In October a group of concerned parents approached Yorkton City Council members in an effort to slow down traffic in their area of the city. On Monday, their idea was officially shelved.
In a proposal to council on October 13, Fred Schrader said the residents of Milne Bay had researched and were prepared to take on the expense of installing temporary rubber speed bumps to slow down traffic to make the bay safer for local children.
"We are proposing to install three six foot sections," he said. "The speed bumps would be installed each year once the snow disappeared from the street and then removed no later than mid-October, so that not to interfere with snow removal equipment.
"The concerned parents would be responsible for the purchase of the temporary speed bumps, the installation, and the removal each year as well as the repair of the pin holes in the street."
On Monday, with the exception of Councillor Chris Wyatt, council accepted administrations recommendation that the speed bumps not be permitted.
"Administration has had experience with this type of product elsewhere in Canada," said Gord Shaw from the city's planning and engineering department. "The product is not as effective in reducing vehicle speed as desired. Administration's experience has shown that vehicles find ways to avoid them or only slow down when approaching the bumps and then speed afterwards."
Shaw says a self-education program would better serve the purpose of Milne Bay residents.
"Speed bumps are generally used as a traffic calming measure where traffic is short-cutting through a residential neighborhood. This is not the case in Milne Bay."
While no official decisions were made on an alternative to the speed bumps, the idea of signage was mentioned and council has agreed to explore other options.
