Category Archives: Irish Posts

Ireland, see also NI

Plans for Dublin

imageCar lanes to be given to walkers and cyclists on Dublin’s quays

A plan to reduce traffic lanes and remove parking spaces from the Liffey quays, and to create a new pedestrian and cycling boulevard, will be presented to Dublin City Council next week. Read article

_____________________________________________________________________

Council to consider making limit “default urban speed limit” for residential and shopping districts

image (1)

 

The reduction in the speed limit from 50km/h to 30km/h in Dublin city centre almost eight years ago has failed to reduce traffic speeds, Dublin City Council has concluded. Read article

A lot done, but more to do …

 

Cyclists welcome rejection by An Bord Pleanala of controversial Kerry N86 road design

Cyclists hail scrapping of NRA “fake greenway” scheme

Similar schemes based on putting recreational and touring cyclists beside busy trunk roads should now be halted and reviewed by Government

Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s National Cycling Network and Lobby Group, has welcomed An Bord Pleanala’s rejection (9 September) of a controversial Kerry County Council/National Roads Authority (NRA) scheme for the N86 in the Dingle peninsula. The road upgrade scheme running from Camp to Dingle had attracted particular concern because the designers planned to co-locate a tourist cycle-path directly beside high speed traffic for the entire length of the scheme (28 km), rather than making use of the old Tralee-Dingle Railway alignment (abandoned) and adjacent minor roads along the route. The designers missed the fact that an off road cycle route would be a tourist attraction in itself, creating an entirely new tourist product. Continue reading Cyclists welcome rejection by An Bord Pleanala of controversial Kerry N86 road design

Come west along the railroad

imagePlans to turn disused railways into greenways – routes for cycling and walking – have proved contentious

The idea of turning abandoned railway lines into walking and cycling routes, called greenways, is catching on. Indeed, Taoiseach Enda Kenny knows all about the success of the longest greenway in Ireland, running from Westport to Achill, in his Mayo constituency.

Read article

Roads turnaround: blueprint for urban areas puts cars at bottom of hierarchy

imageNew design manual recommends steps stuch as getting rid of guardrails, providing more zebra crossings and ‘decluttering’ streets by removing traffic signage

The accumulated wisdom of two generations of road engineers grappling with traffic in towns has been turned on its head by the Design Manual for Urban Roads issued jointly by the Departments of Transport and Environment.

Read article

Cyclists back RGDATA’s call for parking levy on out-of-town shopping centres’ car parks

Cyclist.ie, the network for all the cycling campaigns in Ireland, has endorsed this week’s call by RGDATA, the umbrella group for local shops, for a levy to be imposed on car-parking at out-of-town shopping centres.

According to the cyclists a vibrant, locally-based retail sector is important if walking and cycling for transport are to grow and prosper. Cyclist.ie chair Dr. Michael McKillen said “we cannot expect people to walk or cycle to local shops that have been put out of business by unfair and uncompetitive parking policies. Out of town shopping developments by their very nature tend to be at locations that are too far or too difficult to reach by bike or on foot”. Cycle Campaigners and RGDATA have previously supported each other in calls for the retention or reinstatement of the Groceries Order banning below cost selling by large multiples. Continue reading Cyclists back RGDATA’s call for parking levy on out-of-town shopping centres’ car parks

Rise in Number of Children Walking / Cycling to School?

A recent report commissioned by the Irish Sports Council found that the number of children engaged in active travel to school ie walking or cycling has risen considerably since 2004. Apparently good news but a closer examination shows that the news is not as good as first seemed.

While there has been a significant increase in cycling and walking it will come as no surprise to cycling advocates to learn that all of the increase is in walking. Among secondary school pupils the number of cyclists has remained at the same level while among primary students the level of cycling has actually fallen. Continue reading Rise in Number of Children Walking / Cycling to School?