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TfL plans for 20mph speed limit in central London get go-ahead after public consultation

“As more and more people choose to walk and cycle around London we must reduce the risk of them being killed or seriously injured”

All roads in London’s Congestion Charge Zone will have their speed limits reduced to 20mph after changes proposed by Transport for London (TfL) were backed by the public. Roads will include Victoria Embankment, Albert Embankment, Millbank, Blackfriars Road, Upper and Lower Thames Street, Lambeth bridge and Lambeth Palace Road.

There were nearly 2,000 responses to the consultation. Half of respondents said the plans would have a positive impact on walking, 59 per cent thought the proposals would lead to more people cycling and 42 per cent thought the proposals would have a positive impact on public transport.

As well as signage and road markings, raised pedestrian crossings will be installed in seven locations. TfL will also recalibrate all speed cameras in central London and use mobile speed cameras to enforce the new limit.

The changes will be made by early 2020.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Every single death on London’s streets is one too many so I’m really pleased that Londoners have backed our plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on TfL roads within the Congestion Charge Zone and at Aldgate Gyratory.

“By also bringing forward plans to lower speed limits in other parts London, we will help protect more people walking and cycling across our city.”

Penny Rees, Head of Network Sponsorship at TfL, added: “We know that lower speeds save lives, it’s that simple. As more and more people choose to walk and cycle around London we must reduce the risk of them being killed or seriously injured. It’s clear people agree that making our roads safer will encourage Londoners to travel in more active and sustainable ways.”

TfL is looking to introduce safer speed limits across 150km of its road network. A spokesperson said it would focus on, “high-risk sections of road, town centres where people walk and cycle, and ambitious local speed reduction programmes led by London boroughs.”

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24 comments

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growingvegtables | 4 years ago
4 likes

"TfL will also recalibrate all speed cameras in central London and use mobile speed cameras to enforce the new limit."

Enforcement.  Zero-tolerance enforcement.  That has to be the way to go.

Otherwise?  It's the BMW/Audi/Qashqai brigade continuing to think 45mph is "appropriate" in an heavily congested urban environment.

Stuff "three strikes".  One strike - lose licence, watch your wank-mobile being crushed, and pay the costs of the operation.

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I love my bike | 4 years ago
0 likes

Lots of wishful thinking here, as from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

'On 20mph roads (under free flow conditions - which may not be typical of most 20 mph roads), 86% of cars exceeded the speed limit.'

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Hirsute replied to I love my bike | 4 years ago
1 like
I love my bike wrote:

Lots of wishful thinking here, as from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

'On 20mph roads (under free flow conditions - which may not be typical of most 20 mph roads), 86% of cars exceeded the speed limit.'

The potential difference here is the stated aim of enforcement.

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Municipal Waste | 4 years ago
2 likes

Since the roll out of 20mph zones across Brighton the council tell us that speeds are well down. What they can't do is say that there's a definite causal link and that it's not simply increased congestion that's lowering the average speeds.
From my own experience cycling around, it's not done a thing. People ignore the limit as a matter of course.

"Cars just aren't built to go that slowly."
"My car doesn't like it, the gearing is wrong for 20mph."

We hear those excuses a lot, amongst others. The 20mph limits only penalise those which were already obeying the 30mph limit, while people driving with excess speed continue to do so unabated - often much more recklessly so.

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Rakkor | 4 years ago
0 likes

My commute into London, through Dulwich and down the Walworth Road is 20mph pretty much all the way and I'd be surprised if anyone heeds that limit given it's easy to maintain 32kph on my bike and the constant stream of cars, vans and buses that pass me.

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xerxes | 4 years ago
5 likes

Why not just make 20mph the national standard for urban areas. I believe the 30mph limit was selected fairly arbitrarily way back in 1935, at a time when there were far fewer cars.

Back in 1935, with so few cars, our urban roads would have been wide open with plenty of room for passing slower vehicles and two way traffic. Now most urban roads have cars parked either side, effectively reducing the width of them by about 20 feet and making them single lane.

The 30mph limit just means that cars travel faster between stops and when compared with 20mph I doubt it reduces overall journey time by much. This is very apparent when you are close passed by a MGIF driver and then that is the car immediately in front at the next few sets of lights and junctions. When crossing town it's not uncommon  to be put at risk by a close pass and two miles later, that same car is precisely 3 feet in front of you waiting at a junction.

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Awavey replied to xerxes | 4 years ago
0 likes
xerxes wrote:

Why not just make 20mph the national standard for urban areas. I believe the 30mph limit was selected fairly arbitrarily way back in 1935, at a time when there were far fewer cars.

As has been said most 20mph limits are routinely ignored by drivers, fair few of 30mph are too,but youd just end up with a speed limit that wasnt worth the paint of the new signs it was written on. I'm not sure speed limiters would help either if I'm hitting 16-18mph on a road, I'd guarantee a vehicle speed limited to 20mph would still try and overtake,leaving me exposed to the danger of the overtake for longer

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Rich_cb | 4 years ago
3 likes

They have 20mph zones all over Cardiff, they're not widely obeyed.

There's a nice long flat stretch near me which I can cheerfully tap out 20mph on and I'm constantly overtaken every time I ride.

The interesting thing will be when they introduce the automatic speed limiter tech (due in the next few years).

It's going to be optional on private cars but I imagine most large companies and hire cars will have it enabled by default just to lower their insurance bills.

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CXR94Di2 replied to Rich_cb | 4 years ago
7 likes
Rich_cb wrote:

They have 20mph zones all over Cardiff, they're not widely obeyed.

There's a nice long flat stretch near me which I can cheerfully tap out 20mph on and I'm constantly overtaken every time I ride.

The interesting thing will be when they introduce the automatic speed limiter tech (due in the next few years).

It's going to be optional on private cars but I imagine most large companies and hire cars will have it enabled by default just to lower their insurance bills.

It will only take a few speed limiter vehicles and everyone will be doing 20mph

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Rich_cb replied to CXR94Di2 | 4 years ago
2 likes
CXR94Di2 wrote:

It will only take a few speed limiter vehicles and everyone will be doing 20mph

Yep, not a big fan of the EU but this was one of their better ideas, make it optional so the Clarksons don't get angry while knowing that once a small percentage opt in everyone will be limited by default.

Genius.

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Welsh-Rider 531 replied to Rich_cb | 4 years ago
1 like

Rich_cb wrote:

They have 20mph zones all over Cardiff, they're not widely obeyed. There's a nice long flat stretch near me which I can cheerfully tap out 20mph on and I'm constantly overtaken every time I ride. The interesting thing will be when they introduce the automatic speed limiter tech (due in the next few years). It's going to be optional on private cars but I imagine most large companies and hire cars will have it enabled by default just to lower their insurance bills.

 

I think that the drivers think that 20 mph is the minium speed limit around the Cathays area, I have been overtaken whilst driving along Fairoak Rd and once pulled up along side a driver at the traffic lights and said to him about the 20 mph speed limit and he said I was doing 15 mph (not according to speedo), he then accused me of road rage!

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HoarseMann | 4 years ago
0 likes

Now if they would just raise the ebike speed limit from 15.5 to 20 mph...

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grumpyoldcyclist | 4 years ago
3 likes

The 20 mph limits are a joke as very few drivers observe them. On my commute to work I find there is one stretch where even this aged wreck can maintain 20 mph on my bike. I have a tendency to point at the huge numbers painted on the road as drivers overtake me. Makes me laugh that several have then slowed down to shout abuse, then they accelerate into the distance again.

<<sigh>>

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alan sherman | 4 years ago
0 likes

20 mph limits can have a negative effect on cycling too, slowing down the fun bits of a ride. Richmond Park is one example, if cars stick to the limit faster riders either overtake (breaking the speed limit) or have to sit in the traffic queue.

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Prosper0 replied to alan sherman | 4 years ago
4 likes

alan sherman wrote:

20 mph limits can have a negative effect on cycling too, slowing down the fun bits of a ride. Richmond Park is one example, if cars stick to the limit faster riders either overtake (breaking the speed limit) or have to sit in the traffic queue.

Doesn’t apply- Richmond Park is an anomaly as the roads are on private lands. On public roads speed limits do not apply to cycles. 20mph is fantastic for cycling safety. 

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Hirsute replied to alan sherman | 4 years ago
1 like
alan sherman wrote:

20 mph limits can have a negative effect on cycling too, slowing down the fun bits of a ride. Richmond Park is one example, if cars stick to the limit faster riders either overtake (breaking the speed limit) or have to sit in the traffic queue.

You can get fined for speeding as a cyclist in that royal park .

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geomannie 531 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Ever wondered what driving at 20mph does for real world fuel consumption and journey time? IMHO all good https://www.gobike.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/GoBike-20mph-Press-Rel...

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Nick T | 4 years ago
0 likes

Imagine what it must feel like to hit that sort of speed in central London. 

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Nick T | 4 years ago
8 likes

Imagine what it must feel like to hit that sort of speed in central London. 

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jaysa | 4 years ago
4 likes

Delighted. It makes such a difference to walking and cycling - less noise, danger, pollution.

Hopefully more people will reclaim the streets and enjoy it.

And for the knobs that complain, leave home a bit earlier and have some respect for others...

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burtthebike | 4 years ago
6 likes

OMG!  Coming on top of Brexit rage, the gammons are going to burst a blood vessel.  So great news all round.  And once London's done it, it will be pretty hard for the provinces to resist.

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MrGear | 4 years ago
6 likes

Great, I'm all in favour. But since they don't even enforce the few 20mph limits already in existence, I'm skeptical this will make much difference to driver behaviour.

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Hirsute replied to MrGear | 4 years ago
1 like

MrGear wrote:

Great, I'm all in favour. But since they don't even enforce the few 20mph limits already in existence, I'm skeptical this will make much difference to driver behaviour.

It does say there will be mobile units, so there is some hope. Although MGIFs will no doubt rise.

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ktache | 4 years ago
8 likes

Good.

Basic physics.

Hopefully it will be rolled out to many other urban areas, and as fast as possible.

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