by Carlton Reid
Tuesday, September 27th 2011 at 1:18PM
Earlier today the European Parliament adopted a resolution to encourage lower urban speed limits across Europe
The EU can't force banana growers to produce straight fruit (it never did); and it won't be able to force EU countries to impose lower speed limits in towns but a vote by European parliament politicians will make it easier for localities to push for more 30kph zones (20mph in the UK).
"Today marks a decisive day in making a 30 kmh speed limit an accepted practice throughout Europe," said a statement from the European Cyclists' Federation.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it “strongly recommends the responsible authorities to introduce speed limits of 30kph in all residential areas and on single-lane roads in urban areas which have no separate cycle lanes.”
This resolution - a vote on recommendations put forward by the Koch Report on transport - is part of a wide range of measures to halve Europe’s 31,000 annual road fatalities by 2020.
The Koch Report was written by Dieter-Lebrecht Koch MEP of Germany.
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/eu-adopts-30kmh-recommendation-for-residential-areas/011958
And another take on the same story. The question has to be asked, 'why don't our Queensland politicians have the foresight and courage to follow these leaders?
“This move by the EU, it’s all about personal liberty,” comments Fabian Küster, a policy officer at the ECF. “It’s about politicians creating cities for living in rather than thoroughfares for vehicles. And it’s about reclaiming streets and neighborhoods for people and cyclists”.
http://www.cyclingmobility.com/europe-slows-down-to-30kph/
