Sandon Point resident Lena Huda had expressed concern about what she felt were high speed limits through residential areas.

She suggested that during COVID-19 and the social distancing required on public transport, a trial of 30km/h speed limits could encourage more people to cycle or walk - because it is safer.

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A number of readers supported the call via the Mercury's Facebook page.

"Great idea!" wrote Jess Whittaker.

"It would really help with that feeling when you're cycling or walking that the car is king."

Amy Carrad did the maths and reckoned dropping the speed limit from 50km/h to 30km/h would add just four minutes to a five-kilometre trip - and reduce the risk to pedestrians.

"A car hitting a pedestrian at 50km/h means that risk of death is 80 per cent," she wrote.

"But the risk of death at 30km/h is 'only' 10 per cent. You can cope with an additional four minutes in your day if it means you reduce the risk of killing someone."

Sam George said reducing the speed limit on residential streets could have even less impact than that on travel times, given many trips include some time spent on larger roads which wouldn't see their limits fall.

"Great idea, much research shows slowing the residential streets doesn't increase journey times (as the bigger connecting streets still stay at 50-60km/h) but greatly improves safety," he wrote.

"Many cities in Australia and global are implementing this or at least trialling it."

Wollongong City Councillor Cath Blakey also noted the idea was being tested elsewhere in Australia.

"Interesting to read that 30km/hour is being trialled in Melbourne, and is actually reducing congestion," wrote Cr Blakey.

"If it can save a life I reckon it is worth trialling in residential backstreets."

Not everyone was in favour of reducing residential speed limits.

"Not even worth starting the car - might as well walk," wrote Jonni Ahearn.

"40km speed limits are more than sufficient in high residential areas."

Bill Corbett didn't think reducing speed limit was necessary - as long as people obeyed the ones that were already there.

"What is necessary is for people to actually go 50 and show awareness for those around them," he said.

Garry Matthews found the wide range of speed limits complicated.

"I liked it when residential was 60 and freeways were 110 - it was simple," he wrote.

"Now there are five or six different speed limits within a 10-minute drive."

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