Old Hedley Road Speeds

FYI: Early this afternoon after a GREAT 'Gathering / Great & Meet I was very disappointed by the rider who passed me on Old Hedley Road and proceed to continue on at a rather high rate of speed; especially through the Posted "50 k/ph" Limit in the Residential Area's. As there were about 6 -7 other riders from the gathering behind me, I will assume that the speed that I was travelling was appropriate not only for myself, but for them as well.

As a resident of the area, I can assure you that the Posted Speed on the Old Hedley Road is ONLY 50 K/ph. However, more folks are ok with riders doing up to 80 k/ph in the open areas.

Please try to remember that some of my neighbours, their children & pets, frequent the road as well, and enjoy either walking, riding their bikes etc. along the same roadway that we riders use too. In the future, I would like to remind ALL of the VBR that the actual POSTED Speed along Old Hedley Road is only 50 k/ph. Please try and keep that in mind (in particular through the Posted Cautionary residential areas) when transiting through this lovely roadway.

Enjoy,
Daniel Davidson

Hi Daniel,
Good to know......For myself I know how easy it can be to exceed the speed limit when riding a motorcycle so I will make a note to remember that the posted speed limit for "Old Hedley Rd" is 50 KPH should I ever have the pleasure of travelling on it.

Thanks for sharing...!

...Pat

Hmmmm...... Until I get back down for a close look, I may have to respectfully disagree with Daniel. I've ridden and driven Old Hedley road at least 100 times over the past 40 years. I don't believe I've ever seen a 50 kph speed sign at the east end of the road. The first time you see a 50 kph sign is when it starts to build up close to Princeton. If the speed limit is not posted, then BC Traffic law says the speed limit on a rural road is 80 kph.

If the Safety Nazi's in Victoria have recently changed the speed limit on that road to 50 kph then it will join a growing list of rural roads in BC with ridiculously low speed limits. If that is the case, people will continue to drive the road at a reasonable pace which is around 80 kph, which Daniel said the locals seem fine with in the rural areas.

Just my opinion. YMMV

Cheers, Wayne

There are several Yellow/Orange Speed Limit 50 k/ph signs Westbound and Eastbound, and a white 50 k/ph sign just East of the Sawmill for Eastbound traffic. I haven't checked with Victoria (sorry, I don't know any Nazi's over there personally) but I have chatted with several locals regarding the 50 k/ph Posts (I agree that it is slow for some of the road) and they say that although it is Posted as 50 k/ph, and request that speed through the several residential areas of the road, they also agree that in some places 80 k/ph is very reasonable.

FYI: I slowed down in Position 1 to go past a slow travelling Scooter in Position 3 when I was passed on the left (on a Solid Yellow Line). Out of personal interest followed the bike that passed me until I was moving at 110 k/ph; a speed I felt uncomfortable with in some of the blind curves; although I too have been travelling that road several times a week for the past 18 years and feel that I know it pretty good.

My intention here is to inform VBR Members of a bit of local knowledge, and NOT to upset anyone. However, the bike that passed me continues at a high rate of speed, while myself and the riders behind me enjoyed the ride just as much at 50 - 80+ k/ph. If my comments regards Public Safety and local protocol are going to be met with argument and conflict, maybe the VBR Club is not for me?

Tks,
Daniel

Hi Daniel:
It was not my intention to enter an argument or to create conflict when I responded to your post. If my poor attempt at humor at the expense of the autocrats in Victoria caused you offence, then I apologize.

My only intent was to correct what I felt was an error in the speed limit on The Old Hedley Road. In the same vein I feel that I must clarify a couple of your statements in your last response.

- Yellow diamond shaped signs are warning signs of possible hazards ahead such as a sharp curve. If they are accompanied by a yellow speed sign, then it is an advisory speed only. Not a speed limit.
- Orange diamond shaped signs are Construction signs. They may have white speed signs attached which ARE speed limits.
- In BC, Speed Limit signs are always white and advisory signs are in yellow.
- A single yellow line does not prohibit passing. From ICBC’s Learn to Drive Manual a single yellow line means: “passing is allowed with extra caution”.

With that clarification, I stand by my previous statement the speed limit on most of The Old Hedley Road is 80 kph. The limit drops when it is posted at 50 kph close to Princeton.

I completely share your concern about speeding in residential or congested areas and I support your raising that issue on this forum. I feel the same concern when I see or hear people speeding through my neighborhood. You will notice that in my response I did not disagree with you. For the record I was at the back of the pack following you. The rider you refer to can defend themselves if they want to, but I did not witness them speeding through a residential area.

Our club is made up of a wide variety of riders with an equally wide range of riding skills and risk aversion. There are people in this club who ride much faster than I do and people who ride much slower and more cautiously than I do. Each of us is responsible for our own level of risk acceptance. You should never feel pressured to keep up with another rider whether in our club or not. At the same time, you should never expect other riders to either try to keep up with you or to follow along for miles at your pace.

Our club has been successful for many years because we don’t try to impose rules on our members or police their actions. We have no “organized group” rides. We have no Road Captains and no written rules on group riding. Our events (breakfasts and camping weekends) are purely social events. If you choose to attend you are fully responsible for getting yourself to and from the event on your own. (Heck, you can show up in a hot air balloon and you will still be welcome.) Your riding is for your own pleasure and you are expected to take full responsibility for it. Every other rider in our club is in the same situation.

Daniel, its exceedingly difficult to have a serious discussion in this forum format. There are many nuances that are missed or mis-interpreted due to a lack of context from tone of voice or body language. I would be more than happy to continue this discussion in person at our next meeting.

Regards, Wayne

I spoke to a local RCMP office last night and the Speed Limit on Rural Roads (unless otherwise posted) in indeed 80 kms; not 110+ kms. As I stated earlier, locals coming from Princeton see the 50 kms White Sign which is posted just east of the sawmill. As for the Yellow, Orange Signs and Solid Lines, I passed the same Class 6 Exams that you did and don't feel that I need to be told what they mean again here; but, if you must?

Regardless, out of respect for the residents I try to stay at a safe rate of speed, and it was my intention to point out that 110+ is NOT a safe rate of speed ANYWHERE on that road.

BTW: The Mountie agreed.