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According to a new study, a speed limit of 30 km/h in cities should only slow down public transport by a matter of seconds. While the differences are small during peak traffic times, 30 km/h during off-peak times should lead to additional costs.
Tempo 30 should become the norm in the cities. However, more routes with non-motorised traffic also means that not only car traffic is affected, but also trams and buses – i.e. public transport. That doesn’t suit everyone. Transport companies and cities fear that public transport will become less attractive and more expensive.
15 seconds difference per kilometer
But the fear is unfounded, as a study commissioned by the Swiss Traffic Club (VCS) now shows. Even if the speed limit in urban areas is 30 in the future, buses and trams are not much slower than 50 km/h. The difference is just 1.5 seconds for a distance of 100 meters or 15 seconds for one kilometer.
Traffic can only rarely reach the signaled speed of 50 kilometers per hour.
Michael Rytz, Tempo 30 expert at the left-green transport association, is only surprised by this result at first glance: “This is due to the fact that traffic can rarely reach the signaled speed of 50 kilometers per hour.” A dense network of stops and many traffic lights slow down traffic even when the speed limit is 50. The study finds that this is particularly true in densely populated areas and at peak traffic times.
Larger differences during off-peak times
The differences are greater in off-peak times, because then you can drive faster with less traffic. A reduced speed can then affect the timetable. According to the study, more vehicles and more staff are needed. This costs additional without improving the public transport offer.
And yet the overall balance at 30 km/h is positive for public transport. VCS President Ruedi Blumer even calls it a win-win-win situation. “The noise goes down, it leads to less pollution, fewer and less serious accidents. The overall economic balance shows very clearly: It is worth introducing a 30 km/h speed limit, even where public transport is used.”
The noise is reduced, it leads to less pollution, to fewer and less serious accidents.
Because this remains attractive, switching to the car can be ruled out. Therefore, the VCS demands that cities and villages move forward and generally introduce 30 km/h. What the study also shows, however, is that the bicycle could benefit at 30 km/h in urban areas because cycling becomes more attractive and safer at a lower speed limit. That would probably also be in the spirit of the VCS.