Sault Cycling Club is asking the city to reduce speed limits on roads going through the Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area to make them safer for cyclists and other recreational users.
The not-for-profit group has approached a number of landowners, partners and neighbours in the area for letters requesting the City of Sault Ste. Marie to consider designating roadways running through Hiawatha as a Community Safety Zone, with reduced speed limits of at least 40 km/hr.
Community Safety Zones are designated stretches of roadway where public safety is a concern, such as roads near parks or playgrounds, daycare centres, recreation areas, and areas with a large concentration of pedestrian activity.
“While the club is primarily responsible for the trails, we also recognize the importance of maintaining the safety of our trail users, and all others who use the Hiawatha Highlands area for recreation or other use,” said Paul McDonald, trails director for Sault Cycling Club.
“The continued investments in the mountain biking infrastructure has grown the popularity of the area for locals and tourists alike. The club feels this area would benefit from a decreased speed limit due to multiple road crossings, on-road parking during events, a blind corner, and vehicles who tend to drive at higher speeds coming off Sixth Line onto Landslide Road and Fifth Line.”
The request has been sent to Ward 3 councillors Angela Caputo and Ron Zagordo, along with letters of support from the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority, Sault Finnish Nordic Ski Club, Hiawatha Highlands, and Bible Fellowship Church.
Caputo has indicated she will be following up with the city's engineering department with respect to the request, McDonald told SooToday.
If approved, the city would designate the area through municipal bylaw and install signage along the roadway. Motorists convicted of traffic-related infractions would be subject to increased fines.