Birmingham City Council has launched a consultation on introducing 20mph speed limits and one-way systems in the Holyhead area near Handsworth to tackle ‘rat running’. The proposals come after residents raised concerns about accidents and car damage caused by parking on both sides of roads and two-way traffic. The council hopes the measures will make roads less attractive to drivers short-cutting between Rookery Road and Sandwell Road. “Parking for passing traffic will become less attractive, resulting in more road space for local residents,” the local
authority said. “Reduced speed limits will result in safer streets for people walking, wheeling (wheelchairs, pushchairs etc) and cycling, in line with Birmingham City Council’s Transport Plan objectives.” The Transport Plan emphasises that “fundamental changes” are needed to tackle the climate emergency, stating that private cars cannot match public transport capacity. The consultation concerns the Traffic Regulation Order required to make permanent changes to highway status. The consultation closes on June 28. READ THE FULL STORY: New 20mph limits proposed for 10 Birmingham roads –
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Birmingham City Council, 20mph speed limits, Holyhead, Handsworth, rat running, one-way systems, Traffic Regulation Order, Rookery Road, Sandwell Road, accidents, car damage, Transport Plan, climate emergency
20mph everywhere sounds pointless, people will still drive how they want.
So they’re making it one-way AND 20mph? That’s gonna mess up deliveries and I don’t get how that stops “rat running” if the same drivers just go around the other way. Also, who decided the roads are unsafe all of a sudden?
I swear they just want more bike lanes because the climate emergency thing. Like sure, slower might help walking but I’ve been stuck behind buses in 20mph zones before and it’s not exactly “safer” if everybody’s angry. And one-way systems usually make traffic worse for the residents on the side streets, trust me.
Rookery Road to Sandwell Road is already a mess, but putting 20mph won’t fix people parking like idiots on both sides. Half the time accidents are from people not looking, not speed, so I’m skeptical. Consultation closes June 28?? Seems like they’re asking now after all the damage already happened.