A more phased approach is to be taken to address the safety issues at the junction of Fairview Avenue Lower, council officials have confirmed to a local councillor. This means the cycle track will now not be closed for 10 weeks as had been planned.
Cllr Donna Cooney (Green Party) told IrishCycle.com that she welcomed the change in approach, which was confirmed when officials met her at the junction on Friday.
Part of the plan, which included removing a wide lamp post and other items causing visual obstruction between turning motorists and the cycle track, will still go ahead. But this is not expected to cause as much disruption.
In response to safety concerns related to motorists not yielding when turning into Fairview Avenue Lower, Dublin City Council had planned to modify the recently constructed setback cycle track and change it to what is known as a “bend out” cycle track, where the cycle route is positioned closer to the carriageway.
As this website reported, the move to change the design to a ‘bend out’ cycle track appeared to be contrary to national guidance in the Cycle Design Manual and international best practice.
Cllr Cooney confirmed today that there has been a review of the plan, and that the main focus will now be on removing visual obstruction and other low-scale changes, such as highlighting the cycle path at the junction with red surface treatment.
Cllr Cooney said: “I am pleased that, after careful observation and consideration, council officials have confirmed that they will not be going ahead with the reconfiguration of the cycle track. Other measures will be put in place, including physical measures and driver behaviour, including driving into the bus lane too quickly.”
“There will be measures to make the route safer, but the cycle lane will not be closed for an extended period of time,” she said. “Whatever works they need to do, including the red surfacing, it looks like they’ll be able to do those works overnight.”
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“oh no the cars are coming into conflict with people on bikes! Quick – modify the behavior the of the people on bikes!” – This would have been a really silly move to make. The conflict arises as a result of motorist impatience, not the design of the lane.