OPPOSITION IS mounting against any proposals to introduce 30km/h speed limits in Cork and Galway city centres similar to the move in Dublin this week.
As in the capital, business groups and taxi drivers in particular are against any move to reduce the speed limit.
In Cork, city manager Joe Gavin said the issue was very much at a preliminary stage and no decision had yet been taken to reduce the speed limit to 30km/h.
“It would be wrong to say at this point, as some reports have suggested, that there will be a 30km/h speed limit in Cork city by Christmas. There are pros and cons to such a proposal, and a variety of issues to be considered,” he told The Irish Times.
Senior executive engineer with the traffic division of Cork City Council Ian Winning confirmed that the council was going through a process of detailed design and consultation on the introduction of a 30km/h zone in the city centre.
The proposed zone would encompass Patrick Street and all the side streets leading off it, and possibly Grand Parade and the South Mall.
He said the council was consulting with other stakeholders, including the Garda and Bus Éireann, and the matter would be going to public consultation before going back before city councillors for a vote.
Donal Healy from Cork Business Association said Cork did not need that type of traffic control.
“We have no problem with speeding in the city centre, and people can walk with ease from A to B so we don’t need that type of control. My worry is that a 30km/h speed limit would deter people from coming into the city to shop or do business because they could be fined €80 or get two penalty points.”
Derry Coughlan, representative of the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation in Cork, is vehemently opposed to the idea of introducing a 30km/h speed limit, warning it would increase traffic gridlock, noise and air pollution and lead to a rise in taxi fares.
“It’s totally unnecessary and it’s not practical or feasible in Cork because there are too many traffic lights in the city centre at the moment. It’s a complete waste of money that should be spent on more important issues such as footpaths, proper safety kerbs and railings, proper direction signs and taxi ranks, park-and-ride services and drainage.”
A spokesperson for Galway City Council said it had made a bid to the Department of Transport under the Smarter Travel programme which includes a suggested speed reduction to 30 km/h within the city centre area.
Shane Foran, chairman of the Galway Cycling Campaign, said during recent cold weather it was clear that traffic speeds in the city were reduced. “Motorists have been driving at the speed limit on main roads, at 30km/h on secondary roads and at walking speed in housing estates where the roads are the children’s main play area.
“In other countries this would be considered normal driver behaviour all year round and gives a glimpse of how the city could be all the time with reduced traffic speeds creating a more cyclist and pedestrian-friendly environment.”
