Liverpool City Council is planning to extend 20mph speed limit zones to cover 70% of the city’s streets. Currently, 20mph zones are in place close to schools and apply to 30% of Liverpool’s roads, but councilors say that increasing coverage could save more than £5 million a year through reducing accidents.
The Liverpool Daily Post reports that last year, the Labour Party, which runs the city council, said that it would back a motion from the Green Party to put the lower speed limit in place in all residential roads in the Merseyside city.
Now, a public consultation will take place ahead of a decision being made on whether to put a 20mph speed limit in place on an additional 587km of the city’s road network.
Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, cabinet member for transport and regeneration, told the newspaper: “Making our roads safer is a key priority for us.
“The number of accidents on our roads has been reducing over the years, but we are determined to cut them even further.
“However, we need to make sure that these proposals are supported by people and can be enforced. That is why we will be consulting extensively over the plans, to make sure we get it right.”
The newspaper adds that roads that currently have a speed limit of 40mph would not be subject to the reduced speed limit, nor would A and B roads, major roads that are not mainly residential in nature or those with little scope for developing cycling.
Councillor Richard Kemp, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said it was important for local residents to make their voices heard ahead of any changes being finalised.
“We have long pushed for more 20mph zones in Liverpool,” he explained. “In July last year, I signed a motion to the council on this very subject.
“I am delighted the council has listened and is taking steps to ensure road users’ safety.”
Other towns and cities to have introduced 20mph zones across much of their road networks include Oxford and Portsmouth.
The argument in the beginning seems to be that cyclists will be a benefit to the high street. I guess that means that they are going there to shop...
People who are subsidised* to make big holes in road (amongst other negative effects) complain about the holes in the road. Same people also...
Half expecting an eventual response on twitter from drivers about how the cyclist should be closer to the kerb (despite 1/3 the handle bar being...
Yes, obviously complain, a (registered) letter to the CEO perhaps? This should not have happened by Avanti's stated procedure....
If you ask the world's leading economic commentators how many people have been rescued from abject poverty by capitalism the average answer would...
loads of parking
I hate it when I can't find the obvious source of a puncture.
Now, if we're talking gravel bikes, that's a whole different story. Gimme, gimme, gimme! Apologies for the Facebook link....
The police are operationally independent, in fact the regional Police and Crime Commissioners have to swear in their oath of office that they will...
"'Right", said Fred, "we'll 'ave to get a move on…"