Safer Community

Safety first!

Hope Street’s long straight downhill section really encourages speeding — it feels more like a cut-through than a local street. Drivers often go well over 50, especially heading downhill, and there aren’t many cues to slow down. This makes it feel unsafe for pedestrians, kids, cyclists, and people just walking their dogs.

Other nearby streets like Stevens Street are already getting traffic calming — we’d love to see similar things here. Simple changes like chicanes or narrow points would break up the long sightlines and force drivers to slow down a bit. Raised crossings or kerb buildouts at intersections would help too.

Also, the wide open grass verges contribute to that “fast road” feel. Adding verge planting — like native shrubs, taller grasses, or even street trees — would make the street feel more lived-in and encourage more careful driving. Streets with more greenery and narrower visual corridors tend to feel safer and calmer.

It doesn’t have to be expensive — even temporary planter boxes or trial slow points would be a good start. These changes would make the street safer, greener, and more enjoyable for everyone who lives here or walks through.