Anna Semlyen, Campaign Manager of 20’s Plenty for Us, writes about being free range.
Sitting. We and our kids do it excessively. Sitting is making us obese, disconnected from nature and others. It’s the latest public health epidemic along with road danger.
The solution isn’t organised exercise. It’s being free range. Explore from your door. Reconnecting with where we live and what’s outside – neighbours, nature and freedom. Let’s notice the changing seasons.
When my daughter first got herself to school I saved an hour of escorting daily. Self employed, I valued this. At age 9 she took a £1 weekly bribe to walk or cycle the 195 school days (400 trips). Few others enjoyed such independence. Though she was initially scared, and so was her Gran, it’s worked. At 12 I’ve stopped paying. She likes getting herself places. Rosie shows her friends round as she knows the local geography best. She’s more confident, aware and fitter than if I’d had to take her.
Why aren’t all similar aged children allowed out? The main reason is traffic going so fast they could kill or maim. Road death is the biggest avoidable killer of 5-35 year olds. Road danger is costing every person in the UK at least £570 a year. The solution isn’t kids dressed as fluorescent puppets. It’s respectful, careful drivers going slower, particularly where people live, work, shop, play or learn. The National Campaign for 20mph limits is 20’s Plenty for Us. We help people change road signs where they live through the democratic process. Our 205+ campaign branches UK wide are actively asking local councillors for “Total 20” – wide area default, mandatory 20mph limits without humps. Exempted roads are decided by experts.
Over 12 million people in the UK live where Total 20 is agreed including Oxford, Manchester, Birmingham, Islington, Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool and many villages. It’s cheaper, cleaner, greener, quieter, healthier and better for all. Pollution is reduced and journey times are unaffected.
It’s also affordable as mainly capital. For York ‘Total 20’ is £3 per person paid from Local Transport Plan central government funding. But even at 9% borrowing that’s only £54k pa for a city of 200,000. Peanuts for the benefits – like 20+% casualty reduction, cleaner air, let alone less sitting, which pays for itself in a few months.
What if MPs just changed the lit limit from 30mph to 20mph? Cheaper and less signage clutter. Yet, localism currently stalls this. Yet, we are winning civilised streets through active residents in communities deciding that they care about safer more pleasant public spaces. They start petitions, write letters, make a 20mph case to their local Councillors and win.
Together we can make your street 20mph.
Check out the website at www.20splentyforus.org.uk and join us on Twitter @20splentyforus.
For more information email anna.s@20splentyforus.org.uk or call 07572 120439. I’ll post a free campaign pack to those starting a new 20’s Plenty for Us group. We are free to join. Donations are welcome.
Well done for caring and not just sitting.
