While in Toronto this October, 2009 I took these photos to show Edmontonians that Toronto, Canada has 30 km/hr residential speed limits as well as speed bumps to enforce this lower speed limit. I saw 2 types of speed bumps -- the low wide type featured in the picture above as well as the higher, narrower type. When I spoke to the City of Edmonton's Transportation Dept. a couple of years ago, I was told that Edmonton does not use speed bumps anymore because of issues around snow removal and that it is difficult for emergency vehicles to maneuver over them. I know for a fact that Toronto gets snow and also has emergency vehicles--I lived there for 8 years and saw snow, fire trucks, and ambulances.

I have learned that 115 St. North of 51 Ave. had speed bumps installed many years ago and when they had their road resurfaced recently, the speed bumps were reinstalled. If Toronto can have speed bumps -- a Canadian city that must adhere to the same national transportation standards as Edmonton-- and if speed bumps are being re-installed here in Edmonton, what is the Transportation Dept. saying? Sounds a bit like they don't want to be bothered.

Speed bumps would be more cost effective and efficient than having to pay Edmonton Police Service to do radar in our neighbourhoods. EPS has stated in the media that they are reluctant to use their manpower for speed enforcement so why not simply put in speed bumps? At the same time, we would have round the clock enforcement instead of enforcement only when EPS has a chance to come to our neighbourhoods.