In an effort to address traffic-related injuries and fatalities, particularly involving pedestrians and cyclists, the city is launching a test run of reduced driving speed in an East Vancouver neighbourhood.

The City of Vancouver announced that today (March 3) marks the start of a trial of its first slow zone for vehicle traffic in the Grandview-Woodland area. The city had approved the creation of a slow zone in this neighbourhood in July 2020 due to speed, collisions, vulnerable populations (including seniors, children, and low-income residents), and community amenities in the area.

The boundaries of the first slow zone are Clark Drive, First Avenue, Commercial Drive, and Grandview Highway North.

In this slow zone, the speed limit will be reduced from the city’s default speed (50 kilometres per hour) to 30 kilometres per hour.

To alert drivers of the change, gateway and speed limit signs, as well as paint markings, will be posted. Meanwhile, parking in and access to the area won’t be changed.

The city did not state the end date of the pilot. In the autumn, staff will provide city council with data (from April and May) and public feedback (received in the spring and summer from 311, VanConnect, and email) from the pilot.

The results will provide information for creating other slow zones in the city.

The city states that, according to studies by the World Health Organization, when a vehicle hits a pedestrian at 30 kilometres per hours the probability of fatality is 15 percent but the probability increases to 50 percent when the speed is 50 kilometres per hour.