Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
London

The Heart of London Adopts 20 MPH Speed Limit

Image: ##http://cyclelondoncity.blogspot.com/2013/09/city-of-london-votes-near-unanimously.html##Cyclists in the City##

The City of London, the square mile in the heart of Greater London that is home to the city's finance sector, is resetting the speed limit to 20 miles per hour on all streets.

In New York, this would be the equivalent of, say, lowering the speed limit in Manhattan south of the Brooklyn Bridge -- not exactly earth-shattering, but noteworthy for a number of reasons.

Cyclists accounted for 47 percent of all road fatalities in the City of London in 2011. Other 20 mph zones in London have seen injuries and fatalities drop by nearly half. A person struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph has a 95 percent chance of surviving the collision.

All other surrounding boroughs (the equivalent of City Council districts) have already adopted a 20 mph limit -- eight of Greater London's 32 boroughs have lowered speeds or are considering doing so, according to the 20's Plenty for Us campaign, suggesting a domino effect. Finally, police support the change, and have called for additional speed cameras and other resources as needed.

"The City of London joins Paris and Tokyo in recognizing that 20 mph limits are better for business and health," said Jeremy Leach, 20’s Plenty for Us London coordinator, in a statement.

There is high demand for 20 mph "slow zones" in NYC neighborhoods where locals live in fear of reckless drivers. Speeding was the leading cause of traffic deaths last year, and speed enforcement is virtually non-existent.

Bill de Blasio has called for more slow zones, and says he wants to dramatically reduce traffic deaths and injuries. Neither Bill Thompson nor Joe Lhota has a detailed traffic safety platform. No candidate has suggested lowering the speed limit to 20 mph on a broad scale, though City Council transportation chair James Vacca has endorsed the idea.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Subway Riders: Sean Duffy ‘Has No Idea’ What He’s Talking About

New Yorkers respond to Sean Duffy's threats and insults.

April 4, 2025

U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy ‘Has No Idea’ of NYC in Subway Photo Op with Eric Adams

He's still spreading lies. But this time, he didn't let anyone know where he'd be so he could field questions from friendly reporters and face no pushback from a compliant Mayor Adams.

April 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: It’s the ‘Shithole’ Super Bowl

We hear that U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy will be riding the subway today. Plus other news.

April 4, 2025

Fare Fares: Here’s How Much Outdoor Dining Costs Restaurants

Restaurant owners have to shell out big to serve outdoors.

April 4, 2025

US DOT Doesn’t Want to Fund Road Diets Anymore

The feds will look "unfavorably" on applications that reduce lane capacity for vehicles – despite their congestion and safety benefits.

April 4, 2025
See all posts