CORK CITY council has defended draft bylaws to reduce speed limits in the city centre following concerns raised by traders.
Draft bylaws propose slashing speed limits in specific areas of the city centre from 50km/h down to 30km/h.
The reduced speed measures form part of a plan to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, a council spokesman said.
Reacting to concerns raised by a group representing 200 business owners, the council claimed the new speed limitations are aimed at specific streets only and will not affect trade. “The measure is being proposed where 30km/h would be the typical operating speed. We were careful to choose the streets that will be affected,” council spokesman for the Roads and Transportation Directorate Ian Winning said.
The council intends to introduce the restrictions on St Patrick’s Street, Grand Parade, Oliver Plunkett Street, North Main Street and Cornmarket Street, among others. Cork Business Association chief executive Donal Healy said the city requires ease of access, not vehicular restrictions.
But vice-chairman of Cyclists.ie and spokesman for Cork Cycle Campaign Darren McAdam O’Connell said the reduced speed limits would drastically cut the threat of death or fatal injury.
Meanwhile, the Cyclist.ie lobby group has called on the Government to postpone its rural cycle lane building initiative.
The group said proposals to build cycle lanes on rural hard shoulders was “ a questionable use of public money”.
Last month Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly announced €4 million in funding for sustainable travel projects which included cycle lanes in many rural areas.