Cyclists have felt safer on the roads since the 20mph speed limit was introduced across Richmond.
Local cyclists said the reduced speed promoted a choice away from cars and into more active transport, which is not only beneficial to people’s health, but also the local environment.
This comes as newly released council data revealed that its implementation had led to significant improvements in road safety.
Guy Wheeler, the founder of Leftfield Bikes in Richmond, said: “Two wheels is just much easier for families and people find the roads much more accessible with the new speed limit.”
Wheeler, who has ridden over 30,000 miles on his e-bike in the last 3 and a half years, believed the zones made cycling more accessible for families to use bikes rather than cars for everyday activities.
He said: “Families just want to finish the school run reliably every day.
“When you have people hurtling at 40mph, people just don’t want to cycle.”
The speed limit, introduced in March 2020, now covers 97% of the borough’s roads and has contributed to a marked reduction in traffic speeds and road accidents.
According to Richmond Council, this reduction in speed was achieved without increasing journey times for drivers.
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, lead member for transport and air quality, said: “This latest data shows that our residents are at a lower risk of being involved in a collision than when our roads had 30mph limits.
“There was some considerable opposition to the change at the time of implementation, but these results more than justify the leadership this Council took on the issue.”
The borough’s streets have become materially safer for active travellers since the introduction, with the number of pedestrian incidents falling by 24%.
The average number of collisions per year has also dropped from 338 before the 20mph limit was introduced to 301.
Richmond Bikes shop manager Jake Neale said: “It is much safer for the schools, especially for the kids.
“The 20mph speed limit focuses the mind more.”
However, there are still some concerns.
Neale, who has been previously hit by a car while out cycling, said: “The problem is the general aggression on the roads and people using cars as weapons.”
Cllr Ehmann said: “Despite the decrease in overall collision; sadly, we have seen an uplift in serious collisions in the borough.
“This is a point of real concern and Richmond Council is studying the data to see what factors outside the reduction in average speeds, such as the increase in powered two-wheelers in the borough, are responsible for the deterioration in this aspect of road safety.”
This is a sentiment shared by local cyclists.
Denver Collins, a bike fitter at Bicycle Richmond, said: “Novices lack the road experience and can’t control the e-bikes.”
But Wheeler disagreed and said e-bikes can make cycling even more accessible and safer to families who have particularly hilly routes to school.
Richmond Council said its remains dedicated to the vision of eliminating serious collisions and continue to monitor road safety and make improvements where needed.
