Archive for the 'Cycling' Category

Press Release – School and Transport needs of Young People need to be strengthened in Fingal Development Plan – O’Gorman

Published on June 23, 2010 in Cycling, Development Plan, Education, Planning and Transport. 0 Comments Tags: , .

15/06/10

Dublin West Green Party representative, Roderic O’Gorman has called on Fingal County Council to introduce policies on safe routes to school and new schools. He was speaking as the Dublin West Green Party made its submission on the Draft County Development Plan.

“The Draft Fingal County Development Plan 2011-17 sets out the goals that Fingal County Council will be seeking to achieve over the next 6 years. I believe that as part of this, it is vital that the Council adopts a Safe Routes to School scheme and a New Schools Strategy”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“In my initial submission on the Development Plan, I suggested that Fingal County Council commit to initiating a Safe-Routes to School scheme across the county. My proposal did not make it into the Draft Plan so I am again calling for this measure to be adopted”.

“Such a Safe Routes to School strategy would involve bringing together parents, teachers, the Gardai and Council officials to plan a safe route to school strategy for each school. This would involve improving pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and footpaths in the vicinity of schools as well as reducing speed limits and introducing a ban on heavy goods vehicles around school districts. A further element would be to ensure the provision of bike sheds in schools so students have a safe place to park their bicycles”.

“It is important to note that the Renewed Programme for Government commits to the rolling out of a ‘Safe Routes to School’ strategy across the whole country by 2012. As such, Fingal should act now to be in the position to benefit from central funding to facilitate the roll out of the project”.

“Another key area where the current Draft Plan does not go far enough is in relation to new schools. Fingal has suffered severely from the failure to adequately zone land for schools at primary and secondary level over the last 10 years. The Strategic Overview of the Draft Plan notes the very high percentage of young children in the county. This will have a significant impact on the need for new and larger schools over the period of the Draft Plan”.

“I have argued that the provisions within the Urban Fingal Chapter on providing new schools are too vague and run the risk of the same delays in obtaining sites for schools that have been experienced in the last five years. I am proposing that a New Schools Strategy needs to be devised, which will allow for enhanced communications between the Council, the Forward Planning Section of the Department of the Environment, patron bodies and local communities. This New Schools Strategy should be given specific recognition in the Development Plan”.

“The first priority of the New Schools Strategy would be to identify if there is existing and planned capacity for the number of classrooms that the Forward Planning Section of the Department estimate will be needed across Fingal. In areas where there is a shortfall, measures must be taken immediately to remedy this situation”.

“As part of the New Schools Strategy, there needs to be consistency as to the zoning that is given to a site that is intended to be used as a school. All such sites should be zoned as Objective CI – ‘Community Infrastructure”.

“These two measures are part of a number that I and the Dublin West Green Party included in our submission on the Draft Development Plan. They come as a result of going door to door and discussing these issues with residents of Dublin 15, a public meeting that we held and our interaction with planners and relevant community groups. While I will not be in a position to vote on the Development Plan, I would strongly urge local councillors to adopt these common sense measures”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Press Release – Decision to temporarily suspend College Green Bus Gate a backward step – O’Gorman

Published on November 8, 2009 in Cycling, Press Releases and Transport. 0 Comments Tags: , .

08/11/09

 

 

Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman has condemned the decision of Dublin City councillors to vote to suspend the College Green bus gate in the evening across the Christmas period.

 

“This decision by Dublin City Councillors is a hugely backward step for public transport in the City. It will increase journey times for persons who use the bus in the evening, whether they are coming home from work or heading into town to shop”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

 

“There was no factual evidence to suggest that the bus gate was impacting on shopping in the City Centre. Indeed, the statistics show that the College Green Bus Gate has been a real success. Cyclist traffic has increased 64% along O’Connell Street and it is reported that the average time taken for a bus to travel from Parnell Square to Nassau Street has fallen by 50% from 20 minutes to 10 minutes”.

 

The decision to suspend the bus gate was made by a combination of Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Fein councillors. It will be reviewed again in early January.

 

“The bus gate has made a significant improvement to the journey times of many Dublin 15 residents who, like myself, use public transport in the morning and evening. It has also made the city centre safer for cyclists. It is essential that this backward step is reversed in January and the bus gate is fully reinstated”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

 

 

Ends

 

Further Information

Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

Press Release – College Green Bus Gate must remain open – O’Gorman

Published on October 27, 2009 in Cycling, Press Releases and Transport. 0 Comments Tags: , .

26/10/09

 

 

Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman has called on Dublin City councillors not to interfere with the College Green Bus Gate.

 

“I’m calling on Dublin City councillors to resist the attempt being made by vested interests to reverse or limit the College Green Bus Gate that was opened earlier in the year”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

 

“The statistics show that the College Green Bus Gate has been a real success. Cyclist traffic has increased 64% along O’Connell Street and it is reported that the average time taken for a bus to travel from Parnell Square to Nassau Street has fallen by 50% from 20 minutes to 10 minutes”.

 

“I strongly believe that the decrease in business being suffered by some shops in the city centre is a result of the recession and not, as they allege, due to the bus gate. Indeed, compared with last year, footfall was down more in the period before the bus gate was introduced than in the period after its introduction”.

 

“The bus gate has made a significant improvement to the journey times of many Dublin 15 residents who, like myself, use public transport in the morning and evening. It has also made the city centre safer for cyclists. It would be a huge step backwards for the city if big business people are allowed dictate transport policy. The councillors on Dublin City Council from all parties must resist this pressure”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

 

 

Ends

 

Fingal County Council needs to plan for Safe Routes to School in Development Plan

Published on July 12, 2009 in Cycling, Development Plan, Planning and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

29/06/09

 

 

Green Party Dublin 15 representative, Roderic O’Gorman has called on Fingal County Council to adopt specific measures to promote safe routes to school. The proposal was one of a number contained in the Dublin West Green Party submission on the first stage of the Fingal County Development Plan.

 

“I think that Fingal County Council could take a much more active role in promoting safe routes to school across the county, and the Development Plan process gives an opportunity to make this happen. I am proposing that a section should be inserted into the new Development Plan specifically outlining Fingal County Councils responsibility in this area”, stated Roderic O’Gorman

 

“Each local area committee across Fingal would create a Safe Routes to School subcommittee. This would bring together parents, teachers, the Gardai and Fingal County Council officials and would draw up a safe route to school strategy for each school in the area. The committee would look at a wide range of measures including improving pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and footpaths in the vicinity of schools and reducing speed limits and introducing a ban on heavy goods vehicles around school districts. It would also work to ensure the provision of bike sheds in schools so students have a safe place to park their bicycles”.

 

“I discussed this issue with many parents during the local election campaign, and it was almost universally welcomed. Parents and school kids should be given the option to walk or cycle to school, but they will only do so if they feel confident that they can undertake the journey in safety. Not only will my proposal mean healthier children and have environmental benefits, it will also have a significant impact on traffic congestion across Dublin 15 by taking cars off the road in the morning and afternoon”.

 

“As the Development Plan process continues, I intend to vigorously lobby Council officials on this and other issues to ensure their inclusion in the final draft”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

 

 

Ends

 

Further Information

Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

Time to make cycling a genuinely safe option

Published on May 4, 2009 in Blog, Cycling and Transport. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .
Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O'Gorman

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O'Gorman

 

 

Today I am setting out a range of proposals that I will implement if I’m elected to Fingal County Council on 5th June to make cycling a genuinely safe option.

 As someone who has recently taken up cycling again, I can see at first hand the problems that cyclists face every day. While Dublin 15 does have cycle lanes in certain places, these are not provided in any sort of planned manner. Many junctions in the area are highly unsafe for cyclists. There are big gaps in cycle lanes, particularly through Blanchardstown and Castleknock villages. I raised this latter issue in my recent submission on the Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy.

 

Despite the risks faced by cyclist every day, there has been an 8% increase in the number of people cycling to work between 2007 – 2008. Indeed, there has been a 34% increase in the number of cyclists since 1998. Those people who make the choice to cycle should be assured that they can do so in safety. While at national level, the Government is playing its part through the Bike Scheme tax break and investment in cycle lanes, I believe that Fingal County Council has a responsibility, but also a real opportunity to make cycling genuinely safe.

 

I have set out a range of proposals that I will work on if elected to Fingal County Council to ensure that we make cycling genuinely safe. These include ensuring that cyclist are represented on Fingal County Councils Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, appointing a Cycling Officer for Fingal County Council like in Dublin City Council and drawing up a Safe Cycling Strategy for Dublin 15.

 

On the roads, I will work to ensure that a review is undertaken of the safety of existing cycling lanes, especially where these intersect with roads or where they finish abruptly. I also will fight to see that the margins of roads are kept clean and smooth in places where cycle lanes are not provided.

 

While out canvassing I am regularly asked by cyclists why Fingal County Council are not doing more to support cyclists. If I am elected to the Council on 5th June, making cycling a genuinely safe option for commuters will be one of my key priorities.

 

 

 

Proposals that Roderic O’Gorman will enact if elected to Fingal County Council to make cycling safe

 

-          Give cyclists representation on Fingal County Council’s Transportation Strategic Policy Committee

-          Bring Fingal County Council and cyclists together to draw up a ‘Safe Cycling Strategy’ for Dublin 15. This will allow cyclists engage with the Council to identify black-spots for cyclists and the remedial works which need to be undertaken on these.

-          Employ a Cycling Officer for Fingal County Council, like in Dublin City Council – to oversee that the planning and engineering of roads considers the needs of cyclists.

-          Undertake a review of the safety of existing cycle lanes, particularly where they intersect with roads or where they abruptly finish.

-          Ensure the upkeep of the margins of roads in places where cycle lanes are not provided

-          Examine junctions to see where Advanced Stop Lines (ASL’s) would be beneficial for cyclists

-          Investigate the feasibility of developing a cycle path along the banks of the Royal Canal to provide a safe route for cyclists linking them to much of the north inner city.

-          Improve bike parking facilities at locations like train stations, major bus stops, Blanchardstown Library, and local shopping centres.

Speech on local authorities and making cycling safe

Published on May 4, 2009 in Blog, Cycling, Transport and Video. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

 

Below is a speech I made to the Green Party National Convention earlier this year on the topic of making cycling a genuinely safe option.

 

Press Release – O’Gorman addresses Green Party National Conference – calls on local authorities to make cycling a genuinely safe option

Published on March 9, 2009 in Cycling and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .
Roderic O'Gorman addressing the Green Party National Convention, March 09

Roderic O'Gorman addressing the Green Party National Convention, March 09

09/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has called on the four local authorities across Dublin to work together to make cycling a genuinely safe option. He made the call in his speech to the Green Party National Convention this weekend.

One of the most ambitious goals of the recent Sustainable Transport strategy was the aim to get 200,000 people out of their cars and cycling by 2020.

At a national level, the Government is playing its part through the Bike Scheme tax break and investment in cycle lanes.

But, speaking as someone who has recently taken up cycling, I don’t believe we are going to achieve this goal until cycling considered a genuinely safe option.

And I believe that it is a responsibility, but also a real opportunity, for local councils to make cycling genuinely safe.

Local authorities are in the best position to identify and remedy danger spots for cyclists.

Local authorities are best placed to plan and implement safe route to school schemes for the primary schools in their area.

Working together under the guidance of the Dublin Transport Authority, the local authorities can come together and devise cycle routes that will cross the entire city, and link surrounding counties.

We can make cycling a genuinely safe option, and the first step is to elect myself and my colleagues to city and county councils this June.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 4179777

High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/

Press Release – Tragic death highlights risks for cyclists – O’Gorman

Published on January 16, 2009 in Cycling, Press Releases and Transport. 15 Comments Tags: , , .

15/01/09

Green Party Castleknock-Blanchardstown ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has highlighted the continued threats to cyclists following the tragic death of a cyclist in Harolds Cross.

“The tragic death of a cyclist after a collision with a cement mixer lorry in Harolds Cross, highlights the continued threats that cyclists face on our roads. At a time when increasing numbers of commuters are deciding to cycle to and from work and many schools are implementing a cycle-to-school policy, it is essential that the Government and local authorities act to ensure that cyclists are able to safely use our roads”.

“While the recent move to change the tax system to benefit those who cycle to and from work has been widely welcomed, a sustained move to commuters using bicycles will only happen when people feel safe cycling. This tragedy shows that much remains to be done to make the cities roads safe for cyclists”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

High resolution pictures of Roderic are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodericogorman/