The residents association on Morrell Avenue in Oxford commissions ongoing professional traffic surveys.
Its data shows less than 10 per cent of vehicles are achieving 20mph or under in the middle of the Avenue; over 30,000 cars are going faster than 20mph every week and over 5,000 cars are racing faster than 30mph every week.
Aftermath of a bike crash on Morrell Avenue last week (Image: Cllr David Henwood)
Morrell Avenue and Area Residents Association (MAARA) said speeds of 50mph and over are regularly seen and even over 90mph has been recorded.
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Chair Aeron Buchanan said: “Morrell Avenue is currently dangerous. It’s a 100 per cent residential street, and vital for East Oxford Primary School and Nursery, as well as visitors to South Park, children from Cheney School and people walking between Brookes and Cowley Road.
“The problem with high traffic numbers and speeding means that it’s dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians, school children and residents.”
Some residents claim the removal of on-street parking for the introduction of the Quickways cycle priority plan in 2022, has removed natural barriers that reduced vehicle speed.
Resident Sal Naqvi said: “It’s been dangerous for years but Quickways and LTNs have increased the traffic.
“Some cars go 50, 60, 70, 80mph and this can happen in the evenings. Houses shake literally. They use it as a racetrack.”
Oxford Independent Alliance councillors have been monitoring speeds and are in the process of registering a Speedwatch group.
During a session on October 11 they clocked a cyclist going at 28mph who later slammed into the side of the car.
Both residents and MAARA agree ‘speed reminder’ signs and speed cameras are essential.
But MAARA wants to go much further and have Morrell Avenue incorporated into the nearby Divinity Road LTN with a bus gate between Union Street and East Avenue, as part of the “Mini Holland” project.
Oxfordshire County Council’s project to improve walking, cycling and public spaces in the East Oxford area is in early stages and the council said it will be open to feedback from residents as the ideas are developed.
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Meanwhile an Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said: “We recognise concerns about traffic speeds on Morrell Avenue and continue to monitor the road network.
“Our Vision Zero ambition is to have zero, or as close as possible, road fatalities or life-changing injuries by 2050.
“We will be reviewing the compliance of 20mph areas across the county,” they added.
The county council also said it held two public consultations on quickways in 2021. The first informal consultation showed that 75 per cent of respondents were in favour. The second formal consultation showed that over 60 per cent of respondents were in favour.
It currently has no plans to extend the East Oxford LTNs, it said.