Six thoughts about Phase 2 of 20mph in Brighton and Hove

As the dust settles on last Wednesday’s meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Environment and Transport Committee on extending the existing 20mph zone outwards from the centre of the city, following are some thoughts. In the form of current flavour of the month, a listicle:

1. In the UK there are now 12 million people living in 20mph areas. With the implementation of Phase 2, this will rise to 12 million + the population of Brighton and Hove covered by the second phase, minus those who live along the roads which have been excluded due to a) the original plan and b) Conservative and Labour amendments. (Ditchling Road, Surrenden Road, Braybon Avenue (including Old Farm Road and Graham Avenue) and Carden Avenue (excluding the Carden Avenue service road).  Map

2. Hundreds more streets in Brighton and Hove will be covered by a 20mph speed limit. As this article points out.


3. 20mph is enforceable. It’s no different from any other speed limit, as has already happened in Brighton and Hove, where 50 drivers were stopped by the police for exceeding the 20mph limit.

4. 20mph is uncontroversial elsewhere. While a policy that is demonstrated to reduce the numbers of Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) in other parts of the UK and Europe is uncontroversial, for reasons best known to themselves (because they haven’t said why), a 20mph default speed limit seems to have huge symbolic value for Brighton’s would-be “unchained” motorists.

5. Beware of “common sense.” When those two words are used, its time to turn the bullshit detectors up to max. Common sense, as per the adverts from the Unchainers, is just another way of saying, “there is no evidence for what I’m going to say next.” Here’s an example, from Unchain’s latest advert.

“Victory for common sense. Thank you to the Conservative and Labour councillors for listening to the majority of people who did not want to see a 20mph speed limit in nine areas of the city.”

And here’s some more common sense, a verbatim comment taken from the Unchain Facebook site:
“Roads are for cars teach people to respect their own space and that of cars. Cars can kill, so I take care when driving n ask that pedestrians respect me - even fear e a little. The raod is for cars. Beware and be aware. Take care out there n stop trying to pad out life. Live with care, in everything.”

6. We’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. Over time, 20mph will become the norm in British cities. People will get used to it and looking back, will wonder what all the fuss was about. Like the smoking ban. Apart from a few diehards, who would now go back to the days when pubs, restaurants and other venues were full of smoke? And, as this report shows, the smoking ban has had a major impact. In the same way, 20mph will make things better for everyone: safer, quieter, more inviting, less threatening, more sociable. What’s not to like?


Thanks to Becky Reynolds for the photo.

Unchain the Motorist: Where are the facts?

Is the title of my piece on page 6 of today’s Brighton and Hove Independent.

Here’s the long version of the article, with even more facts and evidence. 

Brighton & Hove has highest UK bus use outside London.

Thanks to Brighton Area Buswatch for this item, lifted from their October newsletter. In contrast to the rants of Unchain the Brighton Motorist, it includes facts and evidence about transport in Brighton and Hove.
“Official statistics from the Department for Transport confirm for the second year running that Brighton & Hove has the highest bus use per head of population in England (excluding London). During 2012/13, over 45 million journeys were made by people boarding buses in the Brighton & Hove City Council area. This is around 5% higher than the previous year.



By comparison there were 21 million bus users in East Sussex and 26 million in West Sussex. In Portsmouth and in Medway which are both urban areas with similar populations to Brighton & Hove, the figures were 10 million and 9 million respectively.

Nationally there was a decline in bus use of 2.5%. Even London, which has experienced strong growth in recent years (assisted by enormous Government subsidies), recorded a small decline. Once again this is a tribute to our local bus companies who have worked hard to grow the market against the odds and to the pro-public transport policies of Brighton & Hove City council.” (my emphasis).

And speaking of Unchain The Brighton Motorist, how much money has this cost so far? Eight full page adverts in the Argus, and counting….

Living Streets letter to the Argus about trade unions, economic prosperity and cars in Brighton – unpublished

Dear Sir

Brighton and Hove Living Streets Group hope that the members of Unite and the GMB will reflect on and recognise the benefits of lower speed limits to the wider community and those who visit the city, before union officials spend their hard-won subscriptions on campaigning against 20mph speed limits – which are now the norm in cities across the rest of Europe. The UK is now playing catch up; councils which include the City of London and Birmingham are now implementing the 20mph limit because the evidence shows that it makes our streets safer for those not in cars, and means a more pleasant environment for everyone. Traffic has dominated our towns and city centres for over half a century; it’s high time that there was some encouragement for those wishing to walk or cycle in safety. After all, the streets belong to everyone – not just those who happen to be on four wheels.

If the Unite and GMB unions are serious about protecting the livelihoods of their members they should consider that turning Brighton and Hove into an unsafe, traffic-choked and pollution-blighted “car friendly” city is a great way to deter visitors, meaning that fewer people will be taking taxis and buses. Which doesn’t seem a good way to support their jobs.

By contrast, an approach that relies more on evidence than assertion has been set out in the new Living Streets report on the Pedestrian Pound. It shows that pedestrians spend up to six times more on our high streets than those who arrive by car. Investing in the public realm – including pedestrianising areas and slowing down the traffic – has been shown to boost footfall and local economies by up to 40%.

Yours etc

Unchain Brighton Pavilion

Here’s an idea that has, so far, been missed by Unchain the Brighton Motorist. The picture shows a proposal from the 1930s to tackle the growing problem of traffic congestion in London by turning Trafalgar Square into a giant multi-story car park. For Trafalgar Square, read Brighton Pavilion. After all, it’s bordered by lots of wasted green space. And it’s a major tourist attraction. What could make more sense?
(Picture from londonist.com)

Unite and fight: trade union campaigns AGAINST 20mph for Brighton & Hove - You couldn't make it up!!!

Is that what trades unions are for? A full page advert in today’s Brighton Argus from the South Eastern Branch of Unite, “Britain’s biggest union,” opposing the extension of 20mph default speed limits for Brighton and Hove. Not a shred of evidence. Not a single fact. Strangely, the news that “We are pleased to join with out Members who support Unchain the Brighton Motorist,” and “Unite the union is opposed to the transport policies in Brighton and Hove” does not appear on the Unite campaign page.  Is this really why members pay their subs?