Residents of Cork have welcomed Cork City Council’s action to trial a car-free Marina, which is helping enable social distancing in the popular area for people walking and cycling.
The campaigners have long called for the move for the waterside road to be closed claiming it was a rat run for motorists.
Cork City Council today said: “To help with #SocialDistancing #COVID19 the Marina is being pedestrianised 24 hrs a day from today until the end of August. The only vehicle access will be by its local residents and businesses.”
Meanwhile, local residents have started a petition calling on the council to open access to the Tramore Valley Park for walking and cycling at Half Moon Lane. The council has so-far denied the request of both councillors and campaigners to open the access to claims of “safety issues” which is disputed by those who want the access opened.
The reaction to the first day of a car-free Marina can be seen below in images and comments:
https://twitter.com/SamMcCormack97/status/1261340972316864513
This is what it’s all about folks. #spaceforpeople 😍 pic.twitter.com/wpRU7NpF08
— Marina Park (@MarinaParkCork) May 15, 2020
Marina freedom. #Cork #ActiveTravel pic.twitter.com/y54D7LkNHY
— Joe Noonan (@NoonanJoe) May 15, 2020
What a glorious day to commencement the Marina 'Open for Pedestrianisation' 'Open for Play' (closed for cars) #PlaceMaking #HealthyCity #PlayfulParadigm #StaySafe 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/4eFm4ccDFe
— Cork Healthy Cities (@CorkHealthyCity) May 15, 2020
The Marina as it should be.
People will look back and wonder why it wasn't ever thus. pic.twitter.com/v9aTfngOE4
— Pedestrian Cork (@PedestrianCork) May 15, 2020
Yes I agree🌈💕 pic.twitter.com/ts2EuVLSkI
— Fionnuala O’Herlihy (@finnhug) May 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/SamMcCormack97/status/1261341828093218820