Cycling campaigners want 30km/h speed limit

Cycling advocates have called for the speed limit in Galway City to be temporarily cut to 30km/h for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency.

Galway Cycling Campaign has also called for the N6 Headford Road to be reduced from four lanes to two for vehicular traffic – with the other two reserved for cyclists.

The group called for the changes to be introduced for the duration of the crisis.

Kevin Jennings, Chair of Galway Cycling Campaign said: “The Council should temporarily reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h within the city.

“If a car moving at 50 km/h hits a person walking, there is a 50% chance that person will die. At 30 km/h, that same person has a 95% chance of surviving injuries.”

He said that combining poor infrastructure with speeding vehicles on mostly empty roads, it is a deeply unpleasant experience for people to cycle on the Headford Road at the moment.

“Galway City Council should temporarily reduce the four-lane Headford Road to two lanes for vehicle traffic, and reallocate the other two lanes for people on bicycles.

“This will do three things: give more space and better road conditions to cyclists, double the width of footpaths for pedestrians, and encourage motorists to slow down.

“The Council can do this for all four-lane roads across the city to make our roads safer and a more pleasant experience for people walking and  cycling.”

Group spokesperson Martina Callanan noted there had been a series of collisions – some serious – on a 1km stretch of the Headford Road.

“This is a dangerous route for adults and children on bicycles making their way from home into town to work and school. The bike lane is essentially an extended piece of pavement. It is cut across by access roads to retail parks so you have to come off the path frequently where other traffic is given priority.

“The Headford Road is a congested main route from north Galway into the city and on to the university. Though Galway has the second highest percentage of commuters cycling in a city, you are mainly sharing the roads with other motor vehicle users and there are very few dedicated and segregated cycle tracks.

“Galway is a perfect city for bikes due to its size. During the coronavirus more people are taking up cycling as a way of transport and for exercise, and children are learning and enjoying this important life skill,” said Ms Callanan, pointing to recent ambitious plans announced by European cities.

She said: “Last week Milan and Brussels announced even lower speed limits of 20 km/h for the summer during coronavirus. They both will reallocate road space to people on foot and on bikes. These two actions will give more space to people trying to social distance and stay well during a deadly pandemic. Galway should take inspiration from these cities and act immediately.

“Over 60 towns and cities worldwide 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 social distancing and make safer streets.

“Galway councils should do the same. There are quick, cheap measures that can happen to protect public health. People walking to the pharmacy should not have to choose risking their lives by walking or queuing too close to people outside their family groups, or choosing risk of a road collision by stepping off narrow footpaths onto roads,” said Ms Callanan.