20mph limits delayed after Oxford Bus Co’s withdrawal warning
Plans to introduce 20mph speed limits in Abingdon have been put on hold after Oxford Bus Company said the measure would leave it with no option but to withdraw services.
“This would make parts of our network unviable, and we would be left with no choice but to withdraw them” – Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel Managing Director
Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel Managing Director, said: “We’re relieved Oxfordshire County Council has finally listened to our representations at the 11th hour and once again delayed the decision on its 20mph proposals in Abingdon.
“A blanket approach to introducing 20mph speed limits across the town, including on bus
“We hope the council now sees sense and works to deliver revised, more balanced proposals” – Luke Marion
routes would hinder the council’s stated objective to remove one in four car journeys to help improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions, as these schemes will make bus services less attractive and lead to a reduction in bus mileage being provided. This would make parts of our network unviable, and we would be left with no choice but to withdraw them.
“We hope the council now sees sense and works to deliver revised, more balanced proposals that do not take a one glove fits all approach to reducing speed limits to ensure we can maintain bus services for our customers and the community.”
Decisions on the adoption of the 20mph speed limits were deferred by Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management. A spokesperson from Oxfordshire County Council said these included a decision to defer a decision on proposed town-wide 20mph and 30mph limits in Abingdon in order to better understand the concerns raised by the bus companies. Decisions on other schemes in Cumnor (including Farmoor), Faringdon, Shrivenham, and Steventon were also deferred until 23 March to enable further discussions with bus companies.
“Each of these corridors carry multiple bus services and bus priority measures should be being introduced on these corridors, rather than counter-productive measures of unnecessary low speeds to slow buses down” – Luke Marion
Luke Marion says he is supportive of 20mph speed limits applied to residential streets and to built-up areas where there is regular and planned mixing between motor traffic and vulnerable road users. Luke said: “However, the same logic does not apply to larger, strategically more important movement corridors, including large parts of Oxford Road, Wootton Road and Ock Street in Abingdon. Each of these corridors carry multiple bus services and bus priority measures should be being introduced on these corridors, rather than counter-productive measures of unnecessary low speeds to slow buses down.
“As the bus network recovers from the damaging impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has never been more important for the council to support buses and to ensure they are doing all they can to help the network get back on its feet.”