Louth Green Party

A Policy on Quality Cycling Corridors

Proposed by Ollan Herr- 26th April 2010.

Click here to download a PDF of the full presentation, including images.

In consideration of the following National and International policies:

• Article 4.1 of "Ireland's First National Policy Framework on Cycling" which states:

"We will provide "safe" cycling routes to all primary and secondary schools and third level colleges by 2020".

St Marys Road now                                          and with kerb protected cycle ways

The road near St Vincents School and how it could look with kerb protected cycleways

• Action 7 "A Sustainable Transport Future" "A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009 - 2020", which states:

"We will ensure that local authorities identify and implement "safe" walking and cycling routes to and from schools and other educational Institutions"

· In compliance with the policy statement of the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin TD, when he launched the National Taskforce on Obesity on the 10 March 2004; he stated that there was a need to halt the rise and reverse the prevalence of obesity in children and to make it easier for everyone to be more active through the promotion of an active lifestyle.

• And in compliance with the urgent national and international targets to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions - in this case from car engine emissions.

Subject to the above National Policies and subject to adequate funding - That this Local Authority shall therefore provide safe cycle routes to school in accordance with the following priorities and safety specifications

A. Highest Priority - Road Separated Cycle Routes to School

• Where it is possible, that safe cycle routes shall be provided that take the cyclist away completely from any moving car traffic

• Ideally by taking a shorter route to school than by following the route along the street or the road

• If possible by taking the cyclist through parkland or through linear greenways

• Ideally to ensure that the route is well lit at night and is overlooked by houses

• Ideally by keeping cyclists and pedestrians physically separate from each other

B. Next Highest Priority - Protecting the young cyclist with physical barriers from moving traffic

• Where a road separated route is not possible in the circumstances; that safe cycle routes to schools shall be protected and separated from vehicles with physical barriers such as raised kerbs, flower beds, shrubs and trees

• So that un authorized vehicles cannot cross over or into the path of the cycle way

• So that un authorized vehicles cannot park or obstruct the cycle way

• In a manner that allows narrow street sweepers to remove broken glass and mud from the cycle way

C. The importance of priority for cyclists at road junctions and street crossings on cycle routes to school

• Along quality cycling corridors to schools; road and street crossings shall be protected by being raised above the road level with a ramp and shall have a flashing amber light or traffic lights with sensors to give priority to cyclists

D. Painted markings on the street that offer minimal protection and no barriers or physical separation from moving vehicles are no longer approved

• Existing road markings or cycle lanes offer little or no protection to young cyclists from moving vehicles or parked cars - they shall not longer be approved as offering adequate safety to cyclists on specific cycle route between residential areas and schools as they breach the minimal standards for safety as required in Articles 4.1 and 7 above

E. The upgrading of routes to achieve higher degrees of cycling safety

• Where a cycle lane exists or where cycle road marking already exists along a desirable route to school, and where adequate funding becomes available; that this cycle way shall be upgraded to provide the necessary physical barriers and traffic separation to protect young school cyclists from moving traffic, so that it will then become a "quality cycling corridor".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgbJ3cIcA84
Cycle Lane Leads to Danger at Junction
This might become a likely scenario at the Carrick Rd and Ecco Rd Junction.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n_znwWroGM&eurl=http://www.copenhagenize.com/

Safe Bicycle Routes to School. Kloosterveen, Assen, Netherlands