Your chance to have a say on 20mph limits
By The Bristol Post | Saturday, September 15, 2012, 05:00
CONSULTATIONS start this weekend on plans to impose a 20mph speed limit on Bristol's residential roads.
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The Bristol City Council Cabinet 20mph
The Post revealed earlier this year that the Liberal Democrat-run city council planned to expand 20mph limits across the city after introducing them on 500 roads in a pilot scheme in 2010.
The speed limit is due to be introduced in phases from next July.
Exhibitions in locations around central Bristol start tomorrow to gather opinions and give more information on the subject.
Dual carriageways, 40mph and 50mph roads are not affected by the planned reduced speed limit, but all other roads will be considered.
At the exhibitions residents can find out more about how their local area is affected and can voice their opinion on which roads should not be included.
The council hopes the lower speed limit will reduce the risk and severity of road accidents, reduce the negative impact of anti-social speeding and support people to become more active.
Cabinet member for transport Tim Kent said: "This is a good opportunity to find out about 20mph and how it could improve your neighbourhood. 20mph brings safer streets and encourages walking and cycling. This, in turn, helps build local communities and will make Bristol an even better place to live."
Areas where the speed limit is due to come into force first will host exhibitions over the next few weeks.
Further exhibitions are planned throughout the city next year, in all other areas where the reduced speed will come into force later.
The first round of exhibitions all run from 10am until 4pm.
The first is today (Saturday) at Redland Library.
Next Friday – Clifton Library will host an exhibition, which moves to Cheltenham Road Library the following day.
On September 26, Clifton Down Shopping Centre hosts an exhibition, followed by Tesco Eastville on September 28 and Bristol Central Library on September 29.
There is also an online survey at www.bristol.gov.uk/20mph and a public conversation on www.askbristoldebates.com
Comments
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By BristolBobby at 09:58 on 17/09/12
Report@Claren
I used to work on Stapleton Road & there was zero evidence of people sticking to 30 mph never mind 20 mph on Stapleton Road, Robinson Road or Fishponds Road. Maybe they do on smaller streets.....but they are often so narrow with parking on either side it would be difficult to go much faster.
By ceembee at 05:53 on 17/09/12
ReportOK, I'm not a Clifton person, I'm writing from Easton where we've had a 20mph pilot for a while and it makes a real positive difference in day to day life.
I have 2 young children and it was really stressful walking the streets and trying to cross the road before but now it's much easier.
Perhaps some older people or people with some types of disability would benefit from this reduction in traffic speed too.
Yes, some people forget it's now 20mph and some people deliberately ignore it but on the whole traffic has slowed.
It's nice not hearing the familiar sound of a car accelerating hard in a small street so much.
As a car driver too, I can honestly say I've not noticed my car journeys taking longer. At all.
It's good to give people a forum to air different opinions but I can't help reading some of these comments and wondering just why people are getting so upset.
I work part time too so am in a rush but the benefits of this certainly outweigh the costs.
By claren at 20:04 on 16/09/12
ReportI would support a 20mph speed limit if the council were to remove the majority of traffic lights. Then the traffic may be able to achieve 20mph
By jimbo62 at 19:09 on 16/09/12
Report@DM_Fishponds - "BCC's survey questions were biased. They were engineered to solicit the answers that BCC wanted. I complained about it at the time."
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Er...I gave three sources, all of which showed that introducing 20mph limits has strong public support. Are they all biased? Is the British Social Attitudes Survey result that 71 per cent of respondents were in favour or strongly in favour of speed limits of 20 mph in residential streets due to bias? Are the results of the UWE review due to bias?
Look at it another way. Why are none of the main contenders for elected Mayor of Bristol campaigning against the introduction of 20mph limits? If they could capture significant votes by doing this wouldn't at least some of them be onto it like a shot?
By green_man at 13:48 on 16/09/12
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