POLL: Majority of British Columbians want 30 km/h speed limit on residential streets
The number of people who think it’s a good idea to have a lower speed limit in residential neighbourhoods is on the rise in B.C., according to a recent survey.
When asked in an online Research Co. survey if they would “definitely” or “probably” like to see the 50 km/h speed limit dropped to 30 km/h on residential streets, 66% said they agreed, according to a media release. They also agreed the speed limit should remain 50 km/h on collector roads and arterial streets.
When the results of the online survey conducted between June 3 and June 5 are broke down by region, the idea is most popular in southern B.C. with 72% in favour of the reduced speed limit. Metro Vancouver and northern B.C. were next at 67%, while 63% of those surveyed in the Fraser Valley agreed and 58% on Vancouver Island were in favour.
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More women (68%) were agreeable to the drop in the residential speed limit when compared to men (63%), Research Co. said.
Seven-in-ten British Columbians in the 18 to 34 age group were more likely to be in favour of the move, while older residents, aged 55 and over, came in at 62%.
The polling company also asked respondents if they supported a pilot project underway in a Vancouver neighbourhood that has reduced the speed limit on some streets to 30 km/h. The survey found 72% believe it is a “very good” or “good” idea. That figure grows to 83% in southern B.C.
“In 2019, public support for a lower speed limit on British Columbia’s residential streets stood at 58%,” Research Co. president Mario Canseco said in the release.
“The proportion climbed to 61% in 2021 and has increased again this year to 66%.”
The online survey of 800 adults has a margin of error +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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