CASE STUDY
Dublin - safety in the context of bicycle transport
In Dublin, as in most large cities, there are numerous traffic problems and parking restrictions. A bicycle is often a faster means of transportation than a car or bus. In the center of Dublin, it is easy and quick to get to most places. An important aspect is the safety of cyclists and the identification of places where investments should be made in this area.
Background
Dublin, is a fast-growing city with a growing population in constant motion. As the population grows, more pressure is being put on the already overburdened public transportation system, and the city is heavily congested with commercial and private vehicles. Nearly 64% of trips are made by private cars. Given that Dublin is not an exceptionally large city, cycling is one of the most efficient, practical and sustainable ways to get around the city. Nevertheless, there is intense debate in the media and on the Internet about the dangers of bicycling in Dublin. For the most part, bicycling in Dublin is a safe and enjoyable mode of transportation, but there are now areas where raised safety concerns require swift intervention to encourage cycling, reduce traffic congestion in the city and ensure the safety of cyclists.
Challenges
The National Transportation Agency (NTA) has already developed an ambitious plan to create a Greater Dublin Area Bicycle Network, which was commissioned in 2013 and aimed to have one in ten trips in Dublin made by bicycle by 2020. The plan also called for increasing the bicycle route network from 500 km to 2,900 km. However, the plan has yet to be implemented and is currently in the hands of the city’s seven local authorities to make it happen.
Solution
Result
With LOPI, a pilot study was conducted in October 2019 to initially collect data from 300 cyclists, providing us with a rich set of information to identify problematic locations and pressure factors.
The results provided us with heat maps that accurately indicated where cyclists felt safe or unsafe, down to the specific intersection. The survey also indicated which other modes of transportation posed the greatest danger to cyclists, and gave cyclists the opportunity to comment on what they thought could best improve cycling safety in the city.
