There has been a mixed response across the city to Cardiff Council’s plans to introduce new 20mph speed limits in areas across the Welsh capital.
The new speed limits are planned for areas including Riverside, Grangetown, Canton, Butetown, Gabalfa, Plasnewydd, Penylan and Splott. The scheme is due to be in place by 2021.
The new speed restrictions have divided opinion across Cardiff, with residents in the city speaking out. Some people are questioning the effectiveness of them.
Cardiff taxi driver Colin Davies says ‘I don’t think it’s doing any good whatsoever because nobody takes any notice of them’.
Mr. Davies says ‘There are parts of Cardiff – Roath Park Lake, Marlborough School – all of these are 30mph. Through town it’s 30mph but where there’s no people it’s 20mph’. In his words, these speed limits are ‘no good whatsoever’.
Residents in Radyr are also unhappy. They say there are ‘disgraceful double standards’ regarding funding. Radyr locals say ‘Cardiff Council finds money to make all these 20mph zones but require money from developers before they will do anything for Radyr and Morganstown’.
Blethyn James says the speed limits are effective as people ‘will be forced to drive more calmly and with more consideration for pedestrians and the community’.
Cardiff Council says the limits will reduce irresponsible driving and motoring accidents.
The council says the speed restrictions will not only reduce the use of side streets as cut-throughs but will also encourage healthier lifestyles by making people more likely to cycle or walk.
