'Utter lunacy' as plans put forward for 20mph zone in city centre
People were divided over new plans that could see the introduction of a 20mph zone in the city centre. The scheme is part of a 20-year plan to revolutionise how people navigate the city, which will include new bus routes, enhancements around transport hubs and fresh plans for city centre parking.
Liverpool Council aims to motivate residents to use public transport more frequently and opt for walking and cycling. This multi-million pound investment plan follows other connectivity projects like the £50m revamp of Lime Street and the Strand, with the latter's second phase set to restart later this year.
Among the key schemes outlined by Liverpool Council in a comprehensive document to be presented to cabinet members next week is the potential introduction of a 20mph zone "within the core city centre".
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Cllr Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, stated: "This mobility strategy presents a long-term plan for all types of movement in the city centre. It creates a clear blueprint for more active and sustainable movement."
ECHO readers took to the comments to have their say on the plans, which one person described as "utter lunacy". Commenter Karoo said: “It won’t make any difference. The road I live on is like a racetrack, cars doing 50mph and even buses doing way over 20mph.”
Youcantkidakidda said: “Well that will be good for the environment having standing traffic, cause it worked so well in Wales!"
Fibonacci said: “The Wales where congestion has reduced, where journey times have only increased by 2-3 minutes, where deaths and serious accidents have reduced by 35% since the introduction of 20mph in highly selective areas, that Wales? 1.35 billion vehicle miles were travelled on roads in Liverpool in 2023. That’s nearly double the rate in the 1990s.
“The ‘original’ road infrastructure simply can’t and wasn’t designed to cope with such a rise. Unless more people get on bikes, or use public transport, there’ll be a permanent gridlock during peak office and shopping hours in the city centre.
“Leaving the car at home shouldn’t be difficult for many given that 25% of journeys taken by car are less than a mile. It’ll also have health benefits, helping to reduce the obesity epidemic in the UK.”
Libertine said: “They want us to use public transport instead? What? Those trains that are always getting cancelled? Yeah I'm sure people will be in a hurry to ditch their cars for those unreliable trains.”
Libertine agreed: “Try and get a train from Broadgreen, waiting for a Northern train. Then come back to me and see if you still think public transport is the way forward. I'm pretty sure you will change your mind.”
Obees said: “What was a 20 minute journey to cross the city has now become 40 minutes plus with the traffic flow changed. I now give it a miss and shop out of town.”
Lovehandles1 said: “Utter lunacy. What about those of us who don't have ready access to the Merseyrail network, and work in the city centre? Complete kneejerk decisions, like the fantastic cycle lane down West Derby Rd. LCC at its finest.”
Vauxhallblue replies: “Speaking as someone who was absolutely wiped out by a car in the city centre, I totally understand why there should be a 20mph speed limit in town."
Do you think implementing a 20mph speed limit will improve safety and the environment in Liverpool? Have your say in our comments section.