The consultation on the 20mph pilots closes on 30th September – only a few days away. Montpelier is a pilot area. If you haven’t already done so, please help persuade the council to include the busier roads in our neighbourhood in the scheme!
Don’t know what I’m talking about? Further info available on the council website here or paste www.bristol.gov.uk/20mph into your browser.
In a nutshell:
- 2 pilot areas in Bristol, Montpelier is part of ‘Inner East’ Pilot
- All roads will be 20mph except Ashley Hill, Sussex Place, Ashley Road, Lower Ashley Rd, plus Sevier St/James St/ York St through St Werburghs, and even Mina Rd will stay at 30mph if the current plan isn’t changed!
As it stands, it is just the side streets that would become 20mph, not the ‘through routes’. This is bonkers – the busier streets are the ones busier with pedestrians and bikes. Some of these roads are already known for accidents, hard to cross, and near schools.
For the pilots to be a proper test, and to have a significant effect, all the roads listed above should be 20mph. It will be clearer for drivers, and will mean far fewer ‘20’signs will be required.
Both Jon Rogers, our local councillor and executive member for transport, and influential architect George Ferguson are saying they think all these roads listed above should be included…it just needs enough people to email 20mph@bristol.gov.uk in support.
Many consultations are a sham I hear you say -….but we know that this one is different…if enough people write in and push for all these roads to be included, it will happen.
Please help by doing it now – but if you’re busy, you have until 30th September! Helpful hints are given below!
Please email them at 20mph@bristol.gov.uk
Thanks!
Steve Meek
Living Streets Bristol branch
Living Streets – the national charity that stands up for pedestrians
livingstreetsbristol@gmail.com
Need help drafting your email or letter? Here is some things you could say. Please don’t forget your name address and postcode
Dear Traffic Management Team
I write as an individual local resident in response to the proposed 20mph pilot in my area
I support the planned introduction of 20mph limits but am concerned about the exclusion of…. Road(s)
Possible reasons you could use:
- This road is dangerous/hard to cross/ used by schoolchildren
- Speed of traffic discourages cycling
- Speed of traffic discourages social contact on the street
- Noise
- schools close to these roads
- Ashley Road, Ashley Hill, Sevier St/York St, Mina Rd and Sussex Place are key pedestrian and cycling roads.
There are 3 schools close to these roads, plus many children cross Ashley HIll near the railway bridge to get to the new Fairfield secondary School near Muller Rd.
Ashley Rd is the widest of the excluded roads but particularly hazardous at the eastern end. Near the junction with Sussex Place and Lower Ashley Rd, it is very busy with pedestrians who cross between the cars. Two pubs, a busy cafe, bookmakers and ingrained illegal parking serve to bring large numbers of people onto the road just where vehicles accelerate to beat the lights.
Ashley Hill is very dangerous for pedestrians. Proposed changes to Hurlingham Rd may stop some accidents there but will serve to increase speeds further by removing that congestion point. This will further endanger, intimidate and discourage pedestrians – including school children – crossing at the narrow island refuge on Ashley Hill near the railway bridge.
Even as a driver, Ashley Hill is dangerous – try turning left onto Ashley hill from Fairfield Rd - a common route out of Montpelier. Visibililty is very poor. It is only because cars queue to get into Hurlingham that it is possible to get out at busy times.
When turning right onto Ashley Hill from the bottom end of Old Ashley Hill (near Cobourg Rd) Pulling out is hazardous as cars and vans accelerate hard uphill from Sussex Place.
Sussex Place is the main southern conduit to St Barnabas School. There is no zebra crossing. Crossing it is hazardous with or without children and the only other option for those not fleet of foot is to walk along into Sevier St then across Ashley Hill where there is a crossing – but this involves crossing 4 roads. That’s why people nip across between the cars.
Sevier St/ James St/ York St is already a rat run – bringing unwelcome traffic westwards trying to avoid Lower Ashley Rd. It bisects a residential area. Let’s make it 20: there is a preschool and a school by the railway bridge, shops in several places so for safety reasons again, 20mph from the railway bridge westwards is fully justified.
Mina Rd. What are they thinking of? Much of the traffic exceeds 30 as it enters from J3, which is why the flashing 30 sign is there. This is not a ‘through route’ but a narrow shopping street opposite a park, used as a rat run – exactly what the council should be trying to stop.
Your Name Address & Postcode
I support 20mph limits but strongly disagree with pretty much every thing you have said above and feel that blanket 20mph zone will actually have the opposite effect and make life as a pedestrian and cyclist far more dangerous.
Ashley Hill:
I’m not discouraged to cycle at the moment because of 30mph limits all though I will be if Ashley Hill becomes 20mph it will be terrifying as a pedestrian/cyclist as people will be spending more time focusing on there speedo’s than on the road and actual hazards around them!
Mina Road:
With all the cars parked a long here it’s nearly impossible to get to 30mph except in the very early hours of the morning. As for coming off the M32 roundabout I rarely cars speeding here or pedestrians for that matter and there is a perfectly safe zebra crossing very close near the park.
James St:
Is a wide open road with any residents set well back from the road and perfectly safe to travel at 30mph. As for the school 20mph during the day is fine even though you would be extremely hard pressed to get here and not have to stop in a queue for the lights.
Noise from traffic will be considerably higher as to drive at 20mph will require a lower gear at higher revs.
20mph Limits should be reserved for roads with reduced peripheral visibility & narrow roads. Ignoring guidelines and creating blanket 20mph zones is not the right solution.
Speed limits should be an indicator to drivers of the type of hazards ahead. However badly set limits will discourage compliance and undermine the respect for all limits even where they are necessary.