Public consultation opened yesterday on a proposed safer speed limit of 30km/h for most of Wellington’s central city.
Councillor Andy Foster, chair of Wellington City Council’s Transport and Urban Development Committee, says the proposal is part of the council’s strategy to improve pedestrian safety in the CBD and make Wellington more cycle-friendly.
He says the proposal would extend the 30km/h limit that already applies along the ‘Golden Mile’ to a wider area. As well as asking the public whether or not they agree with a 30km/h speed limit, the council is also keen to hear views on the boundaries of the proposed speed limit.
“Whether they are cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists or drivers, the safety of all road users is important so I urge the public to have their say.”
On the main arterial roads the speed limit will stay at 50km/h – on the harbour quays, Cable Street, part of Wakefield Street, on Vivian Street and Kent and Cambridge terraces. Most other central city streets – around the Courtenay Place and Cuba Street precincts, part of The Terrace and in the vicinity of Lambton Quay to the railway station – would change to 30km/h.
Foster says, despite public perceptions, crashes in the central city aren’t restricted to the ‘Golden Mile’ and most do not involve buses.
“Crashes happen throughout the CBD involving cars, pedestrians and cyclists,” Foster says. “Having a lower speed limit will cut the number of crashes overall and reduce the risk of people being seriously injured or killed.
“For cyclists, one of the main things we can do to make cycling a safer and more pleasant experience is to reduce vehicle speeds in our narrow city streets.”
On streets other than the ‘Golden Mile’, from 2008–2012, there were 531 crashes in central Wellington, with 117 resulting in injuries. Of the 57 crashes involving pedestrians, 55 resulted in injuries, and 27 of the 37 crashes involving cyclists caused injuries.
If adopted, and the $250k funding is approved, it is expected the new speed limit would come into effect in late 2014.
Anyone wishing to read the proposal can go to the council’s website at Wellington.govt.nz under ‘Have your say’.
