Photo by Vince Fedoroff
SIGN OF THE TIMES – The downtown speed limit will change to 40 km/h Aug. 23.
New speed limit kicks in Aug. 23
As of Aug. 23, the speed limit on all downtown Whitehorse streets will be 40 km/h.
As of Aug. 23, the speed limit on all downtown Whitehorse streets will be 40 km/h.
Speed limits in school and playground zones will remain unchanged at 30 km/h.
The speed limit change is part of the Safe Speeds Downtown initiative, which was created following city council’s review of recommendations for safety enhancements to Second Avenue.
“Lower speed limits make our roads safer and friendlier for all modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, transit, driving, commercial goods movement and emergency response,” the city said Tuesday.
“Over the coming weeks, city crews will be updating signage at entrances to the downtown area and along major routes to reflect the new speed limits and remind motorists of the upcoming changes.”
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Comments (34)
Up 1 Down 0
why, Yeah? on Aug 18, 2021 at 8:22 am
So you admit that you speed, and that the only thing that will stop you from speeding is enforcement. I have to ask 'why'? What's so difficult about going 50 kmph in the downtown area? Or doing the speed limit in any area?
Up 15 Down 4
Yeah.... on Aug 16, 2021 at 8:22 am
No one is going to follow the limits. They don't now why would they start? I admit I'm a speeder and the only thing that would deter me is the photo radar. Easy peasy. C'mon CoW, get your poop in a group and learn from other municipalities. The money that's been spent on research and creating a not-really-enforcable law (because the cops have bigger fish to fry) could have gone right to the equipment to solve the issue. AND the City has another avenue for revenue.
Up 3 Down 3
Guido on Aug 14, 2021 at 3:42 am
Concerning another civil matter, Bill how many buildings do we have, what are they used for and where are they? It's like buildingnado out there for the City.
Up 55 Down 4
Anie on Aug 12, 2021 at 4:59 pm
For some reason, city engineers are opposed to advanced green turn signals. There seems to be an underlying philosophy that if we make hard enough to drive in this town, then people will stop driving. This has been the mantra for more than 20 years. It had not worked. It is seriously past time for some city staff to go to pasture. Step aside, there is life after retirement.
Up 47 Down 1
Anie on Aug 12, 2021 at 4:38 pm
Loki, it is so sad that everything you said about downtown Whitehorse is absolutely true. Territorial Gov and city officials have made so many mistakes in the last decade. It's as if they have contrived to make the downtown only inhabitable by the lowest dregs of society. Yeah, I know, not supposed to say that. But it's time that decent citizens started to talk out loud. This is our city.
Up 33 Down 5
North_of_60 on Aug 12, 2021 at 3:35 pm
When you vote remember the wisdom of Mark Twain:
"Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."
Up 13 Down 11
Worldly Wise on Aug 12, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Pedestrian wise in my travels to other jurisdictions I've seen containers of hi vis orange flags on sticks available on each side at crosswalks. When someone wants to cross they grab a hi vis flag and hold it up while walking across to be seen easier. It's an improvement on Whitehorse's old 'Point Your Way To Safety' idea. Once across it goes in the bin until someone crossing the other way needs it. The flags sure stand out when someone's holding them, other jurisdictions don't make their traffic crawl around at a snails pace either.
Up 21 Down 11
motive unclear on Aug 12, 2021 at 2:15 pm
I am perfectly ok with this. Due to the restrictions and rules and the disrespect prevalent in so much of the city, I plan to reduce my visits to two or three times a year anyway so this should present no problem for me whatsoever.
Up 13 Down 10
Himbo on Aug 12, 2021 at 1:12 pm
A speed limit of 40Km during the day and 70 during the night would make more sense.
Up 28 Down 5
Dennis on Aug 12, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Where is the RCMP?? I'll tell you - Fighting crime!!! Nobody with an ounce of brain can expect concentrated traffic enforcement from already short staffed shifts. Why short staffed??? How about Sickness; Leave; Court; Training; Backup; Manage Ongoing Investigations; Massive Paper Work; NO CITY POLICING CONTRACT; No City Employee With Education or Experience In Traffic Management....
Up 25 Down 5
Groucho d'North on Aug 12, 2021 at 11:32 am
Give me two RCMP officers in safety gear with a speed gun and a chase car and we'll make a huge positive difference in speeding offences very quickly.
This is not rocket science, but if you involve politcians they try to make appear so.
And lowering the speed limit will produce more offenders to pay fines- or is that their motivation?
Up 46 Down 4
Bandit on Aug 12, 2021 at 10:48 am
The City needs to put in advance turn lights at EVERY intersection, that will help immensely, secondly enforcement of the existing laws, if you go Downtown any evening after 7pm (ish) 2nd avenue is a fricking racetrack with all of the Tuners and jacked up Diesel trucks, and maybe ticket some under the noise laws because I don't understand why someone would pay a lot of money for a muffler that makes your vehicle sound like it has no muffler.
Up 41 Down 3
Just wondering on Aug 12, 2021 at 10:43 am
Now they have to get someone to enforce it. Never see any traffic stops on 4th or 2nd avenues. Just speeders. Also pedestrians that think a vehicle can stop on a dime even when they are doing the posted speed limit. Start holding the pedestrians accountable for their actions as well as the drivers. It works both ways. That won't happen. What a joke.
Up 22 Down 10
Stephen Robertson on Aug 12, 2021 at 10:14 am
I agree with Yukon and Bob Folster.
Making 2nd & 4th one way would move more traffic more efficiently-greener, for those who care.
Traffic laws must be regularly enforced, along with other laws. Downtown seems to be hands-off for the RCMP.
Up 63 Down 3
Loki on Aug 12, 2021 at 9:13 am
I avoid downtown like a plague, it's starting to look like downtown Detroit in the late 80's.
Super aggressive panhandlers in front of Mac's Fireweed (swinging fishing rods in your face) Drunks staggering everywhere. Windows smashed out of businesses. New roll up steel security doors on some shops. Spit and open urination. Fights. Garbage. Coin metered parking (if you can even find parking).
Why would I subject myself or family to this delightfulness when I can shop online?
Up 29 Down 7
Max Mack on Aug 12, 2021 at 8:49 am
City councillors have shirked their responsibilities to the thousands of drivers that must live and work and transit through downtown everyday.
This "safe speeds" campaign was backed by faulty statistics being pushed by the US NTSB and other organizations that have become ideologically wed to the idea that driving should be made more expensive -- goals eventually tied to "climate action". Safety is just an easy ploy.
If you want to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe, keep them off the roadway. It's really that simple. 50 km/h on the major corridors through downtown is not excessive by any definition.
A secondary goal of this campaign is speed radar revenue, which Curtis and acolytes have also been pushing for.
I am so very disappointed with our city council.
Up 29 Down 8
Himbo on Aug 11, 2021 at 10:15 pm
Lowering the speed limit will NOT reduce accidents, in fact it will likely increase them. How is that possible you may be thinking? Let me explain.
People use there phones while they are driving it’s no secret, however the slower you are driving the more likely you are to use it, especially on a straight stretch going turtle speed.
The faster you are going, the more likely you are paying attention and have both hands on the wheel ready to react to hazards.
My point is people pay more attention while going faster. The issue is not the speed in Downtown but rather the frequency of the cross walks, they should only be every 2-3 intersections, but even better only at traffic lights. Or the more expensive but best option is the pedestrian overpass.
Up 29 Down 10
Juniper Jackson on Aug 11, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Unfortunately, a person is just as dead or injured at 40 as they were at 50. Not 1 time, that I have been heading down 2nd Ave, that I did not see someone running across the street at Tim Hortons. Several times, from the tourist building over. What is it? 10? 15? feet to the cross walk? The 40 mph limit doesn't bother me at all, it's so congested already that I rarely get to go the speed limit anyway.
A danger spot that I see, from drivers..is the Yukon Inn cross walk. Even with the lights flashing away, drivers are still 'gassing' it and passing on the left when the right lane is stopped.
You can put as many rules, limits and regulations in as you want, if a person is not going to be careful of other people, whether you are a driver, or a pedestrian, or a biker, there is still going to be an accident.
Up 33 Down 2
Patti Eyre on Aug 11, 2021 at 8:42 pm
Old man Folster is absolutely correct, when I see the lights turn red, that doesn’t mean me and my girls should cross, we have to make double sure cars are stopping because folks do just blast through reds, it’s scary.
Up 30 Down 2
bonanzajoe on Aug 11, 2021 at 8:30 pm
I don't have a problem with that. I just wish though, that the police would ticket some of those dump truck drivers driving down our main streets. I clocked many going 20 klicks over the limit. Just the other day, one was going so fast around the traffic circle below the Robert Service Way, he lost a portion of his load of gravel. And the faster they go, the further the stones from their tires fly. I've had cracked windows from them. Try getting legal justice and financial compensation from that. The old "prove it came from my truck. So police stop and ticket a few of them so the others get the message.
Up 11 Down 11
Politico on Aug 11, 2021 at 7:03 pm
@Peter, Oh great, so you are advocating Bylaw Offiers patroling to give out tickets for talking on a cell phone while walking. WOW!
Up 12 Down 11
Politico on Aug 11, 2021 at 7:03 pm
@Peter - Oh great, so you are advocating Bylaw Offiers patroling to give out tickets for talking on a cell phone while walking. WOW!
Up 34 Down 4
Nadine on Aug 11, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Long ago...in a land far away... there was a campaign...
It went like this.....before you cross the street- stop - look both ways- make sure the cars have come to a complete stop- proceed across the street...
Clearly, this campaign stopped somewhere between Fort Nelson and Grande Prairie.
As what was taught here, among the masses: don’t look- don’t hesitate- make sure you straight out bolt in traffic- they are supposed to lock the breaks up for you mid traffic...!
I'm left mystified ... are they living dangerously today... what is happening for someone to leap off the sidewalk into on coming traffic? Your guess is as good as mine....
Revisit the safety campaign for crossing the street for the public.
Slap that message on the side of the bus.
Up 12 Down 12
Matt on Aug 11, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Haha.....the maximum any car travelled in downtown was 22.64 km/hr and that was on a Sunday when traffic was light.
Up 24 Down 7
Beaker on Aug 11, 2021 at 5:10 pm
No city sets up better for one way south and North. Make third a bike lane north south hence no bikes on 2nd or 4th. Win win.
Up 36 Down 1
It figures on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:45 pm
I totally agree with Peter. What about the pedestrians that walk against the walk light, jaywalk across 2nd or 4th avenue??
Up 27 Down 8
It figures on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Once again, the elected, and I stress the word elected, mayor (thank you lord that this is his last term) and council DO NOT listen to the citizens of Whitehorse. So, what exactly was the rush in implementing this change and especially on the first day back to school??? Why couldn’t this have waited for a new mayor and council who maybe would have put a decision like this out to the citizens of Whitehorse to vote on?? Obviously, this current group of ineptness think they know what the citizens of Whitehorse want, NOT!!!
Up 6 Down 17
Nathan Living on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:38 pm
A blunt measure which may help since Whitehorse drivers are horrible drivers.
Please do not make this like the ATV and Snowmobile bylaws which are ignored by Bylaw Services.
Up 17 Down 11
Josey Wales on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Gee...more safety policies eh?
I think to be real safe I will drive 15kph, maybe even 10?
But we can still stagger through town absolutely hosed right?
Hopefully we can still discard our needles downtown?
We can...still, whew...here I thought downtown was in for a big change...for safety?
Up 33 Down 3
What a Joke on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:24 pm
This will change nothing. There are people speeding downtown doing at least 70 km when the limit is 50km, nothing is enforced. Stopping J-walking would also save lives, again nothing is enforced. Slowing traffic to a halt and making it impossible to commute to work is what this will give us. Not to mention people will probably start avoiding driving downtown at all costs so they'll just stop shopping local and order everything online. Currently road rage is probably the number one cause of most accidents in town and they will just be exacerbating that issue. Bravo you idiots, bravo! Way to give yourselves a pat on the back for absolutely nothing but making it worse.
Up 56 Down 21
Yukon on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:16 pm
This is a terrible move.
On one hand, the city says "come visit downtown!" And on the other "but we're going to make it incredibly inconvenient." What will happen is a reduction in downtown visitors as motorists will avoid the city centre - instead opting to stay on the Alaska Highway. Which will again go against the city's "plan". We will start to see more amenities built up closer to the highway, and people won't even need to go downtown anymore.
It's been said before, but the simple solution here would have been to make 2nd Ave. and 4th Ave. one-way traffic; Northbound, and Southbound respectively. Three lanes for motor vehicles, and a bike lane off to the side.
Up 51 Down 24
Peter on Aug 11, 2021 at 4:11 pm
Here we go again. The City of Whitehorse only going after drivers. A cheap and easy way. What about the pedestrians using cell phones, talking and texting as they cross, not paying attention. Is there a bylaw that allows ticketing them??? I was told that City bylaw is complaint driven so I complained about pedestrians, nothing done. Your tax dollar hard at work. I guess ambulance and fire trucks will have to go 40 KM too since all the other traffic will have to and they have to abide by the law like everyone has to. I wonder what this does to life threating medical and fires??
Up 69 Down 13
Why? on Aug 11, 2021 at 3:53 pm
And what exactly will this help? Except more congestion and more impatience?
Up 55 Down 9
Bob Folster on Aug 11, 2021 at 3:34 pm
The red light runners and cross walk crashers that blast up and down 2nd and 4th avenue are all laughing.
Basic traffic laws are NOT enforced in downtown WH.