Residents of Weyburn have the opportunity once again to give input on proposed changes to the City of Weyburn鈥檚 traffic bylaw.
Some people may feel a sense of deja-vu in regard to one of the changes, the school zone speed limit, but there should be a serious look at what is being proposed.
The speed limit will remain at 30 kilometres an hour for the school zones, which is only proper. What will change, if the amendments to the bylaw pass, are the hours the speed limit is in effect.
The proposal is for the speed limit to be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., which will also apply to a new speed restriction for recreation zones in the city. These zones will retain the speed limit on Coteau Avenue after Haig School has closed, as well as in the River Park area (on Confederation Drive) and the Jubilee Park area.
The time limit is much, much more reasonable than what is currently in place, requiring people to drive the 30 km/h no matter if it鈥檚 10 a.m. on a weekday, or 2 a.m. on a Saturday night, or in the middle of summer when no schools are in session.
It is not making anyone safer to have the limits in place 24/7, 365 days a year. Other larger urban centres make it work with a time limit, there is no reason why it can鈥檛 work here in Weyburn.
The addition of the parks-recreation areas is a great idea, and covers off these areas for when they are in use by families. Take the River Park-Confederation Drive area 鈥� it鈥檚 busy in the summer with the park, playground and spray park, and in the winter with the sledding hill.
There are other changes in the works as well, such as defining the parking of trucks along Sims Avenue to be permitted, and police have pledged to patrol this area more to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the businesses along that road. The snow route priority maps are set out, and there are minor changes to the speed limits on Highway 35 on the north side of the city, and on First Avenue-Highway 13 on the east side, along with setting out rules for motorized wheelchairs and scooters.
All of the changes are designed to update the bylaws and make traffic flows better around Weyburn 鈥� and if there are ideas or suggestions for any other issues that could be addressed by the City, this is the time to bring those ideas or comments forward.
There have been attempts to do some of these changes before, like the school zone speed limits, but people were reluctant to allow for any changes, even though most motorists wished for the upgrades.
Residents should not be shy about letting their views known to the City if there are changes that will impact their lives or their family鈥檚 safety - speak up!
