We have 20mph speed limits on all residential roads in Lancashire, but they are frequently ignored by drivers. The local Green Party is responding to people’s complaints about speeding in our streets by setting up a small group to buy a mobile speed indication display (i.e. the “smiley face” thing) that tells motorists (and cyclists!) how fast they are travelling. If your speed is under the limit, you get the smiley face; if over, the glum one. It’s called a Smiley Sid.
The plan is that, once purchased, the device will be placed for a fortnight or so in a street where residents have expressed concerns. It will then be moved to another street, and basically go on tour around the district. Hopefully, this will alert drivers to their speed and remind them to stick to within the limit. Dynamo doesn’t need to rehearse the arguments in favour of slower vehicle speeds for cyclists and pedestrians.
BUT the group need help with this. Mostly technical help: firstly, in choosing which device to buy, then where to site it, then installing it, and then moving it on. As a mobile device, it needs to be attached to a suitable existing post (like a lamppost), and then it needs recharging fairly regularly . . . so you can see that there is a great deal to think of.
Please get in touch with Dynamo – dynamocycle@btinternet.com – if you would like to be involved, and we will pass on your details.
Incidentally, there is a report written for Transport for London dated 2008 about the effectiveness of Sids – see http://content.tfl.gov.uk/effectiveness-of-sids.pdf – which suggests that they do have an effect on excessive speeds while they are actually in place.
Lancaster Dynamo Cycle Campaign 