Speed ​​limits lowered to 30 km/h on two roads in Saskatoon

In an effort to make roads safer for everyone, two roads in Saskatoon will have a 30 km/h speed limit starting Friday. A new policy regarding lower speeds for designated bike lanes in the area was approved by city council in December, and the traffic bylaw was amended for the two roads in February. They are 23rd Street West between Vancouver Avenue North and Avenue C North, Avenue I between the north and south legs of 23rd Street West, and 14th Street East between Saskatchewan Crescent East and Cumberland Avenue.

Transport Engineering Manager Nathalie Baudais says: “We try to make it a comfortable cycling environment for people of all ages and abilities. When they share the street with other traffic, traffic has to move slowly and there can’t be too much traffic on the street.” Signs are put up so that everyone using the road is aware of the changed speed limit.

The 14th Street Neighborhood Bikeway connects the Meewasin Trail to several residential neighborhoods, and the 23rd Street Neighborhood Bikeway provides a connection for cyclists traveling between downtown and Blairmore. Baudais says more bike lanes will likely be added to the neighborhood in the future, but they don’t know which streets yet. Some planning studies still need to be done. She adds that the Active Transportation Plan, approved by the council in 2016, is a map of where bike lanes need to be located to develop a fully connected network.