WIN: Surrey Moves Toward Safer Streets with Major Speed Limit Reductions | HUB Cycling: Bike Events, Education, Action in Metro Vancouver

Tim Yzerman and one of his daughters cycle on a bike lane near Surrey's city centre.

Tim Yzerman (pictured in the above photo) and the rest of the members of the HUB Cycling Surrey Committee are celebrating Surrey City Council’s recent vote to reduce several speed limits across the city. This is a major step forward for road safety and Vision Zero.

“As a father of two children, I want peace of mind that my children can commute safely by bike around our city. Passing this motion is a step towards making that dream a reality,” says Tim, the Chair of HUB Cycling’s Surrey Committee.

On November 17, 2025, the council approved a package of changes that will see many arterial roads drop from 70 km/h to 60 km/h, collector roads from 60 to 50 km/h, and a formal review for even lower limits near schools, parks, and bike routes.

In addition, non-Major Road Network (MRN) arterial roads within urban centres or other high-conflict areas posted at 60 km/h will be reviewed for potential reduction to 50 km/h where surrounding land use, levels of people walking, or collision history indicate that a lower speed is needed. According to a corporate report from Scott Neuman, Surrey’s General Manager of Engineering, these updates reflect a growing focus on reducing high-risk speeds throughout the city.

This decision aligns directly with Surrey’s Vision Zero Safe Mobility Plan, which treats speed management as a foundational tool to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

Cathy Acuna, HUB Cycling’s Community Manager, is also delighted to see this change. “Speed is one of the most critical factors in crash severity: slower speeds give drivers more time to react, and when collisions do happen, the consequences are far less likely to be devastating," says Cathy.

HUB Cycling and its 10 volunteer-run Local Committees across Metro Vancouver, together with other partners, have put forward a set of evidence-based reforms to modernize the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Among our most urgent priorities are two key changes that would have a big impact on road safety and equity:

Safe Neighbourhood Streets
Safe Intersections

The City of Surrey has also reaffirmed its commitment to advocate to the provincial government for legislative changes that would lower the default speed limit on roads to 40 km/h, a shift that aligns with national and international best practices for reducing road fatalities.

Tim believes, “By adopting these reforms, BC can lead the way in road safety, reducing serious injuries and fatalities, encouraging more people to cycle, walk, or roll, and moving toward a more equitable transportation system.”

Surrey’s leadership sends a clear message: communities are ready to prioritize safety and adopt evidence-based reforms. Every step toward slower, safer streets brings us closer to a future where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.