School zones now playground zones in Calgary
CBC News | Posted: August 20, 2015 8:15 PM | Last Updated: June 3, 2019
Change comes as students get ready to head back to school
The city is getting rid of all school zones in Calgary and turning them into playground zones.
It's meant to improve safety for children as they head back to school.
Ravi Seera, the city's manager of traffic safety, says eliminating school zones and setting straight forward and consistent playground zone hours will enhance safety for both pedestrians and motorists.
Seera notes that school zones are only in effect on school days while playground zones are in effect every day all year round.
The time they are in effect — from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. — will not change.
City council allocated $545,000 last year to transition school zones to playground zones with the goal of raising more awareness around schools that operate year-round.
The city says Calgary has approximately 180 school zones and 1,510 playground zones. Crews will be replacing the school zone signs through the fall, with the work expected to wrap up by the end of October.