Argh. Calgary changes all school zones to playground zones

Sundancefisher · #1 12-12-2015, 07:55 PM

This is very annoying. Even private schools with no playgrounds now have playground zones.

Be careful Calgary. Just a matter of time before police start to make money ticketing folks that didn't notice the new playground zones.

They are now active weekends and holidays.

burbotman · #2 12-12-2015, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

This is very annoying. Even private schools with no playgrounds now have playground zones.

Be careful Calgary. Just a matter of time before police start to make money ticketing folks that didn't notice the new playground zones.

They are now active weekends and holidays.

Already happening, first weekend they changed them in Arbour lake---speed trap set up

58thecat · #3 12-12-2015, 08:19 PM

Don't schools have playgrounds located on or near by? So you got to slow down a bit, no big deal, hit a kid....now you got a big deal.

Just slow down, make the trip save for all.

alacringa · #4 12-12-2015, 08:36 PM

Didn't this start happening like 6 months ago? Why is it a big deal now? Shift into 2nd gear when entering school/playground zones. No problem. If you need to be on time, give yourself an extra minute and a half.

Hydro1 · #5 12-12-2015, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alacringa

Didn't this start happening like 6 months ago? Why is it a big deal now? Shift into 2nd gear when entering school/playground zones. No problem. If you need to be on time, give yourself an extra minute and a half.

What he said^.
If "irritating" 100,000 drivers by making them drive slower saves one child. It's worth it.

MK2750 · #6 12-12-2015, 08:41 PM

Great idea! The schools here are like community centers. There is seldom a weekend or evening there isn't something going on. I could never understand the times on school zones as kids are coming and going all the time.

huntsfurfish · #7 12-12-2015, 08:45 PM

Medicine Hat is the same School/playground.

sillyak · #8 12-12-2015, 09:12 PM

I took my driver's test in Calgary a numbers of years ago. It was midday on a weekday at the very end of June. I didn't know if the kids were out of school or not, last week in June and all and I was from out of town. Played it safe and went 30 km/h through 3 school zones. Got 20 points docked in each one for not obeying signs and too slow for conditions.

I'm now vindicated.

Sundancefisher · #9 12-12-2015, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Don't schools have playgrounds located on or near by? So you got to slow down a bit, no big deal, hit a kid....now you got a big deal.

Just slow down, make the trip save for all.

I have a school nearby...private school...no playground...just a building so School zone made sense.

Now suddenly it is a playground zone. No warning signs of a changed rule.

So for everyone reading...weekends and holidays with no school...likely it is now a playground zone. Slow down.

alacringa · #10 12-12-2015, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I have a school nearby...private school...no playground...just a building so School zone made sense.

Now suddenly it is a playground zone. No warning signs of a changed rule.

So for everyone reading...weekends and holidays with no school...likely it is now a playground zone. Slow down.

Just checked. This was done on Jul. 22.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...ne-safety.aspx

Sundancefisher · #11 12-12-2015, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alacringa

Just checked. This was done on Jul. 22.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...ne-safety.aspx

Not sure when they made the decision...however this one was changed about 2-3 weeks ago.

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #12 12-12-2015, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I have a school nearby...private school...no playground...just a building so School zone made sense.

Now suddenly it is a playground zone. No warning signs of a changed rule.

So for everyone reading...weekends and holidays with no school...likely it is now a playground zone. Slow down.

Suddenly? Without warning??

It's only been on every news website and tv story for months as well as the city of Calgary's website for over a year. As well CPS had an ad campaign warning drivers of the change weeks before it started.

Where have you been??

http://globalnews.ca/news/2176343/sl...yground-zones/

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/c...gary-1.3198229

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...ne-safety.aspx

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...back-to-school

There was even a thread about it on here:
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=263094

wack99 · #13 12-12-2015, 11:17 PM

Not too bothered about the zone change, but my gripe would be the time of day that the zone ends. What was wrong with the one hour after sunset? How many kids are still out at 2100 when its -20 in january, but on the other hand kids can still be out at 2200 in the middle of summer when its ok to zoom through doing 50kmh.

alacringa · #14 12-12-2015, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wack99

Not too bothered about the zone change, but my gripe would be the time of day that the zone ends. What was wrong with the one hour after sunset? How many kids are still out at 2100 when its -20 in january, but on the other hand kids can still be out at 2200 in the middle of summer when its ok to zoom through doing 50kmh.

Calgary drivers can't even figure out that they need to have their lights on when it's dark. Best to give them a fixed time.

Selkirk · #15 12-13-2015, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

...Calgary changes all school zones to playground zones . . .

I made that ^ suggestion to Calgary City Council almost ten years ago, to the day. Sadly, they pretty much laughed at me, and couldn't even bother to make my suggestion official.

How times have changed ... He who laughs last, laughs best!

Mac

artie · #16 12-13-2015, 01:21 AM

I like it at least now you know what is up.
I would like pedestrians to become more careful. They walk across an intersection without looking left or right. Some poor driver is halfway through an intersection and someone walks out in front of him. Yes the driver gets the blame.

deerguy · #17 12-13-2015, 01:27 AM

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

drhu22 · #18 12-13-2015, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MK2750

Great idea! The schools here are like community centers. There is seldom a weekend or evening there isn't something going on. I could never understand the times on school zones as kids are coming and going all the time.

Thats a good point... not sure many people think about that.

wags · #19 12-13-2015, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerguy

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

I like it. Teach drivers to show some respect on the road. Way too many drivers just speeding around without any respect for how the mind of a 5 year old child works. 30 is a great speed to stop quickly when an innocent child is having fun.

Cheers

coreya3212 · #20 12-13-2015, 08:27 AM

Not sure if I hav n opinion on this either way.asanyone tried to pull stats on kids hit in school zones, pg zones etc? Is a problem being solved? Or do we just feel better ,you know, cause of change?

roughneckin · #21 12-13-2015, 09:44 AM

This is literally a "if it saves one life" situation which I agree with. I like that they are all the same now and it's an extra second or two to slow down through a short section. Lives will only change for the better.

FishingMOM · #22 12-13-2015, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

This is very annoying. Even private schools with no playgrounds now have playground zones.

Be careful Calgary. Just a matter of time before police start to make money ticketing folks that didn't notice the new playground zones.

They are now active weekends and holidays.

I warned you guys months ago about this

FishingMOM · #23 12-13-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerguy

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

Next move is all city residential roads to be 40km/hr

winged1 · #24 12-13-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

Next move is all city residential roads to be 40km/hr

I walked up to our local CT the other night, and was amazed at how many people are running yellow / red lights. Something one doesn't notice while driving. I say bring on a reduced limit within residential streets.

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #25 12-13-2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerguy

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

Oh, is that all you need to do??!! "Teach the kids to pay more attention". Ahh, thank you Doctor Spock. Is that what you did when you raised your children? You just taught them to be more aware and not run out into the road when chasing a ball, seeing a friend, crossing the street, etc, etc. How did your child rearing go for you?

Please share with us parents how to raise a child so that a 4,000 lb car cruising at them at 50 feet per second is no threat.

The difference between travelling through an average school zone at 50 kmh and 30 kmh is around 11 seconds. 11 whole seconds. Your time is that valuable huh?

Conversely the difference in stopping distance and reaction time between the two speeds can be OVER 50 FEET!!!

If you DO happen to hit someone, consider this:

Quote:

55 per cent of pedestrians will be killed in a collision if you’re driving 50 km/h
5 per cent of pedestrians will be killed in a collision if you’re driving 30 km/h

So there's an additional 45% survival factor by doing 30 km/h!!

So your commute is 11 seconds longer, but you feel it's your right to lose 50 feet of stopping distance, and increase the fatality rate by 45%, just because "kids should be taught to be more aware".

I sure hope your parenting skills change if the day ever comes that you have children.

vinny · #26 12-13-2015, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerguy

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

I like it. We live at the end of a school zone and my son waits at the crosswalk every morning as people just rip by him. He absolutely will not step out until both directions stop and I've told him to make sure he makes eye contact with the driver. People just plain do not pay attention while driving anymore. It's a fact. A small inconvenience is worth it if it saves one child's life. Deal with it.

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #27 12-13-2015, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

I warned you guys months ago about this

It was almost 4 months ago, right amid a whole advertising campaign put on by the city and the CPS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clgy_Dave2.0

Suddenly? Without warning??

There was even a thread about it on here:
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=263094

winged1 · #28 12-13-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clgy_Dave2.0

It was almost 4 months ago, right amid a whole advertising campaign put on by the city and the CPS.

Way more important wordly problems to solve than to be tuned into local community.

58thecat · #29 12-13-2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deerguy

I don't like it. Teach kids to pay more attention to their surroundings, way to many kids just saunter around without knowing their surroundings. Playground zones should go to 40 km/hr.

Take a look around adults walking with thier freaking phones out texting, if we can't get adults to smarten up then we need to at least give the kids a fighting chance, everyone put your phones away while driving, walking etc adhere to speed limits and relax behind the wheel.

score · #30 12-13-2015, 10:54 AM

No offense to you specifically Sundance because there have been several threads on people complaining about driving and speed limits before. In general people drive too damn fast everywhere, not to mention flat out, the amount of bad drivers out there today whether they are not paying attention or are just plain stupid.

You have to drive defensively and watch like a hawk. Without exaggeration, almost every day I either avoid or witness stupid and irresponsible driving.

And so now are people really annoyed about having to slow down in areas where children frequent? Come on already.......

Sure signs should be posted, etc., but anyone driving should be aware enough to anticipate areas where extra care should be taken.