@mancitycouncil to roll out 20mph speed limit in most residential areas - eventually

Manchester City Council has announced that it intends to set a 20mph speed limit on all non-major residential streets in the city. To begin with it has set up three pilot areas: Miles Platting, Gorton and Hulme. This will be rolled out across the city once Eric Pickles ceases hostilities and reaches his target weight.
The city council state that:

"...we see this as an important move towards a more pleasant and safer environment for residents.  Road safety will improve as a result of reduced traffic speeds, as well as creating a safer and healthier environment for pedestrians and cyclists."

As part of the program, the council is offering community groups grants of £200 for activities which promote the benefits of quieter streets. You can read more about the pilot schemes and will shortly be able to see maps of them here. 

Coming to a road near you?

On the face of it this move represents a huge step forward for cycling in the city and a massive success for the 20s Plenty campaign which has beating this particular drum for a number of years.

To my mind, anything which encourages people to ride or walk and knocks over one of the key barriers to riding simply has to be a good thing. So its chapeau to the city council on this one.