Big Win for Safer Streets: Vancouver Adopts 30 km/h Limit on Residential Roads

A mother and her two children ride their bikes on a residential roadway in Vancouver. Cars are parked on both sides of the street.

 

Last week, Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a plan to reduce speed limits on all local streets from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, a move that HUB Cycling strongly supports.

HUB Cycling has long called for a default 30 km/h local street speed limit to be adopted province-wide and embedded in B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act (MVA).

This decision aligns with mounting evidence from local, national, and international studies demonstrating the life-saving and environmental benefits of lower speed limits:

  • The World Health Organization and BC’s Provincial Health Officer recommend 30 km/h as the ideal limit for neighbourhood streets.
  • A person struck at 30 km/h is five times less likely to be killed compared to a collision at 50 km/h.
  • In Toronto, lowering residential speed limits to 30 km/h led to a 67% drop in injuries.
  • European cities have seen environmental improvements, including 18% fewer emissions, 2.5 dB lower noise levels, and 7% less fuel consumption.
  • Public support is strong: 65% of Metro Vancouver residents support a 30 km/h default speed limit, followed by high levels of support in the Fraser Valley (62%), Northern BC (61%), Vancouver Island (59%), and Southern BC (58%).

“As more people embrace cycling as a viable form of transportation, taking steps to build safe and connected neighbourhoods becomes increasingly important,” said Rose Gardner, HUB Cycling’s Executive Director. “We’re seeing a growth in regular cycling habits across the province, especially among families with children, and including lower default speed limits in B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act is a crucial step to protecting these vulnerable road users.”

Recent research conducted by Leger also underscores growing cycling activity across the province. A March 2025 survey found:

  • 39% of people cycle at least once a week
  • Cycling peaks in summer (34%) and spring (23%)
  • Regular cyclists are more likely to be ages 18–34, male, and parents with young children.
     

The research was commissioned by HUB Cycling and conducted through Leger’s British Columbia omnibus. It was weighted to reflect provincial demographics using Statistics Canada data.

To support HUB Cycling’s advocacy to reform the provincial MVA and include lower default speed limits, B.C. residents can consider making a donation below.

A graphic that shows three vehicles, each with a different speed sign associated with it, ranging from 30 km/h to 60 km/h. A mother and her child walk in front of each vehicle. At 60 km/h, the chances of both people dying from a vehicle collision are very high. In London, the introduction of 20 miles/h (32 km/h) zones was associated with a 42% reduction in road casualties.