Controversial new speed limit will reduce noise

Conor McMorrow and Ali Bracken

THE controversial plan to introduce a maximum speed limit of 30kph across the city centre from today has been endorsed by a leading academic.

Dr Enda Murphy, of the school of planning and environmental policy at UCD, claimed that Dublin City Council's new speed limit by-laws will have the positive effect of reducing noise levels in the capital.

He said: "Generally, there is a direct correlation between reductions in speed and reductions in noise levels within cities."

Murphy, who has conducted a number of extensive studies in this area, believes that "there should be a positive reduction in noise levels in Dublin with the introduction of the new speed limits."

He also contends that even though people "may not be totally aware of the reduction in noise, it may reduce annoyance levels. For example, people get angry when a car races past quite quickly.

"Implementing the speed decrease is likely to have a slight impact on reducing noise pollution, but the real benefit is likely to be in making the city more attractive for cyclists."

The reduced limit, approved by councillors last October, comes into effect today. It applies from Bolton Street on the northside to Kevin Street Lower and St Stephen's Green on the southside. O'Connell Street, Dame Street, and the north and south quays are included in the plan.

The city council claims that the move will result in smoother traffic flow and encourage people to cycle or walk so it will ease traffic congestion. It also cites statistics showing that 47% of fatalities and 24% of injuries in accidents on city-centre roads involve pedestrians.

The plan has been criticised by the AA and the gardaí. A senior garda working for the traffic corps in Dublin city centre said that elements of the new speed limit plans "do not make sense".

Conor Faughnan, director of policy at the AA, has brandished the proposal "a significant mistake".

January 31, 2010

Comments

#1 Anne commented, on February 2, 2010 at 10:49 a.m.:

I think the AA should know what they are talking about and should be listened to by Dublin City Council. Perhaps it was a cyclist who made this decision. I think the new speed limits will cause more road rage as people become more frustrated on the roads. Also pedestrians should be wearing bright clothes or arm bands at night and they should not be walking in front of cars when the lights are green for traffic. Pedestrians are not always right. Cyclists too are often cycling on paths and I was almost knocked down on more than one occasion. They will now be going faster than drivers. Its not only drivers who are to blame for accidents regarding pedestrians or cyclists. This 30km speed limit decision will have to be scrapped as it will become clearer as time goes on as to how impractical and ridiculous it is.

#2 kevo commented, on February 3, 2010 at 12:29 a.m.:

I love driving. I love cars and I love been able to drive through Dublin. However there are loads of roads in the Dublin region to drive above 30kph. What we don’t have is a central core in our capital city where the car is not allowed to dominate. A city centre which is not primarily designed to facilitate the movement of vehicles at the expense of pedestrians and bicycles. That makes sense on most of the road network but not all of the network.

If the council decided tomorrow to allow cars to drive through temple bar at 50kph we would all be appalled. We all love to meander along streets like Eustace street and seldom feel threatened by the cars we share the road with. It feels liberating. And the cars still get to where they need to. So why is it so hard to believe the same atmosphere can’t apply to big wide roads such as Dame Street or Eden Quay?

As it is, the city centre is a great place to be and return tourist numbers confirm this. But think just how much more fantastic a place it could be – a collection of calm, slower moving quieter wide and narrow streets and spaces and riverside walks to enjoy and relax and meander through - An experience more like walking down Grafton street only having to share the experience with cars and bicycles.

What this 30kph is trying to achieve is fundamental and visionary and shows a high level of understanding and care about what actually improves the quality of an urban CORE environment. And remember there were many detractors when it was proposed that Grafton street would become car free. And what a success that has turned out to be.

Because of the new 30kph rule, I’m going to go out of my way to do as much of my socialising and shopping in Dublin city centre as possible.

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