PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS & PUBLIC TRANSPORT USERS TO BENEFIT FROM URBAN DESIGN MANUAL

Posted on March 25, 2013 2:25 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour TD and Oireachtas Transport Committee member, Seán Kenny, has said that a new urban design manual that was launched today, will significantly alter our streetscapes in the future for the benefit of pedestrians, cyclists and those who use public transport.

"The new manual aims to end the practice of designing streets as traffic corridors, and instead focuses on the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. The Design Manual for Urban Roads was overseen by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and I want to praise both departments for their forward thinking and long term approach to the issue of urban design."

"The design manual outlines practical design measures to encourage more sustainable travel patterns in urban areas. It sets out design guidance and standards for constructing new and reconfiguring existing urban roads and streets in Ireland, incorporating good planning and design practice."

"If we want people to travel in a more sustainable way - by walking, cycling or using public transport - we need to make sure that the streetscape will persuade them to take the sustainable option. There is a growing appreciation that streets are much more than a traffic corridor. They should be places where people want to live, and spend time. The key is to improve street design for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and to reduce the impact of vehicles on residential streets."

"The manual is also important for our tourism and heritage. It will support our historical street layouts, and encourage the development of new streets and plazas which are good for business and for tourism. Crucially, it should also help our focus on safety levels, particularly in the run-up to the United Nations Road Safety Week in May."