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Did you know that Calgary city hall is lowering the speed limit on hundreds of kilometres of busy roads in neighbourhoods across the city?

I didn't until a couple weeks ago.

It's one of many things I discovered while researching The Sprawl's big new story on pedestrian safety (or more accurately, the lack thereof) in Calgary.

In 2021, city hall lowered the speed limit on low-volume residential streets from 50 to 40 km/h. It considered doing the same on "collector" streets—busier roads in neighbourhoods—but delayed, even though collector roads are far deadlier than local residential streets.

After a year of record-high pedestrian fatalities, city hall is now lowering the speed limit on some 350 kilometres of collector and community entrance roads.

There's a map showing which ones are being lowered—and it's worth taking a look. I learned that a dangerous street near my house is soon getting its speed limit lowered. That may be true of you, too.

I've included that map in my story so you can easily check your own neighbourhood.

Talk about news you can use!

Meanwhile, in the new Sprawlcast episode, I speak with Peter Oliver, host of The Palgary Almanac on CJSW, about my piece. (The episode is at the top of this story.)

We talk about what the provincial government's drastic restrictions on photo radar have meant. We discuss what city hall has and hasn’t done on this file. And we look at what’s next as city council prepares to set the next four-year budget—and the province threatens to rip out bike lanes.

You'll also hear me ask Councillor Dan McLean why he voted in September against installing more leading pedestrian intervals (head starts) at signalized intersections across the city, as he was the only councillor to oppose this.

McLean also has a motion coming to council later in October to halt new bike lane projects “pending provincial legislative direction.”

I asked Mayor Jeromy Farkas what he thinks of this—and what he wants to do with active transportation in the upcoming budget. You can hear his answer, and more, in the episode.

One last thing!

These are some pretty challenging times in Alberta. And we need your support to keep fighting the good fight with our independent local journalism.

The Sprawl is entirely reader and listener funded. When that support ends, so will this publication. It's as simple as that.

Please support our work if you value it! I think of something one of our listeners said recently: “The Sprawl is a candle in these dark times. Help keep it lit.”

We're doing our damndest to keep our flame alive. Will you help us? We'd love to have you on board as a Sprawl member. 

You can sign up here. Thanks so much for your support!

Jeremy Klaszus is founder and editor of The Sprawl.