Motorists won’t yield when crossing Cork cycle route, safety audit spotted issue but only recommended extending red surfacing, which hasn’t worked

— Latest close pass captured on camera today.

People cycling past Cork’s Docklands keep encountering motorists unwilling to yield — a pre-construction Road Safety Audit identified the issue with the cycle route at the entrance to Kennedy Quay in Cork City.

But it only recommended extending red surfacing, according to a report released after a Freedom of Information request.

The red surfacing feature was extended beyond what was originally planned, but that has failed — at least on its own — to address the issue.

As the cycle route and the public road turns the corner from Albert Quay to Victoria Road, motorists entering Pork of Cork land at Kennedy Quay drive straight across the cycle track, which runs along the public street which turns to the right.

The Road Safety Audit, carried out for the council by consultants, outlined how “cyclists and drivers may not be aware of each other at the crossing point as they are both travelling in the same direction” ahead of the crossing, according to files released under a Freedom of Information request to this website.

But it only suggested extending the red surfacing to start in advance of the crossing point. This action was accepted and implemented by Cork City Council. But it has not addressed the issue.

Locals who cycle the route and campaigners have complained about the issue, but Cork City Council has been slow to take any action.

Robert O Riordan, who runs a nearby bicycle shop, posted the following video this morning.

Back at the start of December 2021, this website covered one of O Riordan’s previous close-calls at the junction and details of other people’s experiences.

At the end of last year, Conn Donovan, chairperson of the Cork Cycling Campaign, called on Cork City Council to take urgent action to address the issue.

Today he said that he will follow up in writing with City Hall after previously alerting them to the issue.

Donovan said: “The junction with Kennedy Quay is a real shame as there is a clear risk of collision on an otherwise good route between city center and Marina.”

Cork City Council were contacted just after midday regarding the issue, but did not respond by the time of publication of this article. This article will be updated if the council responds.


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1 comment

  1. The simplest remedy to make this junction safer is to remove the sweeping bend.This bend/junction as it is currently, is ‘designed’ to keep traffic travelling as fast as possible with little or no regard for the likely conflict between cars and other road users.

    Traffic calming infrastructure that requires drivers to slow down before turning would be a start. Signage too would help.

    If drivers are encouraged to carry out this maneuver at high speed, it is only a matter of time before vulnerable road users will be seriously injured or killed by motorised vehicles.

    Reply

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