20mph Speed Limits

[martint235]

Just saw a piece on t'BBC about 20mph speed limits and how cyclists are campaigning to get these. Assuming the campaigns work, will cyclists actually obey the new speed limit? I can understand if a motorist feels aggrieved by a new speed limit campaigned for by cyclists who then completely ignore it which is what I think will happen.

There's a 20mph speed limit in Greenwich Park that is almost entirely ignored by cyclists, in fact the only traffic I've ever seen sticking to 20mph are black cabs, that's a first. Maybe a 20mph sign creates some kind of freakish parallel universe

 

[lit]

The speed limit's will be for cars, buses, motorbikes etc. You can't limit the speed of a bicycle on the public highway, it's like telling pedestrians to walk slowly.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

The speed limit's will be for cars, buses, motorbikes etc. You can't limit the speed of a bicycle on the public highway, it's like telling pedestrians to walk slowly.

I think I'm right in saying we in Hull have more 20mph roads than anywhere else in the country. They're okay in principal, but the reality is there's no way of enforcing it, so the solution has been to provide us with more speed humps than anywhere else in the country. I suspect we'll also have more suspension repair garages than anywhere else too.

 

[martint235]

The speed limit's will be for cars, buses, motorbikes etc. You can't limit the speed of a bicycle on the public highway, it's like telling pedestrians to walk slowly.

Are you sure? You may not be able to be trapped by a speed camera but that isn't the same as it being legal.

What would happen if you passed a camera equipped police car that can validate its speed?

If it is legal for a bike to ignore the speed limit, then I think drivers would have a good reason to be p'd off

 

[dawesome]

I think I'm right in saying we in Hull have more 20mph roads than anywhere else in the country. They're okay in principal, but the reality is there's no way of enforcing it, so the solution has been to provide us with more speed humps than anywhere else in the country. I suspect we'll also have more suspension repair garages than anywhere else too.

Typically within Hull, 20 mph zones have achieved reductions[<a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/557/557ap80.htm#note106">106] in injury accidents of:

• — Total accidents -56 per cent

• — Killed & seriously injured accidents -90 per cent

• — Accidents involving child casualties -64 per cent

• — All pedestrian accidents -54 per cent

• — Child pedestrian accidents -74 per cent.

It is estimated that at the end of 1999, 390 injury accidents had been prevented within the 20 mph zones which had been previously installed. 122 of these would have involved injuries to children.


The reason for these reductions is simply because of the reductions in average vehicle speeds which 20 mph zones enforce through their engineering measures. For example, road hump schemes typically see reductions in speed from the high 20's to around 17 mph.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/557/557ap80.htm

 

[clarion]

Speed limits on the roads do not apply to cycles. However, I would stick to 20mph in such a zone. The reason for the limit is usually because they are residential streets. I respect that.

I have 20's Plenty stickers on my fixed.

 

[gaz]

Are you sure? You may not be able to be trapped by a speed camera but that isn't the same as it being legal.

What would happen if you passed a camera equipped police car that can validate its speed?

If it is legal for a bike to ignore the speed limit, then I think drivers would have a good reason to be p'd off

RTRA 1984 89

A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road at a speed exceeding a limit imposed by or under any enactment to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence.

My bold.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Just saw a piece on t'BBC about 20mph speed limits and how cyclists are campaigning to get these. Assuming the campaigns work, will cyclists actually obey the new speed limit? I can understand if a motorist feels aggrieved by a new speed limit campaigned for by cyclists who then completely ignore it which is what I think will happen.

There's a 20mph speed limit in Greenwich Park that is almost entirely ignored by cyclists, in fact the only traffic I've ever seen sticking to 20mph are black cabs, that's a first. Maybe a 20mph sign creates some kind of freakish parallel universe

I think the 20mph limit in Greenwich Park should be calculated as an average speed including both up and down journeys so that the slower we go uphill the faster we're allowed to go downhill (to make up for lost time, obviously). However, I doubt that the parks people will buy that idea...

Meanwhile, I observe the limit just about by playing ''guess my speed'' as I descend. It passes the time.... My worst calculations so far have been 18.5mph and 22.5 mph. Usually I'm accurate to within 1mph of the limit.

I must say I've never seen anyone else, black cabs included, observing the limit in the park. Nor have I ever seen the 20mph limit where I live being enforced. I have seen near neighbours driving on the ramped pavement to avoid having to slow down over the speed bumps in the road, and I think that such road behaviour will continue until there is some enforcement.

 

[BlackPanther]

What would happen if you passed a camera equipped police car that can validate its speed?

Not a lot. Bicycles aren't required by law to have speedometers, so how are you supposed to tell if you're over the limit?

 

[Matthew_T]

There is only one road which I know of which has a permenant 20mph speed limit: Here (Google is behind but there are signs on the entrance)
But there are plenty of temporary 20mph zones outside schools: Here Here and Here.

 

[Arch]

I'd be lucky to reach 20mph, without the aid of a decent downhill (or which there are very few in York), so the the whole city could be 20mph for all I care!

I think it's only right for cyclists to observe a limit, even if there's no legal requirement - and of course, when circumstances dictate, to ride well under the limit. But just as with drivers, there will bethose who think rules and morality don't apply to them.

 

[Dan_h]

RTRA 1984 89

Quote

A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road at a speed exceeding a limit imposed by or under any enactment to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence.
My bold.

+1

The words "motor vehicle" appear quite often in the road traffic act and mean that there are quite a few rules that don't apply to cyclists. Speed limits are one, using a mobile phone while cycling is quite legal (as long as you are not riding dangerously because of it) and even the alchohol limit does not apply (I know you can be pulled over for drunk cycling, but you have to be unable to ride safely not just over the specified limit).

just another reason that cycling is better than driving

 

[martint235]

I'd be lucky to reach 20mph, without the aid of a decent downhill (or which there are very few in York), so the the whole city could be 20mph for all I care!

I think it's only right for cyclists to observe a limit, even if there's no legal requirement - and of course, when circumstances dictate, to ride well under the limit. But just as with drivers, there will bethose who think rules and morality don't apply to them.

This is what bothers me. Drivers in London today will have seen cyclists protesting for the establishment of a 20mph speed limit over Blackfriars bridge and also the related new stories. If that protest succeeds and drivers do slow down only to be overtaken by cyclist coming off the bridge at well over 20mph, it doesn't do our reputation a great deal of good even if we can get a copper to stand up and tell the world we don't have to obey speed limits.

 

[Beebo]

I must say I've never seen anyone else, black cabs included, observing the limit in the park.

i have seen police with speed cameras at the bottom of the hill in Greenwich.

Tower bridge is 20mph limit, but it is hard to get any where near 20mph during rush hour.

 

[snorri]

This is what bothers me. Drivers in London today will have seen cyclists protesting for the establishment of a 20mph speed limit over Blackfriars bridge and also the related new stories..

It would be a pity if you were to be opposd to 20mph limits nationally on the basis that some drivers in London might be upset at being overtaken by cyclists on a bridge which few of us have ever heard of.