20mph limits

[thomas]

It is hardly considerate to expect a cyclist or driver to have to slam on the brakes because you couldn't be bothered to check for traffic before walking across the road. It works both ways.

It is hardly fair that a ped should be stuck at the side of the road for ages because people using the road won't either slow down and let them across, give a bit more space between the car in front to make it easier...or just stop and let people across.

 

[Origamist]

It is hardly considerate to expect a cyclist or driver to have to slam on the brakes because you couldn't be bothered to check for traffic before walking across the road. It works both ways.

I think this would be the "mutual consideration" referred to by User.

20mph limits will help more vulnerable road users and, for that reason, I'm in favour.

 

[domd1979]

I didn't say town centre. Town = urban area.

Most people are not doing 20mph cycling about the place. If you're steaming round on a road bike maybe, but not for your average utility cycling.

What has town got to do with it? Most planned 20mph limits are not in town centres or even in "residential zones" in or near the CBD. If you live somewhere flat like most of the big commuter towns/cities it is routine to see cyclists approaching the 20mph mark. It's only places that are slightly hilly such as Sheffield, extremes of Leeds and Bradford where you see people struggling along at 10mph.

 

[marinyork]

In city centres there are interesting ways of trying to get around the problem such as on the high street here, where many peds cross they have priority due to the line markings. Unfortunately buses and so forth don't pay the slightest notice of them. Oh yeah whoops I accidentally mentioned something not to do with speed.

 

[marinyork]

I didn't say town centre. Town = urban area.

Most people are not doing 20mph cycling about the place. If you're steaming round on a road bike maybe, but not for your average utility cycling.

You said around town, which means "town centre" in local parlance. I find it odd you live in Staffs and there is a different meaning.

I do get bored of the ever long list of people on here trying to imply I'm some kind of superaggressive roadie. I ride a hybrid mostly, I cruise along at 12-14mph on the flat. I'm the slowest cyclist in the known universe. I routinely get overtaken on the flat. Like I said it is routine for other cyclists to be approaching 20mph on flat territory. I am the below average utility cyclist, the average ones are all faster.

 

[domd1979]

I'd say 12 - 14mph is a pretty average cycling speed. I only average 12mph, I have a short burst at 20mph on the way home where I take primary in heavy traffic so keep up with the flow for that stretch, otherwise I might do 15-18mph on the flat if its not windy (if it is I'm slower). Even at 15mph I overtake other cyclists.

I still don't get all the flapping about 20mph zones - there isn't any more need to cycle at 20mph+ in urban areas as there is to drive at above 20mph.

I wasn't making any reference to the bike you might ride - it was a general "you" meaning anybody....

 

[tyred]

I think there are some areas such as around schools or tight town cntres where a 20mph is probably a good idea. What I don't want to see is a blanket 20mph limit in all areas that are currently 30. It isn't necessary in most cases. It also only needs to apply at certain times of the day. During the day, many town centres are so congested that exceeding 20mph is all but impossible so why bother changeing the rules anyway?

 

[domd1979]

20mph zones have been shown to reduce accident rates.

I think there are some areas such as around schools or tight town cntres where a 20mph is probably a good idea. What I don't want to see is a blanket 20mph limit in all areas that are currently 30. It isn't necessary in most cases. It also only needs to apply at certain times of the day. During the day, many town centres are so congested that exceeding 20mph is all but impossible so why bother changeing the rules anyway?

 

[HJ]

... It's only places that are slightly hilly such as Sheffield, extremes of Leeds and Bradford where you see people struggling along at 10mph.

You struggle down hill at 10mph

 

[marinyork]

20mph zones have been shown to reduce accident rates.

And if a 25mph speed limit, which is what I favour if you're going to go down the route of saying large tracts of the country should have reduced speeds, existed as an entity then it would be demonstrated to reduce accident rates also.

Tyred's point of view is a legitimate one to have. The only problem I have with it is that the "certain times of day" can lead to drivers misbehaving wildly outside of their hours as it in their minds it legitimises their speeding. There are some 20 zones that are meant as that for large windows of time as that is their nature. I used to live near one. There are others that do genuinely only need to be 20mph say at school time (smaller in number than many people think). Some areas of the country favour the flashing orange lights and signs.

Plans do exist to make virtually everywhere 20mph, it's just like in my local authority they are obsessed with speed bumps and the lavish trimmings of traffic calming so only have enough resources to do 2 areas per year without intervention, hence it'll take half a century to achieve as the city is split into 100 areas. I just think if you're going to go down that route, you either have 20mph areas in limited areas that are rigidly enforced by speed cameras and mobile units or if you want practically everywhere to have lower speeds I advocate the new 25mph urban speed limit.

 

[marinyork]

You struggle down hill at 10mph

If it is windy enough. I was doing 9mph downhill on the A57 into what was probably a 50mph head wind, once.

As was already said in conversation, the bread and butter route into town has a 20mph speed limit, downhill and I stick to it.

 

[jimboalee]

"Around town" in my dictionary is 'Urban single carriageway'.

I don't really give a toss if 20mph limits are imposed. I ride at around 20 now when the traffic is flowing.
15 - 18 when the traffic slows. 12 -15 up the hills ( not very steep ).

I've been stopped for riding in excess of a 30 mph limit down a gradient in Solihull, but the cops couldn't really do a thing except caution me.

Now there is a Gatso at that spot in the road, but I still don't give a toss. My computer reads 28 - 32 through it, but bollox to them.

 

[Tynan]

0mph is best, that really will stop accidents

people getting hit by cars/bikes etc are almost routinely walking out into the road without bothering to look, that causes accidents, slower traffic will reduce accidents but as importantly reduce the severity of accidents, although 20mph is still going to sting

 

[thomas]

0mph is best, that really will stop accidents

ARreeeeee wwwweee theree yeeeet?