vehicles to stop, gave drivers more reaction time and reduced the likelihood of serious injuries if a vehicle did strike a pedestrian.

City council modified the speed limit change to 40 km/h against administration's recommendations.

It's a decision that Klein describes as "aggravating."

"Iwould have preferred that they go with the 30 km/hrspeed limit because that's what scientifically proven to be more safe and cause fewer deaths, which was the impetus for the change anyway," Klein said.

The Cathedral Village Community Association has been working collaboratively with the City of Regina on the rollout of the new community safety zone.

JonathanLorenc, thechair of the association, saidhe welcomes the changes even if they're not perfect.

"Forty km/h brings a bunch of safety as well. So I mean, you can't really look a gift horse in the mouth. It's better to have 40 km/hthan 50 km/h," he said.

The City of Regina and the community association say they're open to feedback, while the Regina Police Service says it will be focusing on education rather than punishment for an initial period of time in the area.