Twenty mph tide turning

Pedestrians group Living Streets reckons that “the tide is turning in the campaign for 20mph limits in residential areas.” The Mayor of London has announced that London boroughs can now introduce borough wide 20mph limits, without costly enforcement measures. Portsmouth is moving to a city-wide 20mph limit, and Hull’s widespread 20mph areas are getting dramatic results.

They are new calling for 20mph limits in all our residential and shopping streets across Britain. See Living Streets 20mph page for more on taking action.

Lower speed, higher safety

Thankfully we haven’t had too many serious road accidents (aka avoidable collisions) around Malvern in the few years I’ve been here. However a cyclist was recently hit by a second car after being in collision with a right turning vehicle coming out of Albert Park Road on to Worcester Road (See Malvern Gazette news item)

A letter responding to this proposes we should follow the lead of Portsmouth, and other residential areas, in considering a general 20 mph limit. If we want to encourage more people to cycle and walk rather than use the car then lower traffic speeds helps, and the CTC is looking into promoting this around the country. Hopefully more soon.

Reclaiming the streets for children

Probably not a lot new here for seasoned cycling and ‘living streets’ campaigners, but Play England have issued a report Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the public realm with children and young people which “aims to start a national debate on the room we leave for childhood in our public spaces”.

It wants to see a 20mph speed limit where streets are shared with children, amongst other things.

Kids on foot and bike

The theme for this year’s Road Safety Week, which runs 5th to 11th November, is the safety of children on foot and bicycles. The week is organised by Brake, the national road safety charity.

Twenty is plenty

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) has suggested bringing in 20mph as the default speed limit in urban areas. This would save lives and and make people happier to cycle and walk, too.

See their report, Beyond 2010 - holistic approach to road safety in Great Britain, published 16th October.