A visiting biker was forced to reassess his views of Wales’ 20mph limit after touring parts of Conwy. Businessman Gareth Burrows found the lower speed limit worked in some areas but elsewhere he found the policy “insane”.
Like some vehicles, motorcycles driving at 20mph struggle to cope with the region’s terrain, he said. Mr Burrows, from East Sussex, was also alarmed by the impact the changes have had on local drivers, describing how he was tailgated and subjected to road rage as he stuck to 20mph.
“A few overtook me really aggressively with one of them waving his fist at me,” he said. “I’m now going to go back on my previous beliefs. I think this is a mistake and it needs to be wound back.”
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Default 20mph speed limits in built-up areas were imposed on September 17. The Welsh Government has indicated that, after a three-month settling-in period, enforcement will begin on December 17.
Initial assessments showed an average 2.9mph drop in speeds in the first week after the rule came in. Opposition to the new speed limit remains high but a large number of motorists support 20mph and are doing their best to comply.
Mr Burrows, who was schooled in Llandudno, spent four days in the area visiting his family in Penrhynside near Rhos on Sea. Having initially supported the 20mph concept, his experiences of driving through Llandudno and beyond caused him to change his perspective.
“I was wrong,” he wrote on social media. “A blanket 20mph limit makes a lot of sense in a very built-up area like London or Brighton but in North Wales it’s insane.
“It works in Mostyn Street, which feels less stressful to drive along because you are not as worried about a pedestrian stepping out. The traffic seems to move just as easily. It works on the prom for similar reasons. These are built-up areas, so the 20mph limit is well proven and it shouldn’t be a surprise that it works well.
Mr Burrows continued: “Once you leave the built-up areas, it becomes a bit ridiculous. Going onto Glanwydden Lane is painful. Going along the road by Llandrillo Technical College (Coleg Llandrillo) at 20mph feels ridiculous.
“More worryingly, my bike did not like doing 20mph for long periods. Too fast for first gear and barely ticking along in second. I found myself having to brake regularly in second just to keep the bike at 20, even without throttle. And I ride a big cruiser bike rather than a fast bike.”
Worse than his handling travails was the behaviour of local drivers, he said. This, he said could eventually deter holidaymakers from visiting an area that depends heavily on tourism.
“The most painful bit of the 20mph limit, and the most likely thing to have tourists complaining, is the locals,” he wrote. “ Several times over the four days I had people a few inches from my rear tyre honking their horn and flashing their lights.
“I know it’s frustrating, but some people need to calm down. Aggressive drivers will result in people writing negative reports about their experiences of the area.”
Biking cafes and businesses In Wales have reported a mix of irritation and apathy towards the country’s 20mph default. Some worry cross-border motorcyclists will be deterred from visiting.
But a Flintshire biker believes little has changed for touring enthusiasts. “I’m out on my bike regularly in North Wales,” he said. “The roads motorcyclists usually spend most of their time enjoying haven’t changed. If you want to spend your days pottering around suburbia on your bike, you’re not going to be much happier at 30.”
Not everyone shares Mr Burrows’ experiences of “aggressive drivers” and there is support for a 20mph limit by Coleg Llandrillo where students and staff cross the road, and cars and bikes filter into traffic. But people driving through places like Llanrhos, and along highways such as Colwyn Road, argue there is little need for the slowdown.
“Sea one side, fields the other, then you get a slug tootling along on the safe side at 15-20 and a massive tailback,” said one man. “No wonder there is frustration, tailgating and abuse.”
GPS data provided by TomTom showed speeds dropped 2.9mph to an average 19.77mph in the week after implementation. More than 25m weekday vehicle movements were assessed on 10 roads, including Wrexham, Bangor, Rhyl and Prestatyn.
A smaller subsequent study suggested there has since been a drop-off in 20mph observance. A month after implementation, transport consultants Agilysis found compliance remained high, with average speeds on 20mph routes in Cardiff and Wrexham falling by 2.3mph. However this compared with a fall of 3.1mph on these routes in the first week of the new limit.
A similar trend was seen with the top 15% fastest drivers. Their average speeds fell by 4.9mph after the first week but only by 3.8mph a month later.
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Department of Transport data compiled by insurer Claims.co.uk shows more drivers speed in 20mph zones than they do on other roads. In 2022, the figure was 85% for cars and 92% for motorcycles.
In 30mph zones, the 2022 figures dropped to 50% for cars and for 56% for motorcycles. Compliance was highest on roads subject to the national speed limit. The insurer claims this shows motorists behave more poorly at slower speeds.
Generally, speeds are falling and so are accident statistics. In the past year, North Wales Police saw 19 fewer fatalities on the region’s roads, down 32.1%. Pedestrian casualties were markedly down but there had been a small increase in motorcycle deaths.
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Mr Burrows believes there is room for commonsense compromise, with 20mph restrictions limited to riskier areas. It’s a view supported by many. “20mph in the centre of towns I’m OK with,” he said.
“But North Wales is too rural for a blanket 20mph to be sensible. You just end up on a long stretch of empty road thinking, “what’s the point of this?”. I can understand why people get frustrated. The temptation for me to twist the throttle was almost overwhelming....”
Initial analysis shows the impact of 20mph on journey times has been small: Agilysis found drivers took 45-63 seconds longer to travel a 2.5km section of the A5152 Chester Road in Wrexham. The Welsh Government believes roads are now safer and its stance is supported by a range of transport and environmental groups.
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