It鈥檚 nice to see that democracy sometimes is given a nod, such as by the Weyburn city council who is asking for the comments and input of the public on some major proposed changes to the city鈥檚 Traffic Bylaw.
One of the changes will affect every person who drives in or through the city, namely to raise the general posted speed limit from 40 kilometres an hour to 50.
Another change which will affect users of ATVs and snowmobiles is proposing to ban their use altogether within the boundaries of the city limits.
There are a number of minor changes proposed, but I think the one most people might weigh in about is the speed limit change that is being proposed.
I hope people will actually call or email City Hall, or tell the mayor, or their councillor 鈥� but honestly, I鈥檓 afraid that certain comments may dampen the willingness of residents to voice an opinion.
The odd thing is, I was hearing councillors voice the words, 鈥淥h, it鈥檚 important for the public to have a say 鈥︹�� but then the very next words coming out of their mouths was an unequivocal dismissal of the idea of raising the speed limit from 40 to 50.
At least three members of council said outright they would not support this, and a fourth sounded awfully close to also dismissing the idea, which on a council of seven members is actually a majority vote.
So can I ask, why on earth would people make a comment on it if there鈥檚 a majority, or close to a majority, who are already condemning the idea of an increase in the speed limit? Why would they say how important it is for the public to have a say, and then come out in the next sentence to say something like 鈥渘o way will I ever support 50 km an hour鈥� or 鈥渋t鈥檚 not worth jeopardizing people鈥檚 safety鈥�?
Just to inject a tiny bit of reality here, I should point out that a speed limit of 50 is not the roaring through the streets causing death and mayhem that people seem to think it is. This is actually a normal speed in most communities. I would challenge any driver in this city to think about when they last drove in Regina or Moose Jaw, for example 鈥� do you seriously expect us to believe you didn鈥檛 drive at 50 when you were there, or at 100 on the Ring Road, or 60 or 70 when the posted limit said you could?
I remember from when I first came here, 40 seemed so incredibly slow, and it still does now.
My input, my comment, to City Hall is an unequivocal YES to raising the speed limit to 50.
Please, anyone out there who has an opinion on this, tell City Hall what you think, whether you agree with the councillors or not.
