20mph to become ‘default’ limit in residential areas The urban speed limit will be cut from 30mph to 20mph under plans announced by London Mayor Ken Livingstone. Livingstone will encourage London boroughs to make 20mph the “default” limit in all residential areas, the mayor’s office announced. The move is likely to embolden transport authorities considering a 20mph limit in other parts of the country. The mayor’s office said casualties had fallen in existing 20mph zones and that there expansion would help reduce greenhouse gasses. Livingstone said the new lower limits would “build on London’s success as the only major city in the world to have achieved a shift away from car use to public transport, cycling and walking”. He said: “This trend will be supported by the encouragement of 20mph speed limits in all residential areas.” Exemptions for main routes will be negotiated between TfL and individual boroughs.  The mayor’s office claimed: “Nine out of ten pedestrians will be killed if hit by a car travelling at 40mph, two out of ten at 30mph and one in forty at 20mph.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

and when do we get the guy to walk in front of us waving a red flag i ask                                                                                                                                                                             

better get some stabilisers!                                                                                                                                                                              

better get me a harley for those slow speeds ..... oh hang on traffic dont move in london anyhow                                                                                                                                                                              

Why do we need all these max limits? is it not common sense to ride/drive 20mph in built up areas... and 120 on the motorway lol?   So glad i live next to the autobahns ;-)                                                                                                                                                                             

When I stall from going too slow and fall off crushing some kid underneath me as I land on him/her then maybe they'll ban fat people from being on the roads for Health and Satefy reasons                                                                                                                                                                              

I gotta say I would like to see lower limits on some of the side roads where I live 'cos they are really twisty and the kids in their "pimp my ride" shite use 'em as race tracks. Either that or let me shoot the next toe rag that nearly takes me out on the bends 'cos he doesn't know how to drive!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                              

Problem is the speed limits won't slow such toe rags down   Shooting them is a much better idea                                                                                                                                                                             

like it! snipers on rooftops pickin of the boy racers!wonderful!you seen a 70's film called targets?sniper on a gas storage tank shootin motorists ,boris  karloff was innit lovely film!                                                                                                                                                                             

Yet another good reason to avoid the dump we call our capital city.

Old Kenny-boy doesn't like cars, mainly because he failed his driving test 9 times. Doesn't stop him owning a bloody great house in North London with a double garage though. I wonder if all he's got in there is a bicycle.

The corrupt dictator will have a hard job enforcing a default 20mph speed restriction as it is not legislated for in the various Road Traffic Acts. It is therefore; so I am given to understand, not enforcable by the police or safety camera partnerships.

Why do they always have to bring the green issue into it at 20 your just going to be in a lower gear more revs more gas.   I agree with 20 limits around schools and some dangers areas but a blanket limit will just frustrate people into more road rage   Dos anyone else need this soap box think Ive finished with it now                                                                                                                                                                              

I'll have a go on the soap box-I have a cunning plan....   All speedo's from all vehicles to be removed [seriously]-obeying an idiot dial is rediculous.Speed is relative to whats going on around and if nobody knew what speed they were travelling at they would naturally adjust to whats appropriate,what about lunatics i hear you say?-well they are going to crash whatever.They may not kill somebody at a camera site,just somewhere else.Theres a general air of unreality/hypocrisy with current traffic policy this isnt a good atmosphere for encouraging responsible driving/riding. There needs to be a radical change away from this speed kills obsession.Inattention is the killer not appropriate speed.Ive gone off thread here but enjoyed my rant!                                                                                                                                                                             

    I agree Iggy.   I enjoyed your rant lol                                                                                                                                                                              

As Kwaks given me the thumbs up I'll have another blast.   I would suggest knowing your speed is as useful as knowing your age-its a false measure and a false guide,ie you may act on a mythical yardstick on what you should be doing rather than whats natural and right for you.The orwellian powers that be want to insidiously disenpower individuals with there cameras,blanket speed limits and rediculous road furniture overkill.I feel if this trend doesnt stop then we are coming to the end of an era [freedom wise] and riding is going to be as much fun as scraping your nails down a black board.I hope it wont come to this. Rant over for this week.   PS I hope this posting doesnt incite anyone to vandalize any speed cameras [particularly on a full moon]                                                                                                                                                                             

Speed Cameras ?????? Dont you mean Road Safety Cameras (government name) Or Government Piggy Banks (The rest of us Name)