Dundee’s 20mph speed limit proposals have been dismissed as “timid” by a leading campaign group which fears they will do little to protect city residents.
A consultation over whether to introduce 20mph speed limits on residential streets in Dundee has now closed.
But while charity Living Streets believes the council’s plans are a step in the right direction it has criticised them for lacking the ambition of proposals for other Scottish cities.
The UK charity branded Dundee a “car sick city” and said the current proposals failed some of its most vulnerable communities.
Director Stuart Hay has challenged city leaders to get serious about lowering speeds to not only improve road safety but also to improve the health of the city’s people.
Mr Hay said: “Dundee Council needs to be much more ambitious in lowering speeds across the city.
“Focusing on residential neighbourhoods and failing to also target busy pedestrian areas where people work and shop is much less ambitious than in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
“Thirty mph is neither appropriate nor safe for streets where people live, work and play. All these streets could – and should – be 20mph to create better conditions for walking and cycling.
“Dundee should be looking to make 80 per cent of its streets 20mph to tackle low walking levels in the city.
“The consultation is a step forward, but it is only a starting point.
“Dundee is a car-sick city where over a quarter of people don’t travel anywhere on foot. 20mph should be seen as an important step to getting Dundee more active”.
The Dundee City Council is carrying out a consultation on the merits of introducing 20 mph speed limits on roads in residential areas throughout the city.
Hundreds of roads would be affected, though principal roads such as Perth Road, the Kingsway, Lochee Road and the A92 Tay Road Bridge would be exempt.
Officials believe that the new 20mph limits would provide real road safety improvements and encourage more people to use sustainable modes of transportation such as walking and cycling.
While many streets would see speed limits reduced from 30mph to 20mph, other 30mph limits would remain in place.
That approach has come in from criticism from groups who would prefer to see a more widespread adoption of reduced speed limits.
While the charity Brake has said it is “wholeheartedly behind plans to introduce 20mph speed limits throughout Dundee”, the 20’s Plenty for Us campaign group has complained about the “piecemeal” nature of the proposals.
A spokeswoman claimed that switching between 20mph and 30mph zones could have implications for safety.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said responses to the consultation will have to be studied before firm proposals are put before councillors.
He said: “Responses to the consultation will be collated and analysed before a detailed report is brought to the city development committee later in the year.”
