[hisimp-chat] Differing views about the speed limits petition

[Glenn Carver]

Not particularly wanting to fuel a debate but I have to say that the  
last set of road changes; changing priorities on the turn to the  
traffic lights near the vision park and introduction of speed humps  
have not been as beneficial to cyclists as one might want.

If you're travelling down station road, past the Firs surgery, you  
have to give way to traffic from the lights on the B1049. That  
junction was  made worse by the change in priorities. The high hedge  
of the house on that corner severely restricts visibility meaning  
cyclists (and drivers) need to pull forward into the road a bit to see  
traffic coming from the B1049. Personally as a cyclist I feel it was  
safer the way it was before.

Speed bumps may slow traffic but again I often find myself having to  
go down the middle of the road as the space for cyclists by the  
bollard in made impassable by parked cars and I don't like hitting the  
bump at speed on a bike.

Only minor comments - we get used to these small things to watch out  
for.

    Glenn



On 5 Apr 2009, at 3:10pm, Vanessa Kelly wrote:

> I'm forwarding this exchange of views. If anyone would like a copy  
> of my public meeting talk (3rd para down), please get in touch. It's  
> got lots of facts in it!
>
> Vanessa
>
>
> Dear David,
>
> I'm copying my reply to the HisImp Chat email list since I believe  
> it will then reach the widest number of residents.
>
> The debate about speed limits in Histon and Impington has been  
> ongoing for some time. Phil Jones established his Histon Club 20-30  
> a few years ago because he feared for his children's safety when  
> using village roads. I joined forces with him in the second half of  
> last year, and together we organized a rally on the Green in  
> October, which was well supported, despite the pouring rain, and was  
> publicized and then reported on in the Cambridge News. The following  
> morning I debated some of the issues with Mark Kemp (County Council)  
> on BBC Radio Cambs.
>
> Phil and I held a public meeting at Impington Village College at the  
> end of November which was well advertised in the 2 villages. After  
> my opening talk and Phil's slide show (which featured conditions on  
> the B1049 on an average morning), we listened and debated with  
> residents for over an hour. The majority who turned up that evening  
> were in favour of speed limit reductions.
>
> This year we decided it was time to bring the issue to the attention  
> of our elected councillors, and a petition was the obvious way of  
> doing this. It is also a way of further publicizing our concerns,  
> widening the debate and engaging with residents who have not yet  
> spoken.
>
> Speed limit reductions will not bring about some magical solution.  
> They work reasonably well in Portsmouth, Oxford, Newcastle, Hull and  
> Norwich (and across Europe) now. And in these cities, the Police  
> have agreed to enforce 20 in the same way as they did 30 - obviously  
> more funding for traffic policing from the Home Office is something  
> our MPs should be pushing for. Many of these communities have only  
> brought about physical changes to the road layout AFTER introducing  
> the reduced limits and seeing where the tricky spots are. I am not  
> advocating further urbanization of our 2 villages - quite the  
> opposite in fact. I am appalled by the creeping uniformity of our  
> streets.
>
> I strongly believe in the idea of a community shifting its mindset,  
> and investing in something that will improve quality of life for  
> all. I also want the huge numbers of commuters, white van men, taxi  
> drivers, bus and lorry drivers who converge on Histon and Impington  
> to take on board - as far as possible - that the residents of Histon  
> and Impington expect them to drive responsibly. I may be delusional,  
> but I don't want to just sit back and complain about how things are.
>
> As a rural centre, we are under huge pressure to take more housing;  
> the roads are getting busier by the day (all this before the  
> nightmare of the A14 upgrade, additional housing at Orchard Park,  
> the NIAB development, Northstowe, etc). I would like to see measures  
> in place before residents decide walking or cycling is too  
> unpleasant and dangerous. Speed limit reductions are just one of  
> these measures. I'm hopeful that the Cycling Demonstration Town  
> improvements and the reconfiguring of the B1049 will make 30 mph  
> along the B1049 more realistic. The speed of traffic, and lack of  
> crossings, means this road currently cuts our community in half,  
> especially for children.
>
> Getting magistrates to take dangerous and careless driving more  
> seriously would also send a powerful message to motorists. I find it  
> astonishing when drivers who've killed or maimed are given a 100  
> pound fine and a year's driving ban. The lorry driver who killed  
> Mary Scott will be back driving on our streets this summer.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Vanessa
>
>
> Dear Vanessa,
>
> I am sorry  to see that you are circulating this email and inviting  
> people to sign a petetition and get others to do so.This is not a  
> proper debate and is not democracy at work. This is the politics of  
> pressure groups.
>
> Our village is rapidly becoming an urban jungle with road signs,  
> traffic lights,speed bumps etc which are far more the features of  
> found in a city than a village.
>
> Can you please explain the traffic accident history that would  
> support such a draconian set of measures that you are promoting?  
> Please  do not give me anecdotes but simple facts.
>
> In the intersts of democracy I also invite you to circulate this  
> email to others on the mailing list for the courier.
>
> Regards
>
> David Collins
> -- 
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