They will lead to added frustration
THE spectre of 20mph speed restrictions across Bristol is one restriction too many, when one takes into account current restrictions caused by sparsely used bus lanes such as that on the Portway etc. combined with current rush hour grid-lock in Stoke Bishop and Clifton caused by the Wessex Water pipelaying exercise. Consultation on the 20mph speed limit based on sparsely represented Neighbourhood Forums is, I feel, stretching democracy a bit far.
Speed restrictions of 20mph will create an increase in frustration, and drive rage, on the part of the motorist, an increased risk of accidents due to motorists watching their speedos and not the road in front and an increase in fuel consumption and pollution due to vehicles driving in third gear.
Summary, the 20mph limit, judiciously applied in appropriate areas, is a good idea but not applied city-wide.
One rather laughable outcome will be that cyclists who have no means of gauging speed and can easily achieve 30 mph, will often be overtaking motorists and in so doing be infringing the 20 mph limit themselves. What will the Police do about that?
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The Bristol City Council need, for once, to consider the economy of the city and keep traffic flowing by all possible means.
At the moment we have bus lanes such as that on the Portway which are empty most of the day. Surely these restrictions should apply only during rush hours.
These lanes could, and should, be opened to all traffic during the rest of the day?
Ian Beattie
Comments
by charles101
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:35PM
“The results of the current 20 mph zones show little real impact,accidents actually up, but not significant, speeds slightly down, about 1mph average, but not significant. That was restricted to residential roads. The new proposals are for all roads so out of peak times journey times could be substantially longer on some roads. The real problem is spending so much money, OUR MONEY, for such very marginal results.
Cycling and walking are up in all areas, not significantly more in the test areas. Maybe more to do with the economy and costs than 20 mph.
Is the real incentive to gradually increase revenue from speeding fines rather like what Bristol has done with parking charges. restrictions for all night and on Sundays. Once the framework is in the council can change how its enforced without consultation so a long term extra tax on motorists.”
by Willwarin
Saturday, October 20 2012, 12:25PM
“This letter raises a number of issues.
1 Democracy - it has been public pressure about adverse impacts of vehicle speeds in City streets that prompted Bristol City Council to conduct the two 20 mph pilots in 2010 within Inner and South Bristol. The findings in the pilot areas were that average speeds reduced, walking and cycling went up, journey times for buses were unaffected, and popularity grew - to 82% of residents supporting 20 mph. Similarly, the British Crime Survey reveals speeding vehicles as the top rated antisocial behaviour, by young and old, men and women. So, the Cabinet of BCC has decided to respond to public pressure and to roll out 20 mph. The consultation is about detail, not about whether it is the right thing. This is democracy. Not everyone will like the idea of 20 mph and not everyone will be confident that it will achieve calmer speeds, but this is part of a slow steady culture change towards reclaiming streets for mixed mode travel.
2. The economy - cities in Europe that have successfully calmed vehicle speeds have seen it unlock the potential for walking and cycling on short trips, with the result that congestion reduces, streets become more pleasant, less noisy and safer, and businesses thrive. Average journey speeds in Bristol are already below 20, so accelerating to 30 between queues does not get you there quicker and it does cause the negative impacts - on noise and danger.
3. Speeding bikes – bikes average 10 -12 mph and police have powers to enforce against reckless cycling.
4. More crashes - good drivers will not feel frustrated at driving safely and with respect for other users, bad drivers are safer at 20.
Will Warin”