30 groups steering the way
Up to 30 groups have called on Cork city and county councils to deliver safer streets as matter of urgency during and after the Covid-19 restrictions.
The call for safer walking and cycling spaces came from businesses, large employers, health, education and environment and community groups in a response coordinated by the Transport and Mobility Forum (TMF). Almost 30 co-signatories laid out their concerns and recommendations in a letter to both Cork councils and mayors.
The letter is, the groups say, timely and contributes to the debate of how to prevent disease transmission while re-opening the city and county for business as the Covid-19 restrictions ease.
The letter includes measures which the groups would like to see implemented including reducing vehicular speeds and implementing traffic calming measures in Cork city and major towns. Automating pedestrian crossings or signage directing elbow pressing so people do not have to manually press signal buttons is also included.
UCC Commuter Plan Manager Stephan Koch said: “During the shutdown, people have realised that prioritising vehicles and motor traffic has many negative consequences. Let us create a new normal that prioritises sustainability and quality of life.”
The group has also called for a strict no-parking approach on pavements and cycle lanes, which the groups say directly increase the risks of traffic accidents with vulnerable road users, and of disease transmission.
The group also highlighted the need for lighting to be regularly maintained to ensure busy paths are appropriately illuminated, albeit using lights that are within the optimal LED blue light range for biodiversity. The letter acknowledges the councils’ efforts so far but stated that much more is needed.
Denise Cahill, Healthy Cities Co-ordinator, Cork city said: “This is a unique opportunity for us to promote health as we reshape movement patterns in Cork city. It is well established that rising levels of physical inactivity contribute to serious health problems. Encouraging active travel is a promising way to meet this challenge.
“Modern healthy European cities have observed reduced car traffic with more people (including children) cycling and walking during the Covid-19 pandemic. Walkable environments with footpaths and cycle lanes are essential for safe movement of everyone, especially those who are more vulnerable and less mobile; getting to shops and supermarkets, offices and workplaces without unnecessary exposure to other people.”
Other measures include:
- To adopt a similar approach to Dublin City Council’s Beta collaboration with DIT which allows local residents and interested groups to give input into and be included in the decision-making process and implementation of Covid measures.
- To ensure safe access for all, including older adults, people with mixed abilities and parents with small children and buggies, to the shared public realm, green spaces and community recreation spaces.
- To implement cycle parking in the city and county town centres and neighbourhoods.
- To install pop-up cycle lanes along transport corridors, similar to what Dublin and other leading cities are doing.
- To support initiatives to promote more and safer cycling like free bike repair and servicing, online safe cycling lessons.
- To ensure public bike share schemes can continue to be used safely by implementing an appropriate hygiene regime and usage guidelines at docking stations.
- To favour a ‘tactical urbanism’ approach of temporary, low-cost measures such as planters, greenery and paint instead of ‘engineering solutions’ such as cones, yellow lines and road signs.
- To install Park&Ride and Park&Stride locations along busy routes into the city centre and around county towns.
Signatories on the letter:
Anois.org
Blackrock Clean-up Group
CIT
Cork Chamber of Commerce
Cork Community Bikes
Cork Cycling Campaign
Cork Cycling Festival
Cork Environmental Forum
Cork Healthy Cities
Cork Sports Partnership
CUH
Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network
Deutsche Börse Clearstream
Enterprise Holdings
Gas Networks Ireland
Green Schools Travel
HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Unit
Irish Pedestrian Network
Local Link Cork
Love 30 Campaign
SECAD
The Cork Walking Forum
The Secretariat of Cork City PPN
Transport and Mobility Forum Cork
UCC Commuter Plan
UCC Green Campus
Waterloo Renewal Group