Greater City Providence

20’s Plenty

In the UK, some 3 million people live in areas with 20 mph speed limits. The experience there shows that not only do slower speeds save lives, but lowering the limit to 20 mph improves the way local streets function in more ways than one. According to the 20’s Plenty for Us campaign, the change has produced wide-ranging benefits, including less traffic, increased walking and biking, greater independence for children, the elderly and infirm, better health, and calmer driving conditions for motorists.

Via: StreetFilms

Greater City Providence

Promoting the smart urban growth of the Greater Providence region.

6 comments

  • 3 million is about 5% of UK residents. The US equivalent is 16.5 million. I wonder if that many already live in 20 (or maybe 25 mph) zones. Most subdivisions are around 20 or 25 mph. A lot of urban side streets are as well. The biggest changes would be on urban arterials like N. Maine or Blackstone (which is 35 if I remember).

    I like the idea but I wonder how far you would extend in PVD and the area. Blackstone? Hope? Broadway? Atwells? N. Maine? Branch? Mineral Spring? Metacom? What is the actual average speed of traffic on those streets?

  • That should be the speed limit downtown and on the residential streets in Providence.

    But compare our streets to those in the UK. I have a feeling our streets tend to be wider, which means that traffic will still move at 30-35 mph. People tend to drive at the top speed they feel safe doing. While I try to do the speed limit on residential streets, sometimes I find myself going faster simply because I’m agitated (usually by some a-hole driver) or because I’m running late for whatever reason.

    But as Andrew said, if we want people to really slow down, the speed limit needs to be under 20.

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