Vision Zero Vancouver applauds council for bold action on traffic safety

July 9, 2025 – Vision Zero Vancouver is celebrating a major win for public safety after Vancouver City Council voted today to develop a comprehensive Vision Zero Road Safety Policy and Action Plan aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries citywide.

“This could be a real turning point,” said Rhiannon Fox, a spokesperson for Vision Zero Vancouver. “For the first time, Council has committed to a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to ending road violence in our city. We’re thrilled to see political leadership that matches the urgency of the crisis.”

The motion directs staff to update the city’s outdated Moving Towards Zero plan and return to Council with a new, evidence-based Vision Zero strategy in 2026. It calls for a focus on proven interventions, like redesigning dangerous streets, and requires input from stakeholders including health experts, parent councils, cycling advocates, and community organizations.

“We’re especially encouraged by the requirement to prioritize effective measures and drop the ones that don’t work,” Fox added. “This is how we stop road violence before it happens.

Council also approved the Safer Slower Streets staff report, which will reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h on most local streets. But the program will only reach 25 neighbourhoods over the next three years, leaving many communities still exposed to fast, dangerous traffic speeds. 

“Slower speeds save lives, especially for people walking and cycling,” said Chengyan Boon, another spokesperson for Vision Zero Vancouver. “This is a big step forward.

However, Vision Zero Vancouver encourages the City to revisit its rollout strategy, which prioritizes implementation in neighbourhoods where speeds are already relatively low due to existing or planned traffic calming.

“We’re glad to see the City acting, but the program could be even stronger if it started in areas where speeds are highest and residents face the greatest risk,” Boon said. “We look forward to working with staff to ensure future phases of the rollout reflect real-world needs.”

Today’s votes signal growing momentum for safer, healthier streets and a more equitable city where everyone, in every neighbourhood, can get around safely.

Media Contact: contact@visionzerovancouver.ca