TfL plans for 20mph speed limit in central London get go-ahead after public consultation

"TfL will also recalibrate all speed cameras in central London and use mobile speed cameras to enforce the new limit."

Enforcement.  Zero-tolerance enforcement.  That has to be the way to go.

Otherwise?  It's the BMW/Audi/Qashqai brigade continuing to think 45mph is "appropriate" in an heavily congested urban environment.

Stuff "three strikes".  One strike - lose licence, watch your wank-mobile being crushed, and pay the costs of the operation.

Lots of wishful thinking here, as from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

'On 20mph roads (under free flow conditions - which may not be typical of most 20 mph roads), 86% of cars exceeded the speed limit.'

Since the roll out of 20mph zones across Brighton the council tell us that speeds are well down. What they can't do is say that there's a definite causal link and that it's not simply increased congestion that's lowering the average speeds.
From my own experience cycling around, it's not done a thing. People ignore the limit as a matter of course.

"Cars just aren't built to go that slowly."
"My car doesn't like it, the gearing is wrong for 20mph."

We hear those excuses a lot, amongst others. The 20mph limits only penalise those which were already obeying the 30mph limit, while people driving with excess speed continue to do so unabated - often much more recklessly so.

My commute into London, through Dulwich and down the Walworth Road is 20mph pretty much all the way and I'd be surprised if anyone heeds that limit given it's easy to maintain 32kph on my bike and the constant stream of cars, vans and buses that pass me.

Why not just make 20mph the national standard for urban areas. I believe the 30mph limit was selected fairly arbitrarily way back in 1935, at a time when there were far fewer cars.

Back in 1935, with so few cars, our urban roads would have been wide open with plenty of room for passing slower vehicles and two way traffic. Now most urban roads have cars parked either side, effectively reducing the width of them by about 20 feet and making them single lane.

The 30mph limit just means that cars travel faster between stops and when compared with 20mph I doubt it reduces overall journey time by much. This is very apparent when you are close passed by a MGIF driver and then that is the car immediately in front at the next few sets of lights and junctions. When crossing town it's not uncommon  to be put at risk by a close pass and two miles later, that same car is precisely 3 feet in front of you waiting at a junction.

They have 20mph zones all over Cardiff, they're not widely obeyed.

There's a nice long flat stretch near me which I can cheerfully tap out 20mph on and I'm constantly overtaken every time I ride.

The interesting thing will be when they introduce the automatic speed limiter tech (due in the next few years).

It's going to be optional on private cars but I imagine most large companies and hire cars will have it enabled by default just to lower their insurance bills.

Now if they would just raise the ebike speed limit from 15.5 to 20 mph...

The 20 mph limits are a joke as very few drivers observe them. On my commute to work I find there is one stretch where even this aged wreck can maintain 20 mph on my bike. I have a tendency to point at the huge numbers painted on the road as drivers overtake me. Makes me laugh that several have then slowed down to shout abuse, then they accelerate into the distance again.

<<sigh>>

20 mph limits can have a negative effect on cycling too, slowing down the fun bits of a ride. Richmond Park is one example, if cars stick to the limit faster riders either overtake (breaking the speed limit) or have to sit in the traffic queue.

Ever wondered what driving at 20mph does for real world fuel consumption and journey time? IMHO all good https://www.gobike.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/GoBike-20mph-Press-Rel...

Imagine what it must feel like to hit that sort of speed in central London. 

Imagine what it must feel like to hit that sort of speed in central London. 

Delighted. It makes such a difference to walking and cycling - less noise, danger, pollution.

Hopefully more people will reclaim the streets and enjoy it.

And for the knobs that complain, leave home a bit earlier and have some respect for others...

OMG!  Coming on top of Brexit rage, the gammons are going to burst a blood vessel.  So great news all round.  And once London's done it, it will be pretty hard for the provinces to resist.

Great, I'm all in favour. But since they don't even enforce the few 20mph limits already in existence, I'm skeptical this will make much difference to driver behaviour.

Good.

Basic physics.

Hopefully it will be rolled out to many other urban areas, and as fast as possible.