AS EXPECTED, motorists have criticised and environmental groups have welcomed the extension of the 30km/h speed limit zone in Dublin city centre.
The AA has described the move as a “misapplication” of speed limits that it said other cities had primarily restricted to residential areas. The Dublin Business Association expressed concerns about car-borne shoppers going elsewhere.
However, the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), the umbrella group for national environmental organisations, commended Dublin City Council for its initiative, saying it “points the way for other city and town councils”.
The Dublin Cycling Campaign noted that the areas affected by the new speed limit were “rich in pedestrians, shoppers, children and, at night, revellers”; in some places, pedestrians often well outnumbered motorists.
The campaign cited a study published recently by the British Medical Journalwhich found a reduction to a 20mph (32km/h) limit led to a 40 per cent fall in casualties and collisions over a 20-year period to 2006.
But the campaign also said motorists could benefit from the change: “When 30km/h zones were introduced in Germany, car drivers on average had to change gear 12 per cent less often, use their brakes 14 per cent less often and required 12 per cent less fuel,” it said.
A drive around Dublin city centre yesterday revealed motorists having little difficulty with low speeds in some areas, while in others attempts to travel within the speed limit provoked considerable ire, including that of bus and taxi drivers.
The first new speed limit sign encountered was on the corner of Tara and Pearse streets at the entrance to the lower speed limit zone. Driving within the new speed limit caused other vehicles to move out from behind and overtake, but in light traffic this seemed not to present a difficulty.
On the city quays westbound, however, other motorists appeared impatient to get to red lights quickly and there was little evidence of the council’s promised “green wave of traffic lights”. It was difficult to restrict speed to what appeared to be a funeral pace, as the impression that one was in the way was keenly felt.
On Wellington Quay a white “ghost bike” was chained to the railings, a pertinent reminder of the numbers of cyclists who have been killed in city centre collisions. A taxi driver behind flashed his headlights and ultimately moved out and overtook.
The car speedometer was calibrated both in kilometres and miles per hour and it was difficult to get used to the idea that while travelling at 20mph, the car was over the speed limit.
City-centre bound from Heuston Station, a large illuminated sign on Wolf Tone Quay warned motorists of the impending restriction. All traffic zoomed past on the way to O’Connell Street, most of it ignoring the restriction sign.
On O’Connell Street, realising the bus lane operates on a seven-day basis, we signalled and pulled in front of a foreign-registered car. The driver’s hands weaved as we immediately reduced speed to 30km/h. Everything behind us was doing 30km/h or less, but traffic ahead receded into the distance. It was like driving a hearse.
Parnell Square and O’Connell Street southbound presented no opportunity to travel at speeds above the limit. But on the southside at Kildare Street, few if any vehicles were travelling at 30km/h. It is to be hoped nobody speeds out of Leinster House.