In due course we will be looking at car sharing, helping people to make better use of bus and trains and considering reducing the use of aeroplanes.
20 Is Plenty
Three things make walking and cycling a pain in Glossopdale. The first is the hills, the second the weather and the third is the traffic. There's not much we can do about the first two except learn a bit of resilience, but we can do something about the traffic.
To start things off we want motorists to slow down, at least in residential areas.
The Gory Facts
- Britain has the highest percentage of pedestrians killed in road accidents in Europe
- 2011 saw a 3% increase in road deaths and a 12% increase in pedestrian casulaties
- 34 local authorities, with a population of 8.4 million people, have adopted default 20mph speed limits on urban streets.
- Portsmouth saw accidents fall 22% when they introduced the scheme
One thing we can probably all agree on is that 'traffic calming' is not great. It delays ambulances, increases traffic fumes and fuel use as cars accelerate between bumps and it really annoys drivers.
For the same money you can make 50 miles of street a 20mph zone, with a much greater overall reduction in speed. Once motorists get used to a 20mph default speed limit they don't need the bumps.
We would want to see not only more walking and cycling, but street parties, play streets and more imaginative use of urban space.
If you want to get involved, contact Martin at glossopdaletransitioninitiative@inbox.com
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