Oxfordshire County Council's Transport Implementation Committee decided on 20 January not to extend the limited 20mph zone in the new Cowley Road scheme, as requested by Cyclox and many other organisations and individuals. Cyclox said the whole of the new Cowley Road scheme and the side roads off that section of Cowley Road should be a 20mph zone.
Cyclox is, apart from this, very happy that £1m is being spent to make Cowley Road safer, and welcomes the fact that there is at least a limited 20 mph zone.
Click here to read the Oxford Times story 4 Feb 2005.And click here to read the Oxford Mail story 26 Jan 2005.What is the Transport Implementation Committee?The final decisions about council transport proposals are made by the TIC (Transport Implementation Committee). You may imagine that the democratic-sounding TIC comprises a cross-party group of councillors representing the different areas and interests in the city. It isn’t. The TIC is in fact made up of just two county councillors, one of them being the Executive Member (i.e. boss) for Transport, Cllr David Robertson (Conservative, Witney). Although neither councillor represents nor lives in the city, they are charged with making the ultimate decisions about the city’s (as well as the county’s) transport. Including cycling. Worried? Don't be - join Cyclox!
Here's the history:
1
Click here to read Cyclox's objection to the Council's proposals for Cowley Road (7 Nov 2004) re the inconsistent application of the speed limits. Under the current scheme only the central section of the road is 20 mph. From the Plain to Jeune St and from Divinity Rd to Magdalen Rd is 30 mph – as are all of the side streets off Cowley Rd.
2
Click here to read the County Council's rationale (20 Jan 2005). 3
Click here to read Cyclox's press briefing 21 Jan 2005.Work starts on Cowley Road in April this year. Let's hope the Central Area 20 mph 'experiment' is deemed successful and that East Oxford can benefit from slower vehicle speeds as well.
Click here to read what the Oxford Times said about this story on 29 Oct 2004.
