National Lib Dems back 20mph zones (From York Press)
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National Lib Dems back 20mph zones
8:18am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News
THE Liberal Democrats nationally have backed “widespread” 20mph speed limits despite opposition by its York party to a city-wide scheme.
A motion tabled at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton called for councils to “give active consideration” to introducing the lower limits on residential streets and other “suitable” roads over the next few years and for the Department of Transport to work with local authorities to achieve this.
City of York Council aims to introduce 20mph limits on all residential roads by the end of 2014, but the blanket approach has been opposed by the council’s Lib Dem group, which says it will be too expensive. They say money should be targeted at specific areas instead.
The group’s leader, Coun Carol Runciman , said she was pleased the motion was amended to “recognise the principle” that local councils should decide their own 20mph policy. She said: “We have always supported 20mph zones in areas where there is a clear need, such as outside schools .”
Comments(15)
Mr Anderson
says...
9:22am Wed 26 Sep 12
Well, like me, no one is taking any notice of it any way. Waste of money again.
AnotherPointofView
says...
9:32am Wed 26 Sep 12
Mr Anderson wrote:Agree, no one is taking any notice.
Outside schools fine. On main routes like Bishopthorpe Rd, Fulford Rd etc. No no no! Well, like me, no one is taking any notice of it any way. Waste of money again.
It's also a massive waste of money.
Woody G Mellor
says...
10:09am Wed 26 Sep 12
Mr Anderson wrote:Totally agree. I like others am ignoring it too. Waste of money.
Outside schools fine. On main routes like Bishopthorpe Rd, Fulford Rd etc. No no no!
Well, like me, no one is taking any notice of it any way. Waste of money again.
Woody G Mellor
says...
10:09am Wed 26 Sep 12
Mr Anderson wrote:Totally agree. I like others am ignoring it too. Waste of money.
Outside schools fine. On main routes like Bishopthorpe Rd, Fulford Rd etc. No no no!
Well, like me, no one is taking any notice of it any way. Waste of money again.
asd
says...
10:33am Wed 26 Sep 12
RingoStarr
says...
10:58am Wed 26 Sep 12
Which, if they follow the guidance of their leader, probably means that NEXT week they won't!
Newton1
says...
12:06pm Wed 26 Sep 12
The real story here is that the Lib Dems in York agree with their national colleagues, but Steve Galloway doesn't like 20mph zones so he's blocked them and as he still pulls the strings in York Lib Dems they have come out against.
Torkie
says...
1:48pm Wed 26 Sep 12
They can't even get their staff that they pay to follow their rules..
It's obvious no one's paying attention to these zones, this is not about accidents or making streets more pleasant, it's all about how it looks on paper so someone can add a political string to their bow.
But it's at our expense and we'll be left with the criminal liability when they're gone for driving at a speed everyone knows is safe.
yorkborn66
says...
3:05pm Wed 26 Sep 12
yorkborn66
says...
3:08pm Wed 26 Sep 12
yorkshirelad wrote:well said
The problem is 'my children don't walk to school just 'outside schools'.
In fact widespread 20mph zones in residential areas has long been favoured by the Lib Dems. To be fair they are party based on localism, but, really, localism should mean much more than just which way the wind is blowing.
Transport and environmental policies are really vulnerable to short term political point-scoring when we need long term solutions...even when they are quite controversial initially.
It is this aspect of politics which is the most unappealing...the Lib Dems on 20mph, Labour on Clifton Green, the Tories on wind turbines. I'm sorry guys...you're all at it!
These are not 'local issue' decisions - they are short term political opportunism. Sacrificing principles for a bit of perceived short term popularity.
It's time all parties put York first and politics second.
far2bizzy
says...
4:23pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Woody G Mellor wrote:But you’re not totally ignoring it are you? You might be travelling at the same speeds that you used to be, but there’s that little voice in your head that’s telling you you ought not to be and you’re driving just that bit more warily just in case you come a cropper and you’re asked “What speed were you doing at the time, Sir?”. I cycle along Bishopthorpe Road and I’m convinced that drivers are conscious of what speed they are doing, what they ought to be doing and are behaving more warily as a result. Which I would suggest is the point of the exercise.
Mr Anderson wrote:Totally agree. I like others am ignoring it too. Waste of money.
Outside schools fine. On main routes like Bishopthorpe Rd, Fulford Rd etc. No no no!
Well, like me, no one is taking any notice of it any way. Waste of money again.
far2bizzy
says...
4:40pm Wed 26 Sep 12
So a cyclist is turning right off Bishopthorpe Road into Butcher Terrace. A car is approaching, heading south.
In the 30 mph days, driver (doing 30) thinks -“Ha! there’s a cyclist wants to cross. Fat chance he’s got. I’m not slowing for him. I’m within the limits”, applies foot to accelerator and passes as closely to cyclist as possible. Cyclist considers driver to be a pillock.
In the new 20 mph days, driver (still doing 30) thinks – “Ey up! there’s a cyclist wants to cross. I’m going faster than I’m supposed to be. He might think I‘m doing 20. He might just chance it. Better ease off a bit”, eases of accelerator and passes cyclist at reasonable speed. Cyclist considers driver to be a gentleman.
Woody G Mellor
says...
7:10pm Wed 26 Sep 12
greenmonkey
says...
11:53pm Wed 26 Sep 12
far2bizzy wrote:Exactly! Change the limit shifts the responsibility back where it belongs... with the person in charge of half a ton of metal. The bottom line is that if anything happens, the legal powers will say 'you were breaking the speed limit' rather than 'what a tragedy, but the driver was observing the speed limit'
Let me illustrate my previous comment.
So a cyclist is turning right off Bishopthorpe Road into Butcher Terrace. A car is approaching, heading south.
In the 30 mph days, driver (doing 30) thinks -“Ha! there’s a cyclist wants to cross. Fat chance he’s got. I’m not slowing for him. I’m within the limits”, applies foot to accelerator and passes as closely to cyclist as possible. Cyclist considers driver to be a pillock.
In the new 20 mph days, driver (still doing 30) thinks – “Ey up! there’s a cyclist wants to cross. I’m going faster than I’m supposed to be. He might think I‘m doing 20. He might just chance it. Better ease off a bit”, eases of accelerator and passes cyclist at reasonable speed. Cyclist considers driver to be a gentleman.
yorkshirelad says...
9:01am Wed 26 Sep 12
In fact widespread 20mph zones in residential areas has long been favoured by the Lib Dems. To be fair they are party based on localism, but, really, localism should mean much more than just which way the wind is blowing.
Transport and environmental policies are really vulnerable to short term political point-scoring when we need long term solutions...even when they are quite controversial initially.
It is this aspect of politics which is the most unappealing...the Lib Dems on 20mph, Labour on Clifton Green, the Tories on wind turbines. I'm sorry guys...you're all at it!
These are not 'local issue' decisions - they are short term political opportunism. Sacrificing principles for a bit of perceived short term popularity.
It's time all parties put York first and politics second.