Cut the speed limit to 20mph on every road in Bristol, say campaigners

The speed limit should be reduced on every road in Bristol, according to walking and cycling campaigners who have criticised Bristol City Council's proposals to pilot 20mph areas on only some city roads.

Despite supporting the lowering of the speed limit in residential areas, Bristol Cycling Campaign (BCC) and the Bristol branch of pedestrian group Living Streets say that the 20mph limit should be introduced across the city.

Plans for a pilot scheme were announced last week by Councillor John Rogers, cabinet member for transport and sustainability.

The schemes, which were drawn up with the help of the council's Cycling City project, are due to operate in Eastville, Easton, Ashley, Lawrence Hill, St George, Bedminster, Lawrence Hill, Southville and Windmill Hill.

The proposed 20mph speed limit will apply to all residential streets within the pilot areas that are not considered to be a major traffic route.

BCC spokeswoman Emma Barraclough, said the group were "disappointed" by the proposals. And Steve Meek from Living Streets said that the proposals were "very weak".

Ms Barraclough said: "We support the principle of having 20mph as the normal speed limit in residential areas, instead of 30mph, as part of a strategy of making our streets safe and pleasant places for everyone and not just motorised traffic.

"But 20mph should apply to the whole residential area of Bristol, not just to two isolated areas as proposed.

"The 20mph idea won't make sense to anyone if it isn't consistent.

"People will not understand why one street should be 20mph and another similar street 30mph."

Dr Meek added: "Almost all the roads which will be subjected to the 20mph limit are side streets – the roads most in need of a lower limit are the ones they have excluded, like Dean Lane in Bedminster and Whitehall Road in Whitehall. As it stands, this proposal is very weak as they have excluded the busier roads – like Ashley Hill and Sussex Place in Montpelier – which people find dangerous to cross and unpleasant to walk along."

Living Streets want to see mandatory 20mph limits on every road near a school or park, and a 20mph limit on every shopping street.

At the launch of the scheme last week, Dr Rogers said that the primary aim of the pilot zones is to make walking and cycling safer and more attractive to more people.

He said: "Reducing the speed limit to 20mph should also help to reduce the number of road accidents, which is another reason for promoting these schemes.

"We will be monitoring the success of the two pilot areas and listening to comments from local residents and businesses as well as those who regularly pass through these areas before we look at whether they could be extended to other parts of the city."

If plans for the £35,000 scheme are introduced, 20mph signs will be erected on both sides of the affected street to advise motorists that they are entering the zone, with more signs being provided throughout the area to remind them to keep their speeds down.

The scheme will not involve the introduction of any physical traffic calming features such as speed humps, chicanes or cameras.