Concerns on Suffolk Street cycling ban “glossed over”

Cyclists concerns about cycling ban on Suffolk Street “glossed over”, according to a city councillor.

Of the public submission on the trial pedestrianisation of the street cycling on the street was raised in 14, there was 6 in favour of pedestrianisation, two related to deliveries and one related to bin collection.

Cllr Ciarán Cuffe (Green Party), chairman of the Dublin City Council transport committee, said that a report on the Suffolk Street pedestrianisation trial glossed over the concerns of people who cycle.

Cllr Cuffe said that the street was relatively wide and that a cycle lane in the middle of the street, while still giving pedestrians extra space.

Colm Ryder of the Dublin Cycling Campaign said that the street was an important for people cycling to avoid the dangers of College Green and limit the amount of time around Luas tracks.

Patricia Reidy, a Dublin City Council, official, did not respond directly to the concerns of committee members. She said that the pedestrianisation was being extended and the council was drawn up plans to redesign the street.

Street clutter, including no longer needed signs, have already been removed and ahead of a full redesign the council are looking at painting the former carriageway to invite to embrace the pedestrian space more.

Reidy said she could go over the submissions with councillors in private. No outline was made of the cycling submissions at the committee meeting or in the council’s report on the trial.

The council’s written report said: “The main theme from submissions relating to cycling was that cyclists should be allowed to use Suffolk St, it should be promoted as an alternative to cycling on Luas tracks around College Green and that the contra-flow cycle track on Andrew St would become redundant if there is no cycling on Suffolk St.”

Reidy wrote: “Response – cycling westbound on Suffolk St has not been possible since Suffolk St was closed for Luas Cross City construction in 2015. Until November 2018, access to Suffolk St from Nassau St was not possible as there was a physical barrier formed by massguard. There are no signals from that direction to allow cyclists through the pedestrian crossing, which is green for pedestrians from 11am to 6am the following morning.”

She added: “Eastbound cycling also encounter a traffic signal that is currently red for traffic from 11am to 6am the following morning. There is no provision for cyclists to access Nassau St.”

Bicycle parking is to be provided at least at one end of the street.


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3 comments

  1. Street signage clutter is a major issue for pedestrians and cyclists too. Both those of private businesses and state signage and bollards etc.

    Reply
  2. You have to wonder sometimes whether DCC’s Cycling Officer actually exists. You would imagine that she should be consulted on all road “improvement” works and would ensure that any changes facilitated cycling rather than made it more difficult and dangerous.

    Reply
  3. The Council official seems to be saying that even though the corpo is going to spend moeny changing suffolk st, because cycling is not possible now, they will not make it possible in the future

    Reply

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