As October comes to an end, the city of Burlington has changed the speed limit in its downtown core.City officials say this is part of their plan to make the streets a safer place for walkers and bicyclists.You may have seen the “20 is plenty” signs around downtown Burlington. The city is dropping the speed limit from 25 to 20 miles per hour in areas downtown.”People don’t watch the roads,” said Abdi Abdul, a Burlington resident. “They are on their phones, not looking where they are going.”Abdul has lived in Burlington for six years. When he’s not driving through Burlington, he gets around on his bike. But he says most of the time, he does not feel safe traveling that way.”It is very hazardous for people walking or riding bikes,” said Abdul.Chapin Spencer is the director of the Burlington Department of Public Works. He wants the Queen City to prioritize safety for everyone passing through the city.”Fundamentally, safety has to be our north star here. Crashes are less severe when speeds are lower. We want people to get where they are going regardless of the mode of transportation. Whether they are walking, biking, driving, or taking the bus, people need to get where they are going, but they need to do that safely,” said Spencer.The new speed limit will not affect the entire city of Burlington. Just the downtown core. Spencer says this decision was an easy one to make, with other new changes coming to the city in the near future.”We are actively re-designing Main Street now, Bank and Cherry will be under redesign in the next year or two. Together, we are going to have a much safer and a more vibrant downtown,” Spencer said. The new 20-mile-per-hour speed limit is in effect now. For more information, visit the Department of Public Works website.
As October comes to an end, the city of Burlington has changed the speed limit in its downtown core.
City officials say this is part of their plan to make the streets a safer place for walkers and bicyclists.
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You may have seen the “20 is plenty” signs around downtown Burlington. The city is dropping the speed limit from 25 to 20 miles per hour in areas downtown.
“People don’t watch the roads,” said Abdi Abdul, a Burlington resident. “They are on their phones, not looking where they are going.”
Abdul has lived in Burlington for six years. When he’s not driving through Burlington, he gets around on his bike. But he says most of the time, he does not feel safe traveling that way.
“It is very hazardous for people walking or riding bikes,” said Abdul.
Chapin Spencer is the director of the Burlington Department of Public Works. He wants the Queen City to prioritize safety for everyone passing through the city.
“Fundamentally, safety has to be our north star here. Crashes are less severe when speeds are lower. We want people to get where they are going regardless of the mode of transportation. Whether they are walking, biking, driving, or taking the bus, people need to get where they are going, but they need to do that safely,” said Spencer.
The new speed limit will not affect the entire city of Burlington. Just the downtown core. Spencer says this decision was an easy one to make, with other new changes coming to the city in the near future.
“We are actively re-designing Main Street now, Bank and Cherry will be under redesign in the next year or two. Together, we are going to have a much safer and a more vibrant downtown,” Spencer said.
The new 20-mile-per-hour speed limit is in effect now. For more information, visit the Department of Public Works website.
