Comments on: Reducing Speed Limits in Residential Areas

By: gedhughes

gedhughes — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:26:24 +0000

Living Streets, who have previously spoken to our Public Meeting, also support the campaign to reduce speed limits. They are a charity that promote the needs of pedestrians. Find out more on their views – click here: http://bit.ly/56dKx7

By: Amanda Baker

Amanda Baker — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:44:36 +0000

PS Just found this interesting letter about the health and cost benefits of increased human-powered transport, which I think was originally sent to Frank Coyne:

http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/birmingham/becycling/coynereferences3.html

“At present cycling and walking rates are reducing in Acocks Green, roads are faster than ever, traffic increasing, bus lanes are being abandoned, with massive increases in obesity and diabetes. …
“We have shown there would be great benefits of more cycling and walking to the people of Acocks Green. “

By: Amanda Baker

Amanda Baker — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:37:51 +0000

“The effect of the 20mph zones was that of a steep reduction in casualties and collisions by an amount that has taken over 20years to achieve on roads without 20mph zones.”

I think that we should seriously look at the possible net benefits of 20 mph zones, along with all the other ideas on the table like Shared Space: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_space#United_Kingdom (“It is reported that, based on two years of ‘before and after’ monitoring, casualties fell from 71 in the period before the street was remodelled to 40 afterwards – a drop of 43%.[15]“).

As for meeting the needs of people using motor vehicles … as I said at the meeting, it isn’t the maximum speed – like a 20 mph limit – which matters for how long a trip will take you. It’s the _average_ speed that matters. It’s possible that 20 mph limits could improve the steady flow of motor traffic, and that trip times might increase by only a few minutes! We need to know …