this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2024
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“We still suspect that implementing the 20mph on the basis of saving lives is a smokescreen for the real reason behind the legislation"
Anyone got any idea what they think the "real reason" is?
I don't think there is any sort of hidden reason, but our government hasn't handled their traffic control schemes very well, which has led to theories like this.
They reduced the speed limit on the main road into Cardiff, the capital, and carried out a pollution study during the first Covid lockdown, when people were told not to travel and there was much less traffic on the roads. They then used the results of the study to say that their new speed reduction was the reason that the pollution levels dropped, and not the fact that the roads were empty.
They implemented the 20mph limit based on a public consultation where about 90% of the public agreed with it. It turned out that the consultation involved around 60 people, and an opposing petition with over a million signatures was largely ignored.
They told us that the 20mph limit was partly to try to promote getting people onto public transport, but shortly before it came into effect, they cut the budget for public transport. Also, as a result of the slower speeds, some routes now have fewer buses. Instead of running every 10 minutes, they're now every 15 minutes. In a famously wet country, most of the stops don't have shelters either.
To give an example of why people don't use public transport here, other than the seemingly constant delays and overpacked replacement buses, it's just too slow. To get from the South Wales valleys to the main hospital in Cardiff takes about 45 minutes by car, maybe an hour in heavy traffic.
Using buses and trains takes around two hours if the connections meet up. If there's a gap between connections, it can take a lot longer. You physically can't make the trip by public transport before about eight in the morning.
None of the measures that have been put in place have made that any better. If anything, the reduced bus service has made it worse.
There is a more sinister theory behind the complaints though, and it's that the Conservatives, the opposition party, are behind the anti 20mph groups on social media. Lots of the groups are run by people who hide behind fake names, and as well as opposing the speed limits, they post a lot of anti Labour party propaganda.