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Our Streets, Our shops
This page is dedicated to examples of how others have changed their local surroundings in an urban environment. Everything is possible with the right ideas, determination and a refusal to accept "No" as an answer.
There is a full discussion on these issues - click here
Herne Hill, Milkwood Road and Coldharbour Lane
Local residents held a meeting on 24th June to discuss various ways to reduce the speed and quantity of traffic and to try and eliminate the problems of rat-running traffic.
They are focusing on the entire area bounded and including Herne Hill, Milkwood Road, Denmark Hill and Coldharbour Lane.
The full details of the meeting and subsequent actions are on their own page now - click here
If you want to be kept up to date then either check back here or e-mail info@hernehillforum.org.uk.
Full discussions about the issues can be found on the Forum here
Thanks.
20 MPH Zones and Limits - the differences explained
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Below is a summary of a few key points about the mis-understandings relating to 20 MPH zones and 20 MPH limits. For a really comprehensive background to the subject please visit the 20splentyforus.org.uk site. Some myths explained: You can't put in 20 mph without physical traffic calming. That is both unpopular and expensive. No-one will want it. NOT CORRECT Firstly traffic authorities have the power to introduce 20 mph speed limits and zones without obtaining consent from the Secretary of State. Speed Zones refer to a collection of streets with a 20 mph limit whilst Speed Limits are set for individual roads. Some local authorities have set 20 mph speed limits on a number of individual roads so creating a blanket coverage of residential areas with a 20 mph speed limit. They should not be implemented (according to Dft Circular 01/2006) on roads with a strategic function or on main traffic routes. Whilst 20 mph speed zones do require some sort of traffic calming, this need not be physical. There is no mandatory requirement for speed bumps. Build-outs, road marking, signs and rumble strips can all be used to calm traffic speeds in 20 mph speed zones. 20 mph speed zones are indicated by specially designed zone entry and exit signs. On the other hand, 20 mph Speed Limits can be introduced without any form of traffic calming. Even without such measures, just introducing a limit alone has been found to reduce speeds by 2 mph. Now considering that every 1 mph reduction in speed reduces accidents by 5% then this provides very good value for money. Of course the effectiveness of default 20 mph Speed Limits is increased by publicity, driver awareness and community involvement. This can and does play a large part in self-enforcement. 20 mph speed limits are indicated by terminal speed limit signs and repeater signs at regular intervals along the roads. These are cheap and easy to install on lamp posts. If your local authority is saying that speed bumps are required for 20 mph then ask it to read Dft Circular 01/2006 a little more carefully. |
20 MPH cannot be enforced by the Police Whilst the Association of Chief Police Officers did in the past have a policy of not enforcing 20 mph speed limits, this is now not the case. Many authorities are taking action against people found speeding 20 mph limits. There are some technical difficulties around enforcement on any short stretches of speed limit and the introduction of 20 mph limits on road lengths as little as 100m has meant that these could not be enforced. However there are no such difficulties on longer stretches of speed limited road such as would be the case with default 20 mph in residential roads. We have heard some police officers claiming that their equipment is not "type approved" for speeds of 20 mph. This may have applied to some older "radar" type detectors. The modern laser based systems are all "type approved" from 0 to 200+mph. Surely a sufficient range for a 20 mph speed limited road. Police forces using such approved equipment may be found here. For assistance with any claims by police forces that 20 mph limits are not enforceable then please contact us.
Traffic speed and volume in our streets
Trafic speed has been raised time and time again as the key danger and barrier to people using the streets, walking to school, cycling more or feeling safe out and about.
Find out examples of what has happened and what can be done - here
Interested in how customers actually get to the shops?
The difference between perception and reality - see below....
Background information
If you want to read about what the important facts are about traffic speed, what happens when you change street layouts and what has worked elsewhere then here are a few documents to read:
There is an excellent study about the general issues of urban planning and what other towns have done to reduce road danger and improve the urban environment. It shows what can be achieved when you have politicians, officers and local people who think "why we can" rather than explain "why we cannot". The pdf file is too large to host here but can be downloaded from an external site here
A guide for local authorities as to the current best practice and legislation is available here
The full leaflet about the issues as distributed by 20s Plenty for us is available here
Examples of what people have done elsewhere
Speed bumps - what people think elsewhere
Northover's Speed Bumps from Pete Pattisson on Vimeo.
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