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"Minister Derek Mackay calls for compulsory 20mph speed limits"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    In an interview with The Scotsman, Mr Mackay said: “If 20mph limits are seen to be more widespread and legally enforceable, they would be taken more seriously and there would be higher compliance.

    “I can’t direct from the centre, but encourage councils to do what’s appropriate for them in built-up and residential areas.

    “Edinburgh has made good progress, and other local authorities might want to follow. An edict would be too blunt an instrument and not well received.”

    Mr Mackay said funding should not be a stumbling block because 20mph schemes were not expensive to introduce, but he conceded that some councils may be waiting to see how Edinburgh’s city-wide scheme fared.

    ...

    However, Neil Greig, the Scotland-based policy and research director of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, opposed a blanket introduction.

    ...

    “The real need is for investment in high-quality shared or properly-segregated infrastructure, such as cycle paths, so people of all ages and abilities can feel safe walking or cycling in our cities.”

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/minister-derek-mackay-calls-for-compulsory-20mph-speed-limits-1-4037715

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. Stickman
    Member

    ...and Councillor Nick Cook already opposes it. Gets in fast that guy.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. paulmilne
    Member

    But surely he CAN direct from the centre by initiating new legislation. This is an area that has been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, isn't it? There can be new legislation that makes 20mph (or 30kph if you want to be a modern European) the default speed limit in area where 30mph is the default now.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Stephan Matthiesen
    Member

    "But surely he CAN direct from the centre by initiating new legislation."

    I tried to discuss transport and active travel with two SNP members (one MSP and one activist) on Twitter, and at some other occasions in real life. Response was something like this:

    • Refuse to accept that the active travel targets are in danger.
    • It's up to the local councils to do something.
    • Austerity from the Westminster government doesn't leave us enough money for active travel.
    • Active travel is a city issue and folks in the country have always been forgotten before the SNP came along.
    • The SNP has done so many wonderful things for local democracy and is really good for the country.
    • You're just trying to rubbish the SNP.
    • Yeah cyclists are the most important people in the world and everybody should do what they say.

    I'm really not against the SNP and have voted for them in some elections (I've voted for 5 different parties depending on the situation...) but I have to say in terms of transport policy I find the SNP and many of their politicians and supporters much more difficult to talk to than most other parties (the Tories are perhaps similar).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. Morningsider
    Member

    The Scottish Government could probably lower the default speed limit to 20mph just now - but it would have to use a pretty convoluted process to do so.

    However, the Scotland Bill will devolve full responsibility for the default speed limits for "restricted roads", i.e. urban roads with a 30mph limit, to the Scottish Government.

    No reason why any party couldn't say today:

    "As soon as the Scotland Bill becomes law, we intend to lower the default urban speed limit in Scotland to 20mph".

    It would be super cheap to do, simply replace existing 30 signs with 20 signs - no need for additional signage, repeater signs, traffic regulation orders, lengthy consultations and the like.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    "Austerity from the Westminster government doesn't leave us enough money for active travel."

    It seems to leave them enough money to dual the A9, A96, etc.

    All about priorities eh? Clearly active travel low down the list as far as the SNP are concerned.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. Rob
    Member

    "However, Neil Greig ..."

    Shame he didn't say this when he was questioned about Roseburn. Useful quote going forward though!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. Stephan Matthiesen
    Member

    @crowriver If they'd just say "We don't care much about active travel and it's more important to build/upgrade all the roads" it would be more honest. What I find difficult is that they ahve the active travel targets but when you try to discuss if we are going to meet these targets you just get a full broadside of

    1. not acknowledging it is an issue at all,
    2. blaming somebody else for it, and
    3. throwing smoke screens to distract from the specific topic (transport) and bringing up completely unrelated arguments for the SNP in general.

    All the statements from and interviews with Derek Mackay that I've seen sound similar. It's always somebody else who should do something if at all, but he seems to show very little enthusiasm to actively push for changes/improvements.

    It's probably a general issue with politicians when you try to pin them down on a topic they don't care about - instead of just saying it's unimportant they try to distract. The SNP is perhaps not generally worse than other parties, but specifically in the transport area it seems to be very clear to me that the SNP is overall much more enthusiastic about motoring than active travel.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. threefromleith
    Member

    This genuine and serious (or more likely seriously deranged) suggestion was made in the comments under the story in the EEN;

    "Further if you have to pass a test to use a car on the road should you not pass a test if you use the road in any other way and yes that includes as a pedestrian, making pedestrians pass a test, wear air bag suits and bright clothes will reduce deaths ...how come these measures are not being implemented and its the driver who is being singled out....."

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. minus six
    Member

    Whenever an election looms, I get the usual party reps turning up at my door. Sometimes they are MP/MSP, sometimes just a party worker.

    One specific thing seems to unite them all.

    I attempt to engage meaningfully with them in recognising the vital relationship between active travel and social justice.

    I'm not frothing at the mouth - merely asking for their considered view.

    They make their excuses and leave asap.

    Every time.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. acsimpson
    Member

    @Threefromleith. Pity the fool. Perhaps they would like to be part of the sample group who are obliged to wear their airbag suits while walking to and from their vehicles.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    "

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    25/02/2016, 3:01 pm
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    Posted 9 years ago #

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