Article: Call for 30kmh limit in CBD

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Call for 30kmh limit in CBD

Call for 30kmh limit in CBD
Andrew Wight | February 23, 2009 - 10:12AM

Speed limits of 30kmh would be enforced on Brisbane CBD streets under a plan being debated this morning by Brisbane City Council (BCC).

In a submission currently before council's Civic Cabinet, the BCC City Centre Master Plan said a proposal to reduce speed limits to 40kmh did not go far enough.

"Consideration should be given to achieving an upper limit of 30kmh throughout the area, with exceptions for Ann and Turbot Streets," the submission said.

The 30kmh limit plan has already met with support from Bicycle Queensland.

"This is a straight-out safety issue: we've had research to suggest reducing the limits from 60kmh to 40kmh lowers the injuries and fatalities by 50 per cent, but lower it to 30kmh and it's a 95 per cent drop," Bicycle Queensland manager Ben Wilson said.

"Being hit by a car at 30kmh is the equivalent of a hard rugby tackle."

Mr Wilson said it had taken more than 10 years of lobbying to reach this point - and while a further reduction to 30kmh would be welcomed, he considered the prospect unlikely.

"Brisbane isn't ready for 30kmh. There are still motorists in Brisbane that think higher speed limits in the city mean going quicker," he said.

Brisbane City Council Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk said the speed review had been prompted by 524 accidents - including four deaths - in the CBD between 2001 and 2006.

Civic Cabinet is today expected to vote to change limits in several streets to 40kmh, including George Street and Roma Street. However, Ann and Turbot Streets would remain at 60kmh due to their status as busy through-traffic streets. North Quay, which funnels onto the Riverside Expressway, may be included in the speed reductions.

Streets to be reviewed include:

* all streets in the CBD between Ann and Alice Streets, including Alice Street;

* all streets in the CBD between North Quay and Boundary Street, including North Quay;

* all of George Street including the section between Roma Street and Ann Street; and

* Roma Street, Tank Street, Herschel Street and Makerston Street.

"At the moment there is far too much traffic going through the CBD that wants to go somewhere else," Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk said in a statement.

"People clearly associate vehicle speed with safety so it is no surprise to us that most people want to have a slower, safer and more relaxed CBD.

"With the Lord Mayor's TransApex bridge and tunnels scheme we will be able to offer alternative routes to through traffic and make the CBD a safer location for everyone."

RACQ media spokesman Gary Fites said he believed a speed limit of 40kmh brought "the right balance".

"This move recognises the level of pedestrian activity on the CBD and that speed limits should reflect that," he said.

"We've been assured that there will be plenty of signage."

During consultation on the plan, 27 per cent of those consulted were not in favour of reductions, calling instead for programs to educate pedestrians and drivers.

The council's Labor Opposition leader, Cr Shayne Sutton, said a 40 kilometre limit was not enough to guarantee pedestrian safety.

?Our city centre needs a comprehensive pedestrian plan that is dedicated to making the CBD a safer and more pedestrian-friendly place," Cr Sutton said.

?The Lord Mayor has been dodging the issues of pedestrian safety and traffic management in the CBD for far too long and it?s simply not good enough."