Controversial changes to reduce speed limits on residential Melbourne streets to 30km/h have been supported by a study from a major university.

Trials of rule changes that allowed local councils to change the speed limits in residential areas from 50km/h lasted for seven years and have only now been allowed on a wider basis by the Victorian government.

The changes are designed to increase the safety for pedestrians and cyclists, a finding now supported by a study by RMIT University.

Modelling by the university's Centre for Urban Research showed cyclists' exposure to roads with high levels of traffic stress dropped by 30 per cent when the speed limit was reduced from 50km/h to 30km/h.

This corroborates findings by Transport Victoria , which says the chances of a pedestrian surv

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