A CONTROVERSIAL speed limit in the capital is to be lifted from parts of the city.
Councillors last night voted to remove parts of the quays from a 30kmh traffic-calming scheme in Dublin city centre. The speed limits have been the subject of complaints from drivers since their introduction at the end of January. Continue reading Controversial speed limit in the capital to be lifted
There were participants from across the planet – South Africa, India, Australia, the US, Spain, Denmark, Ireland and Italy – as well as from across the UK. And they came from many walks of life – activists, students and academics, transport planners, cycle trainers and bike co-op members. What united us was a passion for cycling, and a belief that cycling can change the world. Full report
Getting people out of cars and onto bicycles, a much more sustainable form of transportation, has long vexed environmentally conscious city planners. Although bike lanes painted on streets and automobile-free “greenways” have increased ridership over the past few years, the share of people relying on bikes for transportation is still less than 2 percent, based on various studies. An emerging body of research suggests that a superior strategy to increase pedal pushing could be had by asking the perennial question: What do women want? Full article.
Inspired by this example from Harlow, Galway City Council have created this even more ambitious scheme on Doughiska Road. Unfortunately, the cost of erecting Cyclists Dismount signs at the 18 junctions, 41 private drives and 12 bus stops interrupting this 1.4km shared use pavement proved prohibitive, so they had to compromise by painting Give Way markings on the pavement.
Ben Hamilton-Baille wants cars and people to share the same street space and he believes that this will make cities safer for pedestrians and drivers. Ben Hamilton-Baillie likes taking risk. He thinks we all need more of it in our daily lives.
“How we manage and live with it is part of the natural orders of life. Trying to mollycoddle motorists and cocoon them in safety equipment is good for neither the driver nor the other road users with whom they share the streets.” Full article.
UK Guardian: There is an ad campaign running at the moment encouraging cyclists and truck drivers to look out for each other, stressing the role of both in preventing the deaths of the former. Full story.
Rather grim reading, but essential to know: RSA publication (March 2010) about pedal cyclist road collisions 1998-2008
