Sir — Although lower speeds make a great deal of sense in built-up areas from a quality of life point of view, I don’t believe Oxfordshire County Council's proposed limits will bring them about. I also believe that, even despite the council's best efforts, signage clutter will be considerable and that the costs of imposing the limits will be far greater than any benefits. In addition, a great deal of budget will be spent to little effect with little evidence to support the measures.
If OCC wants to reduce speeds in urban areas without signage clutter, the need for additional calming and enforcement, it may be worth investigating shared space schemes.
If the evidence from continental Europe is correct, these schemes improve the urban environment, improve social cohesion and return streets to the people who live on them.
Of course, they don’t hector drivers and riders and don’t allow a minority of residents the gratifying sense of “ha — we’ve got one over on those nasty drivers now!”, but they do work — with very few downsides.
It seems to me that the county council has a superb opportunity to improve the city rather than, yet again, make it uglier with more signs, humps and paint.
Mark McArthur-Christie, Bampton
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