Proposal would reduce speed limit in Pittsburgh parks to 15 mph

Pittsburgh City Council is considering a proposal to reduce the speed limit in city parks to 15 mph, down from 25 mph.

The legislation introduced Tuesday noted that many of the roads running through the city’s parks don’t have sidewalks and are shared by pedestrians and vehicles.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for people to enter into these parks without having to worry about a car that’s speeding by,” said Councilman Bobby Wilson, who sponsored the legislation. “People are looking for their park as an escape, this area you can go with your family.”

Wilson cited statistics from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showing that the average risk of a severe injury for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle is 25% when the vehicle is traveling at 23 mph, and 50% when the vehicle is moving at 31 mph. The number drops to 10% when the vehicle is traveling at 16 mph.

The legislation is particularly important now, as many people have relied more heavily on outdoor park space since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, Wilson said.

There are 58 sections of road that run through city parks, Wilson said. Three of them are considered primary roads, while the others are classified as secondary or tertiary roads.

The measure could be ready for a preliminary vote as early as next week, with a final vote as soon as the week after.