RoadPeace welcomes guest contributions to our blog from our members and supporters. Here we hear from our friends at national campaign group 20s Plenty for us on some exciting changes coming to Wales:

Yippee! Wales is getting a national 20mph default speed limit for cities, town and villages on 17th September 2023 – seven month’s time. 20’s Plenty for Us is delighted to assist those in Wales wanting to act in their community to celebrate and reinforce positive attitudes and behaviour change of drivers. Together we are all helping to make Welsh streets fair again.

20mph will become normal where it was previously 30mph unless roads are deliberately exempted and signed at 30mph. There are plenty of ways to share our excitement and amplify the enthusiasm and energy to champion 20mph for Wales.

Please volunteer to be a Thanks for 20 Champion in your community and to recruit others to spread the message of welcoming 20mph limits. Share this with anyone who might get involved.

Register for new regular ‘Diolch am 20/Thanks for 20’ zooms on the 17th of each month at 7pm to learn more about how you can help the 20mph default in Wales go smoothly. Hear expert speakers talk about successful tactics. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItfumqrT8oGNwjT8QzEq84EuZZaJ3EybpH Share your ideas, experiences and learn from each other.

Invite your Town and Community Councillors as they have access to great communication channels and possibly community funding budgets for items like gateway features, entrance banners and stickers.

We are making a Diolch am 20/Thanks for 20 facebook and campaigning materials such as stickers and banners in Welsh and English. Request joining at www.facebook.com/groups/diolcham20/

Check the map of exceptions for your area and notify the authorities if you have opinions on them. Find the maps at https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/roads-affected-by[1]changes-to-the-speed-limit-on-re/ Authorities uploading so far are Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion and Monmouthshire The focus is on success at getting the 30mph roads down to 20mph (not higher limit roads), for now.

Exceptions guidance is clear that streets where there is demand, or could be, for vulnerable road users to mix with motor traffic should be included. Tell us your ideas. What do you think would support you to champion the change to 20mph? We plan to write a Wales based version of our 20 Questions document on the common myths and responses to 20mph that might be worth countering. Generally we recommend you stay positive and not get into debate with detractors as this change is coming. Work instead with the willing to convince those who are unsure to support 20mph.

We had a zoom on 26th January and expect the numbers to grow at each event as more and more people hear about it from other NGOs like Sustrans Cymru, Living Streets Cymru and Cycling UK as well as community councillors.

Do please invite anyone you think will get active to be a community supporter and send on our information so they can get involved.

Thanks for all that you do.

The 20’s Plenty for Us Welsh celebration support team

Rod, Anna and Sue

If you have a story you would like to share, please email info@roadpeace.org with more details.

Updated on: 22 February 2023