News RSS Feed


Twenty really is plenty

6:30am Friday 13th June 2008

comment Comments (35)   Have your say »


An ambitious bid to make Oxford the first place in the UK to introduce a city-wide 20mph speed limit was last night welcomed by campaigners.

Highways chiefs are considering giving every residential street a 20mph limit - including the main routes into the city.

Campaigners have had some success already, with 20mph limits introduced on some residential streets, and parts of Cowley and Banbury roads.

Now Oxfordshire County Council is moving towards covering the whole city in what has been described as a "big bang" approach.

Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport, said: "We will have to look at some roads and decide whether it is really practical for people to go at 20mph all the time.

"Then we will have to decide whether to implement it zone-by-zone or go for a big bang approach, which I would favour.

"It would be easier for everyone to understand, with everything changing on a particular day."

A high-level transport meeting is scheduled for next month.

If experts decided to press ahead with the scheme, the zones could be in place by end of the year.

The introduction of a 20mph limit in Cowley Road led to a 35 per cent reduction in accidents.

Paul Cullen, of the Life Begins at 20 group, said: "I think it is important that 20mph limits are introduced on bus routes.

"These are roads that see maximum pedestrian and cycling activity, as well as being the main school routes. As well as reducing accidents, it would bring social benefits, with parents happier to allow children to go to shops and elderly people feeling safer going out."

County road safety manager John Disley said: "There is now a need for us to look at the whole question of enforcement."

Ted Dewan, of the Beech Croft Residents' Association, said: "Life Begins at 20 was launched in Beech Croft Road two years ago and we're very pleased the county council included this street in their Summertown 20mph scheme.

"I think it's terrific that city-wide 20mph limits are no longer considered a pipe dream."

County Hall puts the implementation costs at £300,000.

This week Oxford City Council called on County Hall to get on with introducing a city-wide 20mph speed limit.

Colin Cook, the city council's executive member for development, said it hoped to see all roads within the city limits included in the plans.

He added: "Residential roads are our priority. Everything else would be a bonus."

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourOxford Mail

jamie, says...
6:48am Fri 13 Jun 08

We,ve already got a 20mph speed limit built into our road by the councils neglect they,re called potholes!!!!!!!This council wont be happy until all cars are banned from Oxford.

Report this post »

Alan, Oxford says...
8:08am Fri 13 Jun 08

20MPH is crazy, should you be able to do this speed on our roads outside of rush hours it would only frustrate drivers even more, along with our cyclist friends there would be races to see who can lead, people would try to cross the road beleiving there quicker than they are, and general apathy of the road laws. Cars and motorbikes now have much better brakes so can stop so much better, leave it at 30mph or I think casualties might just increase.

Report this post »

John of Abingdon, Abingdon says...
8:27am Fri 13 Jun 08

Why not try a road scheme similar to Abingdons? It works fine in stopping traffic moving.

Report this post »

Pedestrian, Oxford says...
8:40am Fri 13 Jun 08

A speed limit of 20mph is completely unnecessary. It will make bus journeys longer, increase pollution and lull pedestrians of all ages in to a false sense of security.

May I suggest instead teaching children the Green Cross Code from a very early age, and an increase in the policing of irresponsible, red-light running, helmet-less, light-less cyclists?

Report this post »

Adam, East Oxford says...
8:44am Fri 13 Jun 08

"with parents happier to allow children to go to shops and elderly people feeling safer going out." Not until you keep cyclists off the pavements otherwise as jamie says the most effective traffic calming is the state of the roads - consistent 20 mile limits do help tho'. Especially when you come off the Cowley Road to side roads with a 30 limit.

Report this post »

Damaged, Didcot says...
9:09am Fri 13 Jun 08

When I visit Oxford it is by train. The traffic I see is rarely moving as fast as 20 miles per hour! I refuse to drive through Oxford any longer as it is so dreadfully slow. Incidentally could something be done about the pedestrian access to the city from the railway station? It is easily the least pedestrian friendly I have ever met!
On pot holes, I was horrife=ied recently to realise I was driving over road bumps without even realising! The state of the roads is so bad, traffic calming has no effect!

Report this post »

Ed, Oxford says...
9:32am Fri 13 Jun 08

Well since it seems that buses are the main cause of cyclist injuries in Oxford, and they clog the roads up more than cars, why don't we cut the number of off-peak buses by half?

There were buses nose to tail on Iffley Rd earlier today, ditto St. Clements.

Oxford needs a drastic solution...20mph isn't it.

Report this post »

Colin, Thame says...
9:57am Fri 13 Jun 08

Every traffic scheme this council comes up with is a complete joke. Also where are they putting the City Limits?, will I have to drive at 20mph down the Eastern Bypass?.

Before coming up with these schemes do the thing that will increase safety on the roads - fix the potholes!!!.

Report this post »

Dave, says...
10:06am Fri 13 Jun 08

I agree that there are far too many busues on the roads, most of which seem to be empty. If the two bus companies reduced the number of buses on the roads maybe they could also lower their prices. Is this asking too much i wonder. Current bus charges are quite honestly, extortionate.

I aslo feel it's counter-productive for oxford to have two seperate bus companies. Of course, it's now too late to go back.

On the subject of 20 mph this could work only within certain areas and should in no way apply for the major arterial routes within oxford.

Report this post »

DanOxford, says...
10:20am Fri 13 Jun 08

John Disley, road safety manager at County Hall, said the county had to be mindful of Government advice that 20mph limits should only be introduced where average speeds were already low, with an average below 24mph.

So the whole exercise is pointless then, as people are already either unable to drive faster, or are driving BELOW the limit due to road conditions- in other words, behaving sensibly and responsibly and adjusting their driving behaviour according to road and traffic conditions, and thus not needing yet another expensive, impossible to enforce and unnecessary 'ban'.

Yet again, the Oxford Times gives coverage to the agendas of (self) interest groups, backed by the inept Council, which will cause untold problems to long term Oxford residents.

Has anyone ever heard of Paul Cullen, of the Life Begins at 20 group, or his vague 'social benefits' stance? Can we put this group alongside other recently covered Oxford groups such as: 'Car Thieving Burglar Drug Addicts Against Winos Being Cleared Out Of Bonn Square'; 'Headington Residents Against Other People Driving Down Our Road'; 'Crescent Road NIMBY's For Displacing Traffic To Neighbouring Streets'; 'Over Privileged Middle Class Oxford Students Against A Decent Westgate Shopping Centre For Local People' and all the other free trade sustainable flap jack, bunny hugging shoe growing communists who vote for the Lib Dem/ Green/ Labour anti- driver; anti- local; anti- progress councillors?

We don't all live within the ring road, we're not all childless; physically fit; unemployed or students with nothing to carry with us as we cycle around Oxford on the 'phone and listening to an MP 3 player and we don't all have the ambition of turning streets over to holding hands; face painting; juggling; didgeroo doo playing and saying how great it all is without capitalism; cars; industry; food that contains animals and medicine that work more effectively than lighting a joss stick to Gaia.

Report this post »

Julie, Oxford says...
10:42am Fri 13 Jun 08

It might be an idea to ensure that everyone abides by the current speed limit, then maybe there will be no need to bring in a lower one.

Report this post »

Get the facts., Oxford says...
11:36am Fri 13 Jun 08

Whatever you do, don't let the facts get in the way of trying to ****. The facts :
- lowering the speed limit at congested times increases average speed. It seems counter intuative, but it reduces artifacts of speed such as late breaking and improves traffic flow, improving traffic speeds (up to the 20 limit). So there would be LESS grid lock.
- It reduces pollution. While it may seem that longer journeys may increase those, lower speeds mean less pollution and lower speed limits actually shorten journeys on average, particularly during rush hours.
- Lower speeds mean less accidents. c.f. Cowley Road.


Report this post »

Andrew, Oxford says...
11:37am Fri 13 Jun 08

Like any speed limit, you abide by it where you are likely to get caught mostly. ON the eastern bypass, we all slow down as we near the parking area where plod sits with his speed camera, then immediately accelerate up to 70mph if they are not sat there.


Report this post »

DanOxford, says...
11:51am Fri 13 Jun 08

The Home Office is expected to approve an average speed camera system for 20mph zones by the end of the year. The system works by having a camera at every entry and exit point to catch all drivers exceeding the limit on any route through the zone.

http://business.time

sonline.co.uk/tol/bu

siness/industry_sect

ors/transport/articl

e3941769.ece

More targets; more surveillance; greater nannying- is it any wonder we now turn out people with no idea of what it is to assess a situation and act accordingly?

Schools are now required to teach students how to recognise and respond to risks, so shielded from any decision making or consequences have they become.

Oxford has become a model for what the entire Country will become if the NuLabour socialist/ communist vision is ever realised- completely ground to a halt by excessive rules, regulations, organisational inefficiency and the minority taking precedence over the majority and basic common sense.

The REAL national and local issue is over- population. Most of East Oxford is now given over to student and economic immigrant housing with several people and cars to a house where before a family with one car would have been the norm.

Report this post »

James, in the gutter says...
12:02pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Hurray! 20 mph is great news for everyone who walks and cycles - and anyone who lives next to a road! Drivers aren't the only people using roads. 20 mph is relaxing. Enjoy it!

Report this post »

J, oxford says...
12:45pm Fri 13 Jun 08

I don't mind a 20mph speed limit in built up areas, as it works well in cities in Germany.

But German also have the sense not to put stupidly slow speed limits on dual carriageways... so perhaps get rid of that ridiculous 50pmh limit on the ringroad around Cowley!!

Unfortunately I can only see this speed limit being enforced in the more major roads, where it's mostly needed in residential areas. I'd rather see kids playing on bikes in the road than chavs doing 40mph down the backstreets!

Report this post »

Noam, Oxford says...
1:15pm Fri 13 Jun 08

"We don't all live within the ring road,"

What's that got to do with it? Buses and trains can get you into Oxford, and if you live near neither use the park and ride.

" we're not all childless; "

What's that got to do with it? Children are allowed on buses, and are able to cycle.

"physically fit; "

What's that got to do with it? As long as you can hobble to a bus stop you can use a bus or the Park and Ride.

"unemployed or students with nothing to carry with us "

Have you not heard of a rucksack or shopping bag? How often do you actually need to travel round carrying a telly or a fridge?

Report this post »

James, Oxford says...
1:21pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Using Cowley Road as an example of lower speed resulting in less accidents is a joke.
Many cyclists I know actively avoid travelling along that road because they feel so unsafe after the 'improvements', the real cause of the drop in accidents is people don't want to travel on that road any more.

Report this post »

kip, bicseter says...
2:06pm Fri 13 Jun 08

ban every car/van/lorry from the city now!!
then close all small busineses and they can get deliveries by bus...
when i go to oxford to fix anything for my job i will charge 3 times as much for the hassle

Report this post »

defeated, N.Oxon says...
2:28pm Fri 13 Jun 08

If all the regulations which have been brought into force since 1997 worked then I guess there'd be no stabbings or dead neglected babies.The good thing about this particular regulation is that since in 10 years time there'll be no indigenous Oxford people left the only cars then thrashing round Oxford will be unregistered "pool" cars from public housing estates and Eastern European wrecks plod's not going to get any revenue from photographing cars he can't trace

Report this post »

BeegRich, Didcot says...
2:41pm Fri 13 Jun 08

You should be able to drive at speeds that suit the road conditions. It appears that the local council again are obsessed with the motorist once again!

Report this post »

rosie, Jericho says...
3:33pm Fri 13 Jun 08

20 mph would be wonderful, it would mean safer cycling which should mean fewer cars running about the city empty (ie only a driver, like an empty bus). Too many cars in Oxford have only one person in. 95% of your petrol is used to move your car as it is 20 or 30x heavier than you. What a waste for a short journey.

Report this post »

Stu, Oxford says...
4:45pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Rosie, if you can find a car that can use as much as 95% of the fuel to move it then you are onto a winner. It would be the worlds most efficient car! Your comments smack of someone who believes the entire green agenda without actually having any knowledge of what you are talking about. There is not enough counter arguement against the green facist agenda. Anybody who is seen to disagree with it is treated like a heretic from the middle ages.

Report this post »

David Jaques, Oxford says...
4:53pm Fri 13 Jun 08

I strongly support the introduction of a 20mph limit throughout Oxford for resons of safety and peace, never mind the reduced fuel emissions

Report this post »

Stu, Oxford says...
4:57pm Fri 13 Jun 08

David, again someone who has no idea what they are talking about. Cars run at there most efficient when thay are travelling at speed as they have the momentum to continue and the engines are running at the speed they are designed to. Please, no more created facts to suit the green agenda.

Report this post »

Rod King, Warrington says...
5:31pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Stu

The major factor in the amount of energy used to move a car is related to the square of the speed it is going at.

Engines are designed to run at all speeds. The engines in UK cars are not different from those in Dutch, German, Swedish or Belgium cars whose drivers seem perfectly capable of conforming to their 18.5 mph residential speed limits without economic meltdown.

It was recently reported that a Citroen C4 will do 99 mpg at 20 mph.

Get real and get realising that our urban vehicle speeds make the UK one of the most pedestrian unfriendly countries in Europe. Hats off to Oxford City Council for doing something to make things better.

Rod King
www.20splentyforus.o
rg.uk

Report this post »

Phil, Oxford says...
5:49pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Stu wrote:
Rosie, if you can find a car that can use as much as 95% of the fuel to move it then you are onto a winner. It would be the worlds most efficient car! Your comments smack of someone who believes the entire green agenda without actually having any knowledge of what you are talking about. There is not enough counter arguement against the green facist agenda. Anybody who is seen to disagree with it is treated like a heretic from the middle ages.
Regardless of its efficency, green agenda or not, a car is much more likley to kill you at 30mph than 20mph.

Report this post »

Niko Bellic, Liberty City says...
6:04pm Fri 13 Jun 08

I may be wrong, but i'm assuming these twits in favour of the idea dont actually own and maintain a motor car

Report this post »

Stu, Oxford says...
6:58pm Fri 13 Jun 08

Phil, if the green cross code was pushed as much now as it was when I was kid, more people may avoid getting run over!! It's simply a matter of looking before crossing. It isn't rocket science.

Report this post »

ox2 gooner, walton manor says...
3:04am Sat 14 Jun 08

Having read all the sensible and well thought out comments against the proposed 20 mph zones, I am afraid to inform you all, that it is a lost cause. Because everyone involved from Privates Paul Cullen & Ted dewan all the way through to Die Fuhrer Ian Hudspeth, are so anti-car, that you would have had more success in persuading Hitler to fill his war cabinet with Jews, than getting this lot to change their minds. But all is not lost, and I can see this outcome that will keep all concerned happy. Firstly Mien Fuhrer and his anti-car Gestapo will have great fun spending our £300,000 drawing up new traffic orders, and installing gleaming new signs everywhere. Privates Cullen, Dewan,and co will be over the moon with joy, and have their pictures taken with the said signs and throw a street party to celebrate their momentous victory against the evil, that is the car driver.And the rest of us will do, what we already do in the city centre, cowley rd, and jericho where there are 20 mph limits in place, and totally ignore them. Instead driving at a speed that is safe for the road conditions be it 10 mph or 30 mph. so hurrah for everybody and triples all round. (but not if you are driving)

Report this post »

ox2 gooner, walton manor says...
3:42am Sat 14 Jun 08

P.S. To Phil, Oxford, Rod King, Warrington, David Jaques, Rosie, Jericho, James, in the gutter, and Get the facts. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I pray that God, not only gives you a life, but also a free mind so you can enjoy it. You deserve it, because you obviously missed out on both this time round !

Report this post »

DanOxford, says...
6:48pm Sat 14 Jun 08

Noam wrote:
"We don't all live within the ring road," What's that got to do with it? Buses and trains can get you into Oxford, and if you live near neither use the park and ride. " we're not all childless; " What's that got to do with it? Children are allowed on buses, and are able to cycle. "physically fit; " What's that got to do with it? As long as you can hobble to a bus stop you can use a bus or the Park and Ride. "unemployed or students with nothing to carry with us " Have you not heard of a rucksack or shopping bag? How often do you actually need to travel round carrying a telly or a fridge?
Oh FFS! If walking and cycling was the 'answer' everyone would be doing it wouldn't they?

Watching someone falling off their bike going up Iffley Road hill while attempting to carry several planks of wood on the handlebars provided a good example as I drove past to Redbridge with an entire car full of recycling that can't be put in the household collection boxes.

What I strongly oppose are the gormless eco- worriers who want to impose ridiculous blanket bans because they fail to accept that various forms of transport suit various different situations.

It is THEY in their sanctimonious, self- righteous 'I'm saving the World!' smugness who are the selfish ones- presumably disabled people, mothers with very young children and people who might need to carry around more than will fit in a rucksack shouldn't get around the city or Country?

It's true that we didn't always rely on cars- but then we didn't always live miles away from jobs, family and friends and most things you needed could be bought within walking distance- before out of town shopping centres; supermarkets and cinemas for example.

Anywhere else, this idiocy is seen or what it is- the idealistic pipe dreams of a bunch of hippies. In Oxford, it becomes Council policy.

Report this post »

Rod King, Warrington says...
9:33pm Sun 15 Jun 08

Hang on Dan. You say :-
"It is THEY in their sanctimonious, self- righteous 'I'm saving the World!' smugness who are the selfish ones- presumably disabled people, mothers with very young children and people who might need to carry around more than will fit in a rucksack shouldn't get around the city or Country?"

I really am not out to save the world. But I do want to save some lives. Our road deaths are skewed towards pedestrians (21%) more than any Western European country where the average is just 14.7 %. Per km walked or cycled then you are twice as likely to be killed in UK than in Holland or Sweden.

About 20% of our fellow citizens do not own a car. Many of our road users who do not drive are either too young, or disabled. They do not have a choice as to whether they hop in the car or no.

20 mph makes very little difference to journey times, only the amount of time you sit waiting at the next congestion point. All over Europe they are happy to have a max speed of 30 kph on residential roads and as a result they manage to kill each other less.

Its time that we woke up to our responsibilities as road users and ensure that we share the roads equitably with all users.

Best regards
Rod King
20's Plenty For Us

Report this post »

Phil Gale, Oxford says...
11:16pm Sun 15 Jun 08

If you want to compare pedestrian collision rates with, say, Germany, you have to take into account a completely different pedestrian culture: Germans will wait for a green man crossing signal even when there's no traffic around. It's what they do. That's bound to make a difference... And the Dutch have real cycle tracks everywhere. And so on.

Compare like with like; don't just make superficial comparisons.

Report this post »

Simon, says...
1:00pm Mon 23 Jun 08

For all but residential roads tewnty is only plenty for those whose cranial cavity is empty.

Road are not snailways. They are for gettoing from a to b using mechanised transport which travels more quickley than we humans can walk. (Footpaths are for pedestrians)

Simon

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

Campaigner Paul Cullen in St Giles' Campaigner Paul Cullen in St Giles'

In this section

Essential Links

Sponsored Links



UK Debt Help and Advice | IVA help and advice | The truth about IVAs | Stay with Prague Hotels | Visit Spain with Barcelona Hotels

Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »