We are writing concerning the 20mph proposals for Ilkley. We appreciate the effort that has gone into drawing up the scheme for the town and we fully support a 20mph limit. The potential of 20mph zones in towns to significantly improve road safety, air quality, road noise, carbon emissions, and the experience of pedestrians and cyclists is proven - and the evidence suggests that a majority of Ilkley residents support this position. The adoption of 20mph zones is becoming increasingly common in residential areas across the UK, precisely because these benefits are so clear. Importantly, the evidence from other implementations of other 20mph schemes (see references at the end of this letter) strongly favours town-wide introduction, not targeted on specific zones, such as outside schools, since this just tends to encourage motorists to feel it is ok to speed up again as soon as they leave the zone. Moreover, many of the wider benefits of 20mph zones to improve quality of life across the town will vanish if the scheme is confined merely to a few restrictions around schools.

The details of implementation are equally important, however, and we are concerned that the level of hard engineering currently proposed will in fact detract from the scheme and cause additional problems for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Evidence from recent schemes seems to show that light (and relatively cheap) measures such as 'gateway treatments' at key entry points to the 20mph zone, together with repeater signs and speed indicator devices can be sufficient, provided the scheme is town-wide.

In our view, a sensible approach would be to introduce a town-wide scheme supported by these lighter measures, and then to monitor levels of compliance. Other measures should be introduced only if, when and where the less invasive and less expensive measures have been proven not to be sufficient.

From:

Martin Higgitt, Independent Transport Planner and Project Manager of Climate Action Ilkley Active Travel Hub

Helen Steward, Chair of Climate Action Ilkley Transport Group

Climate Action Ilkley Trustees: Prof. Rob Knipe, Martin Nash, Steve Peel, Dr Mary Pegington, Dr Kath Steward

https://www2.uwe.ac.uk/faculties/BBS/BUS/Research/BSMC/20mph%20Research%20Findings.pdf

https://www.brake.org.uk/files/downloads/Reports/20mph-default/Default-20mph-research-report.pdf?v=1599483243

https://www.20splenty.org/the_25mph_conundrum