14.08.2014
The local authority is implementing the measure from Monday (August 18th), with more than 1,100 streets included, totalling 111 miles of road, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Local councillor Luthfur Rahman, who represents the Longsight Ward in the south-east of the city, told the paper: "This is something that has been driven by residents of Manchester.
"They have asked for this and we have followed it up. There's been a lot of interest and support from communities.
"There are three main pilot areas and eventually we would like all residential streets in the city [to be] 20mph, subject to funding."
Longsight and the neighbouring areas of Gorton and Bradford are among three areas being covered by the pilot. Others include Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme to the south of the city centre and an area north-east of the city covering the wards of Ardwick, Clayton, Miles Platting and Newton Heath.
The move has been funded by £500,000 of public health cash, with the aim being to reduce the number of accidents on the narrow residential streets of mainly terraced homes that characterise most of these areas.
Notably, the roads on which the lower speed limits will be applied are those adjacent to main roads and dual carriageways, such as the A6 and Hyde Road in the Longsight and Gorton area, Great Ancoats Street and Ashton New Road in the north-eastern zone and between the 40 mph highways of Wilbraham Road and Princess Parkway in the southern section.
The council hopes to be able to secure future funding for the creation of more 20 mph zones, which it hopes will eventually cover residential streets across the whole city.
At present there are many 20 mph zones in Manchester, including stretches of road near schools, but these are not legally enforceable.
Advocates of 20 mph zones include road safety charity Brake, which is running an ongoing campaign called Go 20.
In its latest initiative, the organisation is running a webinar in October for local authorities seeking to introduce such limits.
Council To Lower Speed Limit On Over 1,000 Streets
Manchester City Council is to extend the use of 20 mph zones to cover a third of its streets.The local authority is implementing the measure from Monday (August 18th), with more than 1,100 streets included, totalling 111 miles of road, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Local councillor Luthfur Rahman, who represents the Longsight Ward in the south-east of the city, told the paper: "This is something that has been driven by residents of Manchester.
"They have asked for this and we have followed it up. There's been a lot of interest and support from communities.
"There are three main pilot areas and eventually we would like all residential streets in the city [to be] 20mph, subject to funding."
Longsight and the neighbouring areas of Gorton and Bradford are among three areas being covered by the pilot. Others include Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme to the south of the city centre and an area north-east of the city covering the wards of Ardwick, Clayton, Miles Platting and Newton Heath.
The move has been funded by £500,000 of public health cash, with the aim being to reduce the number of accidents on the narrow residential streets of mainly terraced homes that characterise most of these areas.
Notably, the roads on which the lower speed limits will be applied are those adjacent to main roads and dual carriageways, such as the A6 and Hyde Road in the Longsight and Gorton area, Great Ancoats Street and Ashton New Road in the north-eastern zone and between the 40 mph highways of Wilbraham Road and Princess Parkway in the southern section.
The council hopes to be able to secure future funding for the creation of more 20 mph zones, which it hopes will eventually cover residential streets across the whole city.
At present there are many 20 mph zones in Manchester, including stretches of road near schools, but these are not legally enforceable.
Advocates of 20 mph zones include road safety charity Brake, which is running an ongoing campaign called Go 20.
In its latest initiative, the organisation is running a webinar in October for local authorities seeking to introduce such limits.
Expert Opinion
Road safety should always be a top priority for all road users and it is important the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads is reduced. Schemes such as the 20mph limits being introduced in Manchester are one approach being taken to improve safety levels on the UK’s roads, particularly in urban areas, where both cyclists and pedestrians are in greater danger. <br/> <br/>“Through our work, we have seen many cases where people of all ages have been struck by vehicles or involved in collisions, suffering devastating life-changing injuries as a result. It is crucial that more is done to investigate new approaches to improving levels of safety on the UK’s roads in order to reduce the number of people being involved in accidents that have long-lasting impacts on their lives.”
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