Forum Topic

Roehampton Lane 20mph from 20 March 2026 plus extra speed cameras

Just so that you know :)

Joy Griffiths ● 6d49 Comments

In what way is the signage inconsistent David?

Andrew Jones ● 1h

Whatever you want to call it, Paul, the fact remains the speed limit has been reduced and the same journey now takes longer than it used to. Seems when it opened the limit was 60. When I started driving it, it was 50. Now it's 30. A pity the signage isn't consistent.A pity you don't understand how limiting cycle deliveries are. Let me know when you can sort out transporting 100s of kgs of products and equipment dropping off at several stops. I'm happy to watch you cycle it all so I can learn from your expertise.

David Lesniak ● 1h

I did think of bikes when I made the comment.Even if Roehampton Lane was 20 mph along its length any cyclists going to the south end would end up on the Kingston Road if continuing their journey by road, which is a 40 mph road.Possibly cyclists are allowed to cycle on the pavement alongside Kingston Road ( I don't know, however there were some painted cycles on the pavemetn which suggests this might be the case). If that's so, then given the lack of pedestrians on the southern stretch ( again, where would any pedestrians be coming from/going to?) it might be appropriate to allow cycles to use the pavements on the southern strech and share the pavement with the occasional jogger.Also, we do have plenty of roads withg 30mph limits in London that are reguarly used by cyclists.That's not dismissing the idea that driving on a 30 mph road is off putting to some cyclists by the way, but if the road isn't an accident blackspot, there are probably other 30 mph roads in London that are more in need of having their limit reduced for the purposes of safety.

Andrew Jones ● 21h

>20 mph on the face of it seems inappropriate for the dual carriageway part of the road, that I imagine wouldn't have that many pedestrians regularly using it....or people on bikes.I wonder why.The accident rate in the lion enclosure at London zoo I think is zero. Not sure I'd want to go in there though...

Paul James ● 21h

It would be horrible riding along any cycle track on it. Cycling is about much more than getting from a to b as fast as possible without noticing what goes by.

Paul James ● 1d

While on the subject of the 'downgraded' Westway, dare I suggest that it would be good if cyclists could use it, as it would provide a much quicker and safer route into London than tacking and weaving about on the traditional ground level route.

Peter Evans ● 1d

Both were downgraded to enable TfL to legally take ownership/management of the roads. TfL aren't permitted to own/manage special roads (a.k.a. motorways).

Andrew Jones ● 1d

The Westway was originally designated the A40(M) when it opened in 1970 but was downgraded in 2000. It was part of a planned new inner Ringways network, most of which was never built.There used to be a short section of M41 from the Holland Park roundabout to the Westway junction, which was intended as a part of Ringway 1, the innermost circuit of the London Ringways network, but that was also later downgraded. 

Richard Greenhough ● 1d

Sorry David, a 6-lane "highway" isn't automatically a motorway.And, as we are talking about deliveries, if the Westway was a motorway, plenty of delivery drivers on 2 wheels wouldn't be able to use it,

Andrew Jones ● 1d

>Reduction is reduction, Paul. It is less. No matter the cause nor your ridiculous vernacular. A 6-lane highway is a motorway.It's not a motorway, a motorway is a very specific thing with specific laws.What it is todayStill physically the same elevated structure, but legally just the A40.Speed limits, signage, and enforcement follow standard A‑road rules rather than motorway regulations.>I know you think businesses can simply cycle.Putting words in my mouth again. I don't think this, I think more could, again with your absolutism.

Paul James ● 1d

20 mph on the face of it seems inappropriate for the dual carriageway part of the road, that I imagine wouldn't have that many pedestrians regularly using it.Is there any data to suggest this is a accident blackspot?

Andrew Jones ● 1d

Reduction is reduction, Paul. It is less. No matter the cause nor your ridiculous vernacular. A 6-lane highway is a motorway. I know you think businesses can simply cycle. They cannot.

David Lesniak ● 1d

>A reduction in the speed on a major motorway. Do the math, Paul. Just try. Just once.We weren't talking about a motorway here.If you're talking the Westway, it's not a motorway. It was, which is why it's degraded to the point of being unusable I guess. Same with the bridges.That's got nothing to do with 20mph limits on local roads, the limit on the westway is temporary until it's fixed.>Having to go the long way around because you all can't sort out a bridge repair. Or not being able to service a neighbourhood efficiently as we once were able to do.Too many motor vehicles, too much driving causing all this damage. I refer you to my previous answer about something that can be done to help that.

Paul James ● 1d

Wow, Paul. Are you truly that daft?Myopic is obvious. Daft more so now than ever.A reduction in the speed on a major motorway. Do the math, Paul. Just try. Just once. Having to go the long way around because you all can't sort out a bridge repair. Or not being able to service a neighbourhood efficiently as we once were able to do.

David Lesniak ● 1d

>Doing business in this city is now slower than it used to be.For who?The Evening Standard was famously against the congstion charge, but when implemented the then mayor was quick to point out it benefitted most as it's delivery drivers suddenly weren't perma stuck in loads of traffic. I rememeber the days when the embankment was a solid line of traffic (multi lane) all the way along, I certainly don't see that any more, the bike lane is more congested that the car lanes these days!What slows you down in your motor vehicle David?

Paul James ● 1d

Yep, the cyclists certainly weave and swerve down Roehampton Lane. Probably because on the downhill they achieve faster speeds than cars.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Blather all you want, Paul.Doing business in this city is now slower than it used to be. Taking time and money away from traders. I know it's simple and I know you don't or maybe can't grasp that.Going back to another angle from Jeremy re PCNs being a form of tax, these penalties were minor. They are now, out of necessity, a line item in the annual budget.I'm basically a delivery driver. And yet you still don't get it.

David Lesniak ● 2d

>Or trying to avoid swerving and weaving moronic cyclists.On the A3 at that junction? Come on Steve, you have to do better than that:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roehampton+Ln,+London/@51.444503,-0.2342653,3a,90y,263.74h,60.05t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sgKdj0CsoXyCb0EAfiGjOtg!2e0!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D29.95237812337463%26panoid%3DgKdj0CsoXyCb0EAfiGjOtg%26yaw%3D263.73911157916194!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x48760ee12e838093:0xef5b047e59a2555c!8m2!3d51.4553943!4d-0.2431048!16s%2Fg%2F1tgdn0v9?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Paul James ● 2d

>Slow means slow.20mph is not slow. If you think it is, try driving into a wall at 20mph and then after peeling yourself out of the airbags tell me it feels slow after that.>Taking more time to do something is not good for businessAside from the absolutist thinking here (do you bake sourdough, brew beer, age cheese, drive or cycle? A lot of things can be better when done slowly and carefully), what does actually slow enroute delivery drivers down in West London?It isn't whether or not you can get up to 30 between junctions instead of 20. It's congestion.And what is congestion?Too many people in motor vehicles trying to occupy the road space at the same time.So the real question is, why are there so many vehicles in West London slowing down delivery drivers?Because a huge proportion of those vehicles are being used to make short car trips, the kind that might be easily be walked, cycled for those that can, or done by bus if the environment made those options attractive and safe.And what pushes people into cars for short trips they'd otherwise walk or ride?Roads designed to prioritise fast driving over everything else.Streets that feel unsafe or unpleasant to cycle on.Pavements narrowed to make space for parking.Slow buses (congestion again!)Junctions engineered for vehicle throughput rather than people.So if you care about delivery drivers getting around efficiently, the solution isn't to let everyone drive faster between junctions. It's to reduce the number of cars clogging the roads in the first place, especially many of the the short-hop ones that don’t really need to be there.When traffic moves at 30mph or more, most people simply don’t feel safe walking or cycling alongside it.When they don't feel safe, they might not walk or cycle.When they don't walk or cycle, they might choose to drive, even for short trips.When they drive short trips, they add to congestion.When congestion increases, delivery drivers slow down.So, if people getting up to 35mph between junctions make the roads feel too dangerous, you'll get more poeple in cars, and slower deliveries.Vicious circle David.Is your bread ready yet?

Paul James ● 2d

Or trying to avoid swerving and weaving moronic cyclists. Nevertheless, still idiots for getting caught on camera!

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Truly daft, Paul. No surprise.Slow means slow. Taking more time to do something is not good for business. About as simple a notion as there is. And it still eludes you.

David Lesniak ● 3d

Come on Andrew, The thousands of three tonne suvs whumping the joints at 50mph are only there because of the short section of wands just before ŵhite city...

Paul James ● 3d

Westway has an effective speed limit if 0mph between March 22nd 22:00 and ‘Late April’ - and for once, no one can blame the cyclists.

Andrew Jones ● 3d

>When more time needs to be spent doing something,Exactly, if you drive "faster" between junctions in london, you just spend longer waiting in the queue of cars at the next junction, same average speed overall. People that drive slower might get there sooner though, I see it all the time, slower driving means more time to make better decisions and better progress.Maybe in a straight run on the westway west at 60mph you're going to get to the other end of it faster (as long as it's not full up and they havn't reduced the speed limit to 20mph due to damage caused by too many fast and heavy cars).The same isn't true on normal london roads which have traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, long lines of cars etc... so it's much more complicated than that.

Paul James ● 3d

Probably too busy fiddling with their phones or aircon controls to notice.

Paul James ● 3d

Yes, as a regular user of that road I was always amazed at the number of morons who actually didn't notice the blatantly obvious yellow encased cameras which were constantly flashing.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Unfortunately, Paul, you haven't a clue how logistics works let alone the before and after impact on these policies in regard to delivery, efficiency, profit margin, labor costs, etc.No surprise there.When more time needs to be spent doing something, that means less time for anything else. Including doing that very thing efficiently.

David Lesniak ● 4d

When the speed cameras were first introduced on the section of Roehampton lane that is just off the A3/kingston road (and is downhill) the cameras would flash constantly- expect the same will happen again. Thanks Joy for alerting us - it’s a route I often take.

David Turner ● 4d

>Show of hands...who doesn't understand the basic business premise time equals money?Logical fallacy from you here that max 20mph speed between junctions instead of max 30mph speed means delivery drivers can get around town quicker.Lot's of companies now realising the way to get around town quicker (which includes how easy it is to park up) for local deliveries, is by bike, have you not noticed this David? Also what would really speed up deliveries is fewer cars on the road in front of delivery vehicles.

Paul James ● 4d

Show of hands...who doesn't understand the basic business premise time equals money?Paul, that's one. Anyone else?

David Lesniak ● 4d

Yes 20mph there is utterly ridiculous.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Official guidance suggests that ‘20mph speed limits are more effective when they are supported by street design that indicates that a lower speed is appropriate.’ [DfT Nov 2018]That’s clearly not the case with Roehampton Lane, which is a wide main road, much of which is dual carriageway.

Peter Evans ● 4d

>Yep, because the cars are going far too slowly. Let them go @ 60 and see if you can catch them!Steve, like I say, it doens't matter what speed you get up to between lights and crossings in your brrm brrm, I'll still catch you on my bike.Many a time I've been overtaken at speed by a driver who's overtaken me in anger, and when I am sitting next to them at the lights I'll say "we all go the same speed round here".

Paul James ● 4d

Most would probably do 30 if it was 25 😉

Janice Evans ● 4d

30 mph would be more fair and more appropriate!

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Think if it was 25mph would be fair and better for automatic vehicles.

Janice Evans ● 4d

Yep, because the cars are going far too slowly. Let them go @ 60 and see if you can catch them!

Steve Taylor ● 4d

>The faster you can travel the more deliveries you can do. Not rocket science.AS always, it's not as simple as that.Do you think getting up to 60mph between stops for lights and crossings on Chiswick high road would mean you get along it faster than if you accelerate to 20mph?I can get along chiskwick High Road much faster than anybody in a car on my bike, and it tops out at 15mph.

Paul James ● 5d

The faster you can travel the more deliveries you can do. Not rocket science.

Steve Taylor ● 5d

>Deliveries and supply runs just got more expensive. Yet again.How? Are you suggesting accelerating to 20 instead of 30 between queues of motor vehicles at junctions/pedestrain crossings slows drivers down?Not withstanding fewer crashes mean there is less chance to get stuck in a jam because of an "accident".

Paul James ● 5d

Looked at another way it will kill jobs.Deliveries and supply runs just got more expensive. Yet again.

David Lesniak ● 5d

It's all part of a cunning plan to create jobs by reintroducing the man with a red flag to walk in front of every car on the road.

Richard Greenhough ● 5d

>drive at the speed you feel is safe to drive at.Clearly some people think this is 40 to 60mph....You sure this is a good idea, advising people to criminalise themselves?

Paul James ● 5d

Kingston by pass next? Could be. I was surprised to see in Berkshire they are considering cutting huge amounts of 60mph roads to 30mph. A 50% cut? Pretty drastic!

Nicholas Beard ● 5d

Don't let them have your money! Stay at 20mph when you pass a camera then drive at the speed you feel is safe to drive at.

Steve Taylor ● 5d

‘ Collision data from around the world is very clear. It shows that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more likely a collision will occur, and the more severe an injury resulting from the collision will be.’Good to see that these morons are now using global evidence to justify their schemes. What happened to gathering empirical data about the actual road the proposed changes affect? They wouldn’t get the results they want, of course.Surprised they haven’t wheeled out traffic evaporation as well, unless that discredited methodology is still too fresh in the public mind.

Simon Hayes ● 5d

>Will we be getting speed humps and chicanes to help drivers abide?Why would you want speed jumpos and chicanes? Just don't exceed 20mph surely?>a fund-raising wheeze Don't let them have your money! Stay at 20mph (if it's safe to go at that speed) or under if necessary?

Paul James ● 5d

I would post the letter but I don't know how. However the relevant information is.....The following road will be reduced from a 30mph to a 20mph speed limit:A306 Roehampton Lane (from the junction with Upper Richmond Road to the junction with Kingston Road)The TFL letter also adds....This is part of our commitment to eliminating fatal and serious injury collisions from London's roads by 2041. Collision data from around the world is very clear. It shows that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more likely a collision will occur, and the more severe an injury resulting from the collision will be.It also adds that the works are necessary scheduled between 16 & 21 February but the cameras will not enforce the lower speed limit until 20 March.

Joy Griffiths ● 6d

All of it? Or just the wide bit, or including the really wide dual carriageway bit?Will we be getting speed humps and chicanes to help drivers abide?This must be a fund-raising ‘make the world a better place’ virtue-signalling wheeze as it’s the least likely road where you’d expect such a limit. Kingston by-pass next?

Peter Evans ● 6d