The Department of Transport/National Roads Authority has allocated €55M to local authorities to promote increased walking and cycling.
It has to be said that Maynooth Cycling Campaign is underwhelmed by some of the approved projects and the amount of funding which Kildare has received as a result, compared to similar councils in Wicklow, Meath and Fingal.
When the UK Department of Transport offered funding to their local authorities, it pointed out that filtered permeability was the cheapest and easiest method of improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. They also informed the local authorities that work would have to be completed within three months. In Ireland, nearly six months after the outbreak and after traffic levels has increased to close to pre-Covid-19 levels, nothing in Kildare has been implemented so far.
The proposed schemes are as follows:
1. Parson Street – Covid Funding (temp works) €50,000 – Work entails trialling traffic management & shared space for cycling.
Maynooth Cycling Campaign strongly supports this measure and is opposed on health and safety grounds to the retention of two lanes of motorised traffic. In general, we support Part 8 public consultation and approval by elected councillors but this measure stems from the global pandemic. As the works are temporary and it is more than five months since the lockdown was announced, it does not appear that bringing this proposal to Part 8 is treating the issue as an emergency.
2.Rathcoffey/Beaufield/Newtown – Covid Funding (temp works) €50,000 – Work entails trialling traffic management & reallocation of road space to cycling (& walking) Maynooth Cycling Campaign strongly supports this measure.
4. Mill Street – Covid Funding (temp works) €15,000 – Work entails reallocation of road space from cyclists to pedestrians, and cyclists “taking the lane” Mill Street is a key transport corridor. The Rye Bridge is particularly narrow with inadequate footpaths and pedestrians stepping off the footpath onto the cycle path. It is proposed to improve conditions for pedestrians at the expense of cyclists. Maynooth Cycling Campaign recommends that pedestrians and cyclists continue to share space as the consequences of a pedestrian/cyclist collision is significantly less rather than the consequences of a cyclist/vehicle collision.
5. Celbridge Road – Covid Funding (temp works) €15,000 – Work entails an additional entrance to the Gaelscoil and indicative cycle lanes on Celbridge Road. Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports the opening of an additional entrance but does not support indicative cycle lanes on the Celbridge Road. The Celbridge Road is a regional road which is used by all forms of traffic including HGVs and is above the AADT threshold of 2,000 vehicles per day which Irish and international guidance recommends for sharing. Indicative cycle lanes on this type of road are only suitable for “brave” cyclists and are not AAA standard – for all ages and abilities. Paint does not safeguard vulnerable road users.
6. Main Street – Covid Funding (temp works ) €15,000 – Work entails worsening conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports the reallocation of space for business but is opposed to worsening conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. On Main Street, there is provision for two-three lanes of live traffic and two parking lanes. Cycle facilities are poor quality and discontinuous. In contrast to what the Council claims, the cycle facilities are well used for both north south and east west movement. The Design Manual for Roads and Streets (DMURS) established a road user hierarchy with pedestrians at the top followed by cyclists and with private cars last. Despite this, the proposal is to increase space for adjacent cafes and restaurants by removing cyclists from dedicated (albeit poor quality and discontinuous) tracks and provide shared space between pedestrians and cyclists. Shared space is a low quality solution – bad for both pedestrians and cyclists. Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports the allocation of additional space for businesses but instead recommends that the cycle lanes should replace the the limited number of parking spaces . There is ample room where there is two lanes of traffic ie between Straffan Road and the Old Dunboyne Road. A detailed design is required for the section between Straffan Road and Mill Street because 1990s design prioritised three traffic lanes. Provision would also have to be made for business deliveries and disabled parking using the lanes or alternatives.
7. & 8. Maynooth Town Centre & Celbridge Road Design – permanent works (longer term) Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes these proposals but will reserve an opinion on them until we get an indication of what is proposed.
Maynooth Cycling Campaign strongly supports trials where feasible. They are widely used internationally to convince politicians and communities of the overall benefit of active travel schemes. The vast majority of them subsequently were made permanent and changed the minds of many of, though not all, former opponents.The trials should be given a fair chance, If they don’t work, they can be scrapped but if they are a success there will be multiple benefits to road safety, air quality, physical and mental health, and the climate crisis.
So in summary, of the six Covid-19 measures, Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports the three trials and half the Celbridge Road proposal. The two other proposed measures will worsen conditions for cyclists.
Today, Clonakilty is best known for its black pudding and its characteristic Irish architecture. It possesses no greenways or cycle lanes but despite this, the people of Clonakilty have come together as a community to promote cycling in a way that would put to shame government supported SmarterTravel towns such as Westport or Dungarvan. It holds an annual Bike Festival (just over) which went global this year. It has its own community bike workshop ‘The Bike Circus’ which also runs an active apprenticeship program. The town has a chapter of Cycling without Age/Wind in Your Hair and has its own Trio E-bike which they use to bring out elderly and sick from hospital or nursing homes. The most remarkable aspect of the cycling culture of the town, however, is that they have their own bike share with almost no financial assistance from Cork County Council or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Tom O’Donovan of O’Donovan’s Hotel was one of the founders who established the Clonakilty Bike Share 6 years ago with some 60 bikes. He recalls that Cork County Council refused to give them public space for bike hubs so a number of hotels offered a section of their car parking area. With contributions from the hotels and private local sponsors and a small financial contribution from government bodies, they purchased bicycles, paid for parking racks and developed a website through which people could book and pay for renting. Most of the work was carried out by community volunteers so any money raised from renting was reinvested in the scheme. While the bike scheme originated in Clonakilty, it soon spread out to hotels in a number of locations across West Cork as far as Courtmacsherry and Rosscarbery. The scheme allowed users to stay overnight in different places and ensured that more money was retained in the local community than from individual day trippers.
Clonakilty also procured funding to erect directional signage designating a number of nearby cycling routes along quiet roads. Although funding has been available from late 2018 the County Council Area Engineer refuses to erect the signage as he is concerned about the legal consequences to Cork County Council of encouraging cycling on quiet roads. (Apparently, he has no concerns about the consequences to the Council of cyclists travelling on heavily trafficked national or regional roads). The Area Engineer and his Senior Engineer, want an independent safety assessor to tell them that it is safe before they agree to erect the signage. If they have such doubts about the safety of the roads, it is potentially negligent for them not to alert the public in general and cyclists in particular as to the nature of hazard and the risks of exposure.
The Clonakilty bike share was already facing increased maintenance costs due to an ageing fleet of bikes. Now, the rising cost of insurance is the straw that breaks the camel’s back and Clonakilty has been forced to shelve its bike share. Clonakilty is a model for a small community based cycling town. At a time when
(1) A new Programme for Government prioritising cycling has been agreed (2) Over €1 million has been invested in bike share schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway (3) Due to Covid-19, the health authorities urge people to walk or cycle where possible, 4) The NTA are offering funding to encourage active travel and 5) Cork City proposes to expand its bike share,
it is ironic that the Clonakilty bike share would be allowed to fail. While West Cork politicians have been vocal in their support, Clonakilty has received almost no state funding. Clonakilty’s most famous cyclist is of course Michael Collins who was born nearby. Looking down from heaven (or up from the other place if that is your politics), what must he think of Cork County Council and current councillors.
Since the lockdown in mid-March, one of the key messages from government has been the need for social distancing. People were advised to keep a minimum of 2m away from others. The #ChangeOurStreet campaign started in reaction to lack of space for walking and cycling in many of our urban areas. With good weather and time on their hands, there has been a huge increase in the number of people walking and cycling.
Photo 1: Kissing Gate at Killmacreddock, near Leixlip
In north Kildare, people are drawn to the the Royal Canal Greenway to exercise. However, kissing gates control access to the greenway at a number of locations. A kissing gate consists of a semi-circular, square or V-shaped enclosure on one side and a hinged gate that swings between two shutting posts, it allows one person at a time to pass through but keeps livestock out. The name derives from the fact that the hinged part touches – or ‘kisses’ – both sides of the enclosure rather than being securely latched like a normal gate. That hasn’t stopped many clinging to a more romantic notion: that the first person to pass through would have to close the gate to the next person, providing an opportune moment to demand a kiss in return for entry.
Photo 2: New Kissing Gate at Dodder Greenway, Firhouse Road, Tallaght
Whatever the origin of the name, kissing gates are not in accordance with Rural Cycleway Design, the Irish design standard. They prevent or make passage difficult for many cyclists with non-standard bikes such as tag-alongs, trishaws, cargo bikes and bikes with panniers from accessing greenways and parks. However, this has not prevented local authorities or Waterways Ireland from approving their use.
In the post-Corona world, they are a cause for concern as kissing gates cannot be used without moving the gate by hand. As a result, one infected person could spread the virus to several hundred. It is regrettable that in the past local authorities including Kildare County Council installed such features. It is even worse that in recent days South Dublin County Council has installed one at the entrance to the Dodder Greenway in Tallaght. It gave the excuse that there was a need to stop scrambler motor bikes and that the decision was taken earlier in the year. You would think that someone in local authorities would assess the risk from kissing gates, kiss them goodbye and install bollards in their place.
Make Walking And Cycling Safer To Go To Work, To Shops And Pharmacies, To Volunteer And To Exercise
Dear Mr. Carey,
We are an alliance of Kildare groups and residents, led by Maynooth Cycling Campaign, ShamrockSpring and Kildare Environmental Network. We live, work, trade or shop in Kildare. We want our Council to urgently #ChangeOurStreets by reallocating space for people on foot and on bikes during this long COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
We want to express sympathy with those who have died of or have been affected by COVID-19, their families, friends, and colleagues. Using our experience as vulnerable street and road users to help ease social anxieties around social distancing, we wish to give support to people with an added reason to walk or cycle.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that “whenever feasible, consider riding a bicycle or walking to provide physical distancing and daily physical activity” during the COVID-19 emergency. We want safer streets for all ages and all abilities in our ‘new normal’. We are supported by doctors, nurses, health professionals, resident associations, community groups, businesses and associations.[1]
We have two suggestions to reduce preventable deaths and injuries, and create pedestrian- and cycle-friendly streets:
Reallocate road space to people walking and cycling.
Temporarily lower the speed limit to 30 km/h in urban areas.
We ask that
Kildare County Council arranges a Transport SPC meeting as a matter of urgency and
The agenda be devoted to #ChangeOurStreets.
COVID-19 Impacts on the Use of Public Space
An increasing number of Kildare residents live in apartments without access to a private garden. Over 9% of households in Kildare do not have access to a car. Children need 60 minutes of daily exercise. Access to green and blue spaces has detectable mental and physical health benefits.
There is an increase in individuals and families walking and cycling in their local areas, whether for exercise, wellness or essential journeys.
Healthcare workers and other essential workers have reported incidents of feeling unsafe while walking or cycling to work.
There is a lack of space for social distancing across the county for people walking and cycling. Narrow footpaths and narrow painted cycle lanes do not provide the space to adhere to HSE social distancing guidelines.
There are road safety issues with the reduced vehicle traffic. Most significant of which is speeding but also red light breaking and phone use by motorists.
People queuing outside shops that have in-store limits, are lining up on narrow footpaths next to wide roads with multiple parking and driving lanes.
Public transport numbers are down as people stay home. There is a risk that levels of private car traffic may increase sharply in the intervening period before a vaccine is found and widely distributed.
With an increase in unemployment, and good summer weather ahead, the bicycle offers an affordable transport option to many who may not have considered cycling to date.
The demand for parking has drastically reduced.
Kildare County Council has closed or restricted access to playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor gyms, even to people living within 5 km. Residents of places with natural beauty are concerned that people in groups are travelling by car to these pleasant places for exercise.
Make Safer Streets for All – Reallocating Road Space to People Walking and Cycling
Expedient, wide-ranging action will reconfigure Kildare’s public spaces to decrease public health risk, social anxiety and the risk of increased traffic levels as the restrictions begin to be lifted over the coming months and years.
These types of measures have already been rolled out internationally, especially in the German capital Berlin. In Ireland, Dublin City council has already started to reallocate road space.
We ask Kildare County Council to implement temporary measures, including:
Install temporary cycle lanes along the key traffic routes where feasible.
Example: Main Street Newbridge, Main Street Celbridge, Newbridge Road Naas and Dublin Road Maynooth
Widen or introduce footpaths using cones on busy streets, outside lines of shops or areas with queues, or thoroughfares to shops and essential businesses. This may need the reallocation of space from on-street parking and loading bays.
Example: SuperValu Main Street South, Naas.
Temporary use of cones, bollards and planters to filter through-traffic in housing estates, and so make roads safe for children playing and people exercising.
Examples: Laurence’s Avenue and Rail Park Maynooth, and Monread Naas.
Automate pedestrian signal crossings during daylight hours and increase pedestrian crossing times in urban areas. Add signage to prevent people pressing the buttons.
Example: as Greystones Municipal District and other councils have done.
Temporary suspension of extra lanes alongside roads with shared walking / cycling facilities or narrow footpaths. Turn the extra lane into a barrier / cone-protected cycle lane and, if shared facilities are present, temporarily designate the shared facilities as pedestrian-only.
Examples: New Caragh Road Naas adjacent to the Newbridge Road.
Removal of turn right lanes where footpaths are narrow and/or there is no cycle facility.
Example: New Caragh Road Naas adjacent to Newbridge Road
Revise traffic management arrangements in order to change a two-way road with no cycle facilities with a one way road and two cycle lanes (one a contra-flow cycle lane).
Example Newtown Road, Maynooth
Temporary pedestrianisation of roads and creating ‘quiet streets’ to connect residences and essential destinations
Lower the Speed Limits
In relation to urban areas, we request the introduction of a temporary blanket 30 km/h speed limit on all local and regional roads during the pandemic. In addition, the speed limit should be reduced on roads with 60 km/h areas to 50 km/h and 80 km/h to 60 km/h. This will make walking and cycling more pleasant, reduce the risk of collisions, and reduce the severity of injury on impact, should any collisions occur. Professor John Crown of St Vincent’s University Hospital has made a similar call.
The Isle of Man introduced a temporary speed limit island-wide to 40 mph at the end of March, following NHS doctors stating that this is the number one action to ‘lower the baseline’ of critical care admissions.
Brussels will introduce a city centre speed limit of 20 km/h from May 1 until the end of August. Milan’s ambitious Strade Aperte (Open Streets) plan has 20 km/h speed limits at its heart. This is to make living in urban areas more pleasant during the coronavirus.
#ChangeOurStreets – Make Safer Streets For All
The Minister for Health says that physical distancing measures will be with us until a vaccine is available. We know that this will, at least, be months from now.
In general, please:
Keep stable or expand the resources budgeted for footpath and cycling schemes.
Bringing forward of timelines for National Transport Authority cycling schemes.
Include footpath widening as part of footpath repair schemes.
Include reallocation of space as part of road maintenance schemes.
This COVID-19 crisis offers a unique opportunity to implement and trial low or zero-cost solutions for a more resilient, pleasant and accessible public realm in Maynooth and other urban centres in Kildare. We can create a liveable county with streetscapes designed with empathy and flexibility for the mental and physical wellbeing of all who live here.
[1] The Irish Heart Foundation, the Irish Cancer Society, the Association for Health Promotion Ireland and Irish Doctors for the Environment have called for safer space for all during and post COVID-19 restrictions.
We, the undersigned, strongly request that you consider, plan and implement these measures in the interests of public health and safety.
Supported By:
1
Gerry Dornan
Maynooth
Maynooth Cycling Campaign
2
Deirdre Lane
Newbridge
ShamrockSpring
3
Aidan Farrelly
Clane
Councillor SD
4
Angela Feeney
Maynooth
Councillor Lab
5
Ann Connolly
Rathangan
Councillor FF
6
Bill Clear
Naas
Councillor SD
7
Carmel Kelly
Naas
Councillor FF
8
Chris Pender
Newbridge
Councillor SD
9
Ciara Galvin
Celbridge
Councillor Lab
10
Fiona McLoughlin Healy
Newbridge
Councillor Ind
11
Joe Neville
Leixlip
Councillor FG
12
Padraig McEvoy
Clane
Councillor Ind
13
Paul Ward
Kilcock
Councillor FF
14
Peggy O’Dwyer
Newbridge
Councillor FG
15
Peter Hamilton
Maynooth
Councillor GP
16
Rob Power
Newbridge
Councillor FF
17
Tim Durkan
Maynooth
Councillor FG
18
Vanessa Liston
Celbridge
Councillor GP
19
Vincent Martin
Naas
Councillor GP
20
Bernard Durkan
Maynooth
TD FG
21
Cathal Berry
Curragh
TD Ind
22
Catherine Murphy
Leixlip
TD SD
23
James Lawless
Naas
TD FF
24
Patricia Ryan
Monasterevin
TD SF
25
Castledawson Residents Association
Maynooth
Community Organisation
26
Celbridge Community Council
Celbridge
Community Organisation
27
Cottage Market Newbridge
Newbridge
Community Organisation
28
Kilcock 4 Climate Action
Kilcock
Community Organisation
29
Kilcock Tidy Towns
Kilcock
Community Organisation
30
Kildare Environmental Network
Newbridge
Community Organisation
31
Maynooth SEC
Maynooth
Community Organisation
32
Maynooth Sustainable Energy Community
Maynooth
Community Organisation
33
Maynooth Tidy Towns
Maynooth
Community Organisation
34
Naas Neighbourhood Greenways
Naas
Community Organisation
35
Newbridge Tide Towns
Newbridge
Community Organisation
36
Niamh FitzGibbon
Naas
Community Organisation No Planet B
37
Ruby Jo Cowdell
Naas
Community Organisation No Planet B
38
Ann Scully
Monasterevin
Member SEAI, Monasterevin, Mercy Sisters
39
Corey Rothwell
Athy
Member of XR
40
Dr. Joe Larragy
Maynooth
Member (Chair) of Maynooth Green Campus
41
Dr. Liz Cullen
Kilcullen
Member of FEASTA
42
Mary Murphy
Monasterevin
Member (Treasurer) Monasterevin Sustainable Energy Community CLG
43
Nuala Cooke
Monasterevin
Member (Secretary) Monasterevin Sustainable Energy Community CLG
44
Patricia Delvin
Monasterevin
Member of XR
45
Suzanne Murphy
N/A
Member of Kildare Communities for Climate Action
46
John Sweeney, Emeritus Professor MU
Maynooth
Individual
47
Dr. Lorna Gold
Maynooth
Individual
48
Dr. Bernard Healy
Newbridge
Individual
49
Dr. Colm Humphries
Maynooth
Individual
50
Dr. Deirdre McGowan
Maynooth
Individual
51
Dr. John Murray
Maynooth
Individual
52
Dr. Jonivar Skullerud
Maynooth
Individual
53
Dr. Mette Lebech
Maynooth
Individual
54
Dr. Michael Quinn
Maynooth
Individual
55
Dr. Peter and Frances Kiely
Maynooth
Individual
56
Aaron Daly
Naas
Individual
57
Adrian Dornan
Maynooth
Individual
58
Adrian Freeman
Newbridge
Individual
59
Alan Kelly
Maynooth
Individual
60
Ali Sheridan
Maynooth
Individual
61
Andy Hagan
Maynooth
Individual
62
Ann Behan
Monasterevin
Individual
63
Ann Burns
N/A
Individual
64
Ann Greaney
Dublin
Individual
65
Anne B. Ryan
Celbridge
Individual
66
Annie Byrne
Maynooth
Individual
67
Aoife Hynes
N/A
Individual
68
Ashleigh Connors
Maynooth
Individual
69
Azucena Bermúdez
Newbridge
Individual
70
Barbara Connolly
Celbridge
Individual
71
Ben Patel
Kildare
Individual
72
Bernard Fitzpatrick
Newbridge
Individual
73
Bernard Gibney
Kildare
Individual
74
Brendan Lane
Newbridge
Individual
75
Brendan Young
Celbridge
Individual
76
Brian Clark
Newbridge
Individual
77
Caroline Kuyper
Donegal
Individual
78
Christine Dunworth
Kilcock
Individual
79
Christine Dunworth
N/A
Individual
80
Ciarán Mather
Newbridge
Individual
81
Claire Doyle
Newbridge
Individual
82
Claire Minnock
N/A
Individual
83
Cliona Kelliher
Kilcullen
Individual
84
Conor Heneghan
N/A
Individual
85
Conor McHugh
N/A
Individual
86
Conor Winchcombe
N/A
Individual
87
Cormac Nugent
Athgarvan
Individual
88
Daniel Riordan
Athgarvan
Individual
89
Darina Glackin
Kilcock
Individual
90
Declan Crow
Monasterevin
Individual
91
Donna Cahill
Newbridge
Individual
92
Dorothy Guina Dornan
Maynooth
Individual
93
Dr Richard Webb
Wicklow
Individual
94
Dwayne Patel
Kildare
Individual
95
Elaine Hanlon
Naas
Individual
96
Elaine McGoff
Naas
Individual
97
Emer Conway
Clane
Individual
98
Ena-Mai Patel
Kildare
Individual
99
Evan Pereira
Athy
Individual
100
Evonne Boland
Newbridge
Individual
101
Fiona Masterson
Nass
Individual
102
Fionnuala Corcoran
Kilcock
Individual
103
Flora and Gavin McDonnell
Celbridge
Individual
104
Gerard Greally
Maynooth
Individual
105
Gerard Heraghty
Maynooth
Individual
106
Gerry Egan
Maynooth
Individual
107
Gerry Mullins
N/A
Individual
108
Giorgiana Goci
Kilcock
Individual
109
Grainne Madden
Maynooth
Individual
110
Grainne Roche
Maynooth
Individual
111
Imelda Brown
Naas
Individual
112
James Brown
Naas
Individual
113
Janet Buckley
Newbridge
Individual
114
Jeanette McLaughlin
Maynooth
Individual
115
Jennifer Whitty
Maynooth
Individual
116
Jenny McGrath
N/A
Individual
117
Jim Walsh
Maynooth
Individual
118
Joe Buckley
N/A
Individual
119
Joe Doyle
N/A
Individual
120
Joe O’Carroll
Naas
Individual
121
John Lyons
Maynooth
Individual
122
John McGrath
N/A
Individual
123
Jordan Family
Newbridge
Individual
124
Judith Brown
Calverstown
Individual
125
Karen Aguiar
Celbridge
Individual
126
Kieran Finnegan
Maynooth
Individual
127
Kitty Hayes
Newbridge
Individual
128
Laurie Mcdermott
Naas
Individual
129
Lia Liambock
Curragh
Individual
130
Lorna Ann
Naas
Individual
131
Lorriane Benson
Naas
Individual
132
Lyn Worrel
Kilcullen
Individual
133
Marie Geraldine Cullen
Maynooth
Individual
134
Mark Reid
Kilcullen
Individual
135
Martin Heraghty
Maynooth
Individual
136
Mary Comey
N/A
Individual
137
Mary Jennings
Maynooth
Individual
138
Mary O’Connor
Kildare
Individual
139
Mary Ronayne
Athgarvan
Individual
140
Matthew Kiely
Maynooth
Individual
141
Michael Connolly
Celbridge
Individual
142
Michael Kenny
Maynooth
Individual
143
Mike O Neill
Maynooth
Individual
144
Mireia Guardino Ferran
Maynooth
Individual
145
Mireille McCall.
Calverstown
Individual
146
Natalia Poliszczuk
Kilcock
Individual
147
Neasa Hogan
Maynooth
Individual
148
Nicky Leahy
Newbridge
Individual
149
Orla ONeil
Kilbellan
Individual
150
Pádraig Ó Murchú
Maynooth
Individual
151
Paul Cahill + Family
Maynooth
Individual
152
Paul Mahon
Derrinturn
Individual
153
Peter Kavanagh
Naas
Individual
154
Philip Brennan
Maynooth
Individual
155
Philip McGovern
Naas
Individual
156
Rachel Grimes-Doyle
Maynooth
Individual
157
Roisin Daly
Naas
Individual
158
Roisin Uí Bhroin
Athy
Individual
159
Ronan Maher
Newbridge
Individual
160
Rose McGarvey
Athgarvan
Individual
161
Rose Patel
Kildare
Individual
162
Ross Cadogan
Maynooth
Individual
163
Ruth Patel
Kildare
Individual
164
S e a n á n Ó C o i s t í n
Maynooth
Individual
165
Sean Bradley
Newbridge
Individual
166
Sean English
Naas
Individual
167
Shane O’Brien
Celbridge
Individual
168
Steven McCarthy
Maynooth
Individual
169
Teresa Redmond (Berrill)
N/A
Individual
170
Thelma Stronge
Celbridge
Individual
171
Theresa Bennett
Naas
Individual
172
Thomas Brady
Newbridge
Individual
173
Tom Kiely
Kilcock
Individual
174
Tom Mc Mahon
Maynooth
Individual
175
Tracie Patel
Kildare
Individual
176
Vaness Mack
Rathangan
Individual
177
Vincent O’Neill
Newbridge
Individual
178
Zoryana Pshyk
Newbridge
Individual
179
Orla Mathews
Maynooth
Individual
180
Katya Marcelle McKeon
Newbridge
Individual
181
Kitty Hayes
Newbridge
Individual
182
Darren Knight
Naas
Individual
183
Noëlla Due
Naas
Individual
184
Gavin Brannigan
Sallins
Individual
185
Peter Lane
Roseberry
Individual
186
Stiofán Na Mara
Newbridge
Individual
187
Karl Dalton
Naas
Individual
CC Mr. Tadhg McDonnell, Director of Services for Transportation
The following supported were not named in the letter which was emailed to Mr. Peter Carey but are listed here as they wished to expressed support for #ChangeOurStreets.
NOTE If you like the NEW NORM with reduced traffic and more Kildare people walking and cycling, we invite you to email maynoothcycling@gmail.com (or Shamrock Spring at shamrockspring@gmail.com) to demonstrate your support for Change Our Streets. We will add your name to the list of supporters.
Make Walking And Cycling Safer To Go To Work, To Shops And Pharmacies, To Volunteer And To Exercise
Dear Mr. Carey,
We are an alliance of Kildare groups and residents, led by Maynooth Cycling Campaign and Kildare Environmental Network. We live, work, trade or shop in Kildare. We want our Council to urgently Change Our Streets by reallocating space for people on foot and on bikes during this long COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
We want to express sympathy with those who have died of COVID-19, their families, friends, and colleagues. Using our expertise in road safety to help ease social anxieties around social distancing, we wish to give support to people with an added reason to walk or cycle.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that ‘whenever feasible, consider riding a bicycle or walking to provide physical distancing and daily physical activity’ during the COVID-19 emergency. In Ireland, we have seven exceptions to the ‘Stay at Home Order’, including exercising within 5 km from home.
We want safer streets for all ages and all abilities in our ‘new normal’. We are supported by doctors, nurses, health professionals, resident associations, community groups, businesses and associations. [Note: health professionals – to be finalised]
We have two requests to reduce preventable deaths and injuries, and create pedestrian- and cycle-friendly streets:
1. Reallocate road space to people walking and cycling. 2. Temporarily lower the speed limit to 30 km/h in urban areas.
We ask that Kildare County Council arranges a Transport SPC meeting as a matter of urgency and that the agenda be devoted to Change Our Streets. [Note: This paragraph to be finalised]
How COVID-19 Impacts on the Use Of Public Space
An increasing number of Kildare residents live in apartments with no access to a private garden. Over 9% of households in Kildare do not have access to a car. Children need 60 minutes of daily exercise. Access to green and blue spaces has detectable mental and physical health benefits.
There is an increase in individuals and families walking and cycling in their local areas, whether for exercise or essential journeys.
Healthcare workers and other essential workers have reported incidents of feeling unsafe while walking or cycling to work.
There is a lack of space for social distancing across the county for people walking and cycling. Narrow footpaths and painted cycle lanes do not provide the space to adhere to HSE social distancing guidelines.
There are road safety issues with the reduced vehicle traffic. Most significant of which is speeding but also red light breaking and phone use by motorists.
People queuing outside shops that have in-store limits, are lining up on narrow footpaths next to wide roads with multiple parking and driving lanes.
Public transport numbers are down as people stay home. There is a risk that levels of private car traffic may increase sharply in the intervening period before a vaccine is found and widely distributed.
With an increase in unemployment, and good summer weather ahead, the bicycle offers an affordable transport option to many who may not have considered cycling to date.
The demand for parking has drastically reduced.
Kildare County Council has closed or restricted access to playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor gyms, even to people living within 5 km. Residents of places with natural beauty are concerned that people in groups are travelling by car to these pleasant places for exercise.
Make Safer Streets for All – Reallocating Road Space to People Walking and Cycling Expedient, wide-ranging action will reconfigure Kildare’s public spaces to decrease public health risk, social anxiety and the risk of increased traffic levels as the restrictions begin to be lifted over the coming months and years.
These types of measures have already been rolled out internationally, especially in the German capital Berlin. In Ireland, Dublin City and Fingal County councils have started to reallocate road space.
We ask Kildare County Council to implement temporary measures, including:
Install temporary cycle lanes along the key traffic routes where feasible.
Example: Main Street Newbridge, Main Street Celbridge, Newbridge Road Naas and Dublin Road Maynooth
Widen or introduce footpaths using cones on busy streets, outside lines of shops or areas with queues, or thoroughfares to shops and essential businesses. This may need the reallocation of space from on-street parking and loading bays.
Example: SuperValu Main Street South, Naas.
Temporary use of cones, bollards and planters to filter through-traffic in housing estates, and so make roads safe for children playing and people exercising.
Examples: Laurence’s Avenue and Rail Park Maynooth, and Monread Naas.
Automate pedestrian signal crossings during daylight hours and increase pedestrian crossing times in urban areas. Add signage to prevent people pressing the buttons.
Example: as Greystones Municipal District and other councils have done.
Temporary suspension of extra lanes alongside roads with shared walking / cycling facilities or narrow footpaths. Turn the extra lane into a barrier / cone-protected cycle lane and, if shared facilities are present, temporarily designate the shared facilities as pedestrian-only.
Examples: New Caragh Road Naas adjacent to the Newbridge Road.
Removal of turn right lanes where footpaths are narrow and/or there is no cycle facility.
Example: New Caragh Road Naas adjacent to Newbridge Road
Revise traffic management arrangements in order to change a two way road with no cycle facilities with a one way road and two cycle lanes (one a contra-flow cycle lane).
Example Newtown Road, Maynooth
Temporary pedestrianisation of roads and creating ‘quiet streets’ to connect residences and essential destinations.
Lower the Speed Limits In relation to urban areas, we request the introduction of a temporary blanket 30 km/h speed limit on all local and regional roads during the pandemic. In addition, drop the speed limit on roads with 60 km/h areas to 50 km/h and 80 km/h to 60 km/h. This will make walking and cycling more pleasant, reduce the risk of collisions, and reduce the severity of injury on impact, should any collisions occur. Professor John Crown of St Vincent’s University Hospital has made a similar call.
The Isle of Man introduced a temporary speed limit island-wide to 40 mph at the end of March, following NHS doctors stating that this is the number one action to ‘lower the baseline’ of critical care admissions.
Brussels will introduce a city centre speed limit of 20 km/h from May 1 until the end of August. Milan’s ambitious Strade Aperte (Open Streets) plan has 20 km/h speed limits at its heart. This is to make living in urban areas more pleasant during the coronavirus.
Change Our Streets – Make Safer Streets For All The Minister for Health says that physical distancing measures will be with us until a vaccine is available. We know that this will, at least, be months from now.
In general, please: • Keep stable or expand the resources budgeted for footpath and cycling schemes. • Bringing forward of timelines for National Transport Authority cycling schemes. • Include footpath widening as part of footpath repair schemes. • Include reallocation of space as part of road maintenance schemes.
This COVID-19 crisis offers a unique opportunity to implement and trial low or zero-cost solutions for a more resilient, pleasant and accessible public realm in Maynooth and other urban centres in Kildare. We can create a liveable city whose streetscape is designed with empathy and flexibility for the mental and physical wellbeing of all who live here.
We, the undersigned, strongly request that you consider, plan and implement these measures in the interests of public health and safety.
CC Mr. Tadhg McDonnell, Director of Services for Transportation
Tune in – Tuesday’s meeting is devoted to Sustainable Transport solutions
We invite you to watch IN ADVANCE a short film (15mins) by Streetfilm https://vimeo.com/76207227 on Groningen best cycling city in the world.
Then from 7:00pm on Tuesday, we will meet on Zoom to discuss ways to #ChangeOurStreets to more sustainable future.
* What drives Dutch bike culture, socio-economic rewards of cycling, health effects of clean air and bonus lower noise pollution brings. * How complementing wider investment into cycling infrastructure can help create more value in future. * Lessons for Kildare
The Irish Pedestrian Network and Cyclist.ie call on the national government to provide safe, usable space across the country for people to shop, exercise and commute by walking and cycling during the Covid-19 crisis as a matter of urgency.
While current lock-down restrictions are in place until May 5th, the Minister for Health Simon Harris has stated that social distancing measures may stay in place to some degree until a coronavirus vaccine has been found. A substantial percentage of Irish people shop on foot or by cycling, and physical exercise is vitally important to both physical and mental health.
The Irish Pedestrian Network and Cyclist.ie propose that while motor traffic is reduced, space on streets must be reallocated to walking, running, cycling and playing to ensure safe social distancing within communities – a reallocation that is already taking place internationally.
Speaking for the Irish Pedestrian Network Ailish Drake says, “The New Zealand government has empowered local communities to create more social distancing space by providing 90% funding for new footpaths and widen existing ones, and to create pop-up bike lanes. These measures can be put in place in a matter of hours or a few days using paint, blocks or planters.”
Damien Ó Tuama spokesperson for Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network, says, “Over sixty towns and cities worldwide, in recognition of this new reality, have quickly installed low-cost temporary measures by using cones to widen footpaths and repurposing full vehicle lanes to cycle lanes. Dublin has now joined Berlin, Washington DC and London in reallocating road space to ensure safer social distancing is possible. We want other councils to do the same.”
The Irish Pedestrian Network and Cyclist.ie welcome efforts by many local Councillors and TDs in seeking additional space for social distancing across Irish cities and in particular the progress made in Dublin where Dublin City Council will begin implementing emergency distancing measures from Monday 20th April.
The IPN and Cyclist.ie now call on the government to implement a nationwide program as follows:
1. Make social distancing easier for those walking or cycling to shops or essential work 2. Automated pedestrian crossings so people do not have to manually press signal buttons. 3. Introduction of a default speed limit of 30km/h on all urban and suburban streets 4. A proportionate reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists, to make walking and cycling safer for those who are exercising within their 2km zone, especially those with prams or wheelchairs 5. Local authorities to prioritise temporary widening of footpaths, pop-up cycle lanes, quietways in cities and/or closing road lanes and specific streets to motor traffic (for example: by the temporary application of DMURS standards to existing streets) 6. New space to be allocated fairly and with consideration of universal needs across city centre, suburbs, towns and villages to avoid people ‘flocking’ to centralised areas 7. Dedicated teams in each local authority to enable local residents and interested groups to plan and design temporary footpaths and cycle lanes in their locality 8. Rapid implementation of said routes with a design strategy to clearly indicate new routes to users and motorists.
Orla Burke, spokesperson for Pedestrian Cork explains, “Families in Cork, denied the opportunity to drive to their favourite walking spots, are coming face-to-face with the poor provision for walking in their immediate neighbourhoods. Quick wins are available to our councils but this requires thoughtful leadership. This could be a time for simple yet effective improvements to facilitate walking. We call on our local authorities to rise to the challenge of Covid-19 make our streets safe for all.”
Anne Cronin of Cycle Bus Limerick added, “For children that live in the city or suburbs, jumping on their bike with a parent, is their only way to connect with a space outside of their home. Many children are forced to cycle on the road as opposed to the footpath and therefore are at risk without segregation. The increase in the numbers of children cycling in our city is remarkable at the moment and children should be protected and supported to remain doing so.”
Ailish Drake added that “these temporary actions in response to the Covid-19 emergency, would be strategic in creating a positive culture change to make our towns and cities more liveable and contributing to a much needed boost in footfall required to aid the economic recovery when we move beyond the current crisis. This is in line with current government policy for both urban and rural regeneration development funds (URDF & RRDF).”
END
The Irish Pedestrian Network is a national advocacy group working to deliver a public realm that is inclusive and ambitious for all. The Network has rapidly grown since its foundation in 2019, and now has affiliated groups in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Twitter @IrishPedestrian
Maynooth Cycling Campaign is a member of Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network.
At its October meeting in Dublin, Cyclist.ie, the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network, changed policy in relation to the appointment of Cycling Officers in local authorities. The National Cycling Policy Framework (NCPF) (2009) was the first government document to refer to such posts but although the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport called for local authorities to appoint Cycling Officers, most ignored the call.
Previous Cyclist.ie policy was that Cycling Officers should be appointed at senior level but did not define what that level should be. At its recent meeting, Cyclist.ie defined “senior” as Director of Services level.
After the global recession, the UK financial industry introduced the Banking Executive Accountability Regime which puts responsibility on a single individual rather than having a “system failure” which is the norm in Ireland with no-one being held responsible. A similar approach is used with the design of reservoirs. As the consequences of a failure are so severe, one designer is held responsible and faces the risk of jail for negligence. In relation to construction health and safety, the buck stops at management level rather than at general operative level for ensuring that the company has procedures on safety. Cyclist.ie believes that change in how people travel is equally important.
If the Directors of Services were appointed Cycling Officer, the primary responsibilities should be
To reach the target on cycling set by the council, and
To report annually on modal split to the Chief Executive for inclusion in the Annual Report.
Other tasks which a Cycling Officer currently does should be delegated to the most appropriate member of staff, whether technical or administrative.
International Cycling Infrastructure Best Practice Guide point out that among the requirements for increased cycling is strong support by officials. The National Cycling Policy Framework notes that the Cycling Forum in Tilburg (twice the size of Cork) includes the Chief Executive. Having a Director of Services as Cycling Officer would be a signal that local authorities recognise the importance of cycling in addressing climate change, sustainability, pollution and congestion.
Although government has “promoted” cycling for nearly twenty years, the level of cycling nationally is virtually unchanged over that period. If politicians want this to change, fresh thinking is needed on the way forward.
Councillors like to think that they make policy and approve budgets while the role of officials is to implement policy. In the autumn, officials present draft budgets for the coming year for approval and after arguing over increases or decreases, councillors eventually approve the budget and strike an associated rate for business.
However, councillors are primarily concerned with discussing revenue raised by the council. The budget includes notional figures for grants from government or government bodies such as TII or NTA. These tend to be for specific projects which councillors wish to see progress. The difference between the estimated allocation and the actual drawdown is regularised when that year’s expenditure is finalised some 18 months later.
In the past, councillors have had little interest in this stream of funding from government as it was intended for specific schemes. However, in more recent years the DTTaS has allocated an element of Discretionary Funding which amounts to over €80 million nationally in 2019. Not all counties receive a Discretionary Grant. The Dublin Local Authorities do not receive anything. Kildare County Council’s portion amounts to €2.5 million – not a fortune by today’s standards but still a sizeable amount. Councillors frequently receive the response that no funding is available for a particular project. The question is who decides on its use – the elected councillors or officials? And, equally important, what proportion should be allocated to walking and cycling?
Maynooth Cycling Campaign, on behalf of Cyclist.ie (the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network), contacted candidates running for election to Kildare County Council and sought their commitment to high quality cycle facilities through support for Cycling for All. Maynooth candidates were asked a further local question – to support high quality cycling facilities to two primary schools on the Celbridge Road serving some 700 pupils.
Well the election is now imminent – so what is the position on cycling of candidates? One canvasser said in response to a query “Isn’t everyone in favour of cycling?” Well actually no. All or practically all are in favour of cycling but support ranges from strong to very soft.
The candidates who pledged support for high quality cycle facilities by endorsing Cycling for All are listed in Table 1 below. We wish them all well in the election and hope that you, the voter, will remember them in the polling booth.
Electoral District
Name
Party
Support for High Quality Cycling on Celbridge Rd Maynooth
Maynooth
Peter Hamilton
Green Party
Yes
Maynooth
Cllr. Tim Durkan
Fine Gael
Yes
Maynooth
Rioana Mulligan
Fine Gael
Athy
Samantha Kenny
Soc Dems
n/a
Celbridge
Philip Slattery
Fine Gael
n/a
Celbridge
Cllr. Brendan Young
Independent
n/a
Clane
Cllr. Padraig McEvoy
Independent
n/a
Clane
Eoin Hallissey
Green Party
n/a
Kildare
Declan Crowe
Independent
n/a
Leixlip
Cllr. A. Larkin
Independent
n/a
Naas
Cllr. Sorcha O’Neill
Independent
n/a
Naas
Bill Clear
Soc Dems
n/a
Naas
Cllr. Carmel Kelly
Fianna Fáil
n/a
In the report entitled International Cycling Infrastructure Best Practice Study on behalf of Transport for London, consultants identified a number of characteristics of locations where cycling was either strong or where there was strong commitment to increasing the level of cycling. The first characteristic was
There is strong, clear political and technical pro-cycling leadership which is supported through all parts of the lead organisation.
Strong clear political leadership is generally lacking in Ireland but support for Cycling for All shows that that is now changing. More than 120 candidates have signed up which includes representatives from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein, Labour, Green Party, Social Democrats and People Before Profit as well as Independents.
Maynooth Cycling Campaign 