Hi,
Forwarding Robbie Synott's message as a clear updat on what is going on in
College Green, Dublin.
All the best,
Cearbhall
m +353 (0)833323487 Ph: _353 (0)1-2864623 e: cearbhall.omeadhra@xxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: irelandvipnews-bounces@xxxxxxxx [mailto:irelandvipnews-bounces@xxxxxxxx] ;
On Behalf Of RobbieS
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2018 1:40 AM
To: News and issues relating to the visually impaired in Ireland
<irelandvipnews@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IRELANDVIPNEWS] College Green plaza 'just too dangerous for
blind' - Independent.ie
As usual, the media gives a general idea of something with loads of gaps and
inaccuracies.
The initial public consultation had been from mid-May to the end of June last
year, and the only people to make submissions regarding visual impairment were
C.I.E. and Chambers Dublin. In the meantime, BLA had challenged the legitemacy
of the process because of the inaccessibility of the Environmental Impact
Statement issued in May.
Luckily, an Bord Pleanála told Dublin City Council to go back and do an
improved Environmental Impact Statement/Report, and this was published by DCC,
mostly accessible, in October.
Because the BLA is part of the Public Partnership Network Disability Group, we
were able to push the issue from October on. The NCBI was also on this group,
as is the Disability Federation of Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association and
many more.
I proposed that the Group make a submission to an Bord Pleanála etc., and I
wrote 95% of it...about 600 words, see below.
I wasn't sure the Group would be able to make a valid submission, but knew it
would add to my own.
The NCBI had been used throughout the Environmental Impact Reports as
rubber-stamping what DCC had intended, but the PPN Disability Linkage Group,
and meetings we had with others such as Dublin Cycling Campaign alterted the
NCBI that there was a real danger being proposed. NCBI met with DCC on
December 7th, a day before submissions were due, and after clarifications
weren't satisfactory, it put in its submission.
The BLA has been working on this matter intensively since April 2016, and has
made an initial submission of about eight and a half thousand words, and it had
objections based on the following:
a). the two-way cycle lane planned to go through pedestrian space.
b). Proposed lack of curbs from Trinity College to George's Street.
c). other unsafe surfacing
d). absence of landmarks in centre of Plaza.
e). Less direct Public Transport links.
f). Legal obstacles to the proposal from a disability perspective.
Irish Guide Dogs are prepared to be witnesses to the BLA submission - regarding
curbs, at least, should the matter go to an Oral Hearing.
Separately, I, myself, have taken a case under the Equal Status Act on the
inaccessibility of DCC's Environmental Impact Assessment Reports.
The Disability Linkage Group Statement is as follows:
'Dublin City Council plans to make the College Green area into a ‘civic plaza’,
and the planning application is currently before an Bord Pleanála for approval.
The plan involves a pedestrianized zone in College Green, and a two-way cycle
lane (at least 70 meters long) through this pedestrian area, meaning that the
lane will be an uncontrolled crossing for pedestrians moving in the north-south
direction etc. Given the lack of favourable research on the matter of
cycle-lanes in pedestrian zones, one might have thought DCC’s plan to be
somewhat irresponsible with regard to the safety of cyclists and pedestrians in
general.
However, when one factors in the significant minority of pedestrians who are
vulnerable due to age or disability, an appalling vista emerges. Hitherto,
such pedestrians have had their interactions with cyclists buffered by cyclists
having to stop at controlled crossings (along with vehicular traffic); but in
an uncontrolled environment, of bicycle lanes and pedestrians, vulnerable
pedestrians (and those not quite paying attention because they’re lulled into a
false sense of security due to the pedestrian zone), are like moving skittles
in a bowling alley.
There are 54,000 people with a severe visual impairment in Ireland, and a
quarter of a million with a visual impairment of some sort. Even apart from
their difficulties in locating the cycle lane at all, people with a visual
impairment cannot see the actual bicycles coming.
There is no way around this basic salient fact.
In all, 13% of the Irish population has a disability, that is 643,131 people,.
People with developmental disabilities, any cognitive or intellectual
impairment and older people have much slower reaction abilities, and so if they
see a bicycle at the last minute, they do not have time to react and take
evasive action or even to know what evasive action to take or which way to
turn. One might add to the latter group, children under seven and those with
mobility impairments including wheelchair users and people using any type of
mobility aid such as crutches/walkers etc. The potential injury toll adds up.
The principle of the aesthetic desire for a cycle-lane for the 70 metres
through this pedestrian space has no equivalence to the immediate needs of
vulnerable and other pedestrians to safety of life and limb. If people with
disabilities, older people, younger people, do not perceive the public plaza to
be a safe place then they will not use the space, instead they will remain
isolated outside of their community which goes completely against the intent of
a public plaza.
We firmly believe that this short section of cycle-lane in a
pedestrianized zone is not only unnecessary, but dangerous. Cyclists
should instead dismount and walk beside their bicycles while traversing the
‘pedestrian’ zone as is best practice in the USA.
Cyclists are fit, but they themselves will be old some day or may be affected
by disability later in life.
In future, too, we call on Dublin City Council’s planners, architects, civil
engineers etc. to engage in meaningful consultation with people with
disabilities who tend not to be represented in those professions
- for example there are few, if any, blind architects, or city planners or
civil engineers with physical or cognitive disabilities.
So it would be unlikely that DCC staff in those professions can put themselves
in the shoes of the people with different abilities who will be using the
public spaces they design and construct.'
Robbie (BLA)
On 1/6/18, Dominique Farrell <hollyandopal@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
_______________________________________________
https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/college-green-plaza-just-too-dange
rous-for-blind-36460578.html
College Green plaza 'just too dangerous for blind'
Conor FeehanJanuary 5 2018 2:30 AM
1
The plaza scheme for College Green has been heavily criticised by the
National Council for the Blind Ireland Plans for a new civic plaza at
College Green have been described as "just too dangerous for people
with impaired vision".
Dublin City Council is planning a major and controversial change to
the area, which would significantly affect traffic routes around the south
city.
The scheme would see traffic restricted and bigger pedestrian areas
and cycle lanes - but plans have been strongly criticised by groups
representing the blind, in submissions to An Bord Pleanála.
The National Council for the Blind Ireland, whose patron is President
Michael D Higgins, issued a submission saying pedestrianisation would
be welcome in an area it describes as "congested". But it says this
must be done in a way which doesn't put people at risk.
It hit out at a lack of kerbing to separate the pedestrians from
trams, cyclists and traffic.
"People with impaired vision need a kerb between the pedestrianised
area and the area where trams, cyclists and buses will operate.
Currently, tram lines for the Luas Cross City run along the upper
boundary of the area where the pedestrian plaza is planned.
"In the plans, it is proposed to also have a cycle track and bus lane
following the same route. The plans propose that tactile paving will
be provided in place of a kerb, between this area where traffic will
run, and the pedestrian plaza.
"NCBI considers that this is just too dangerous for people with
impaired vision. If a person with impaired vision does not detect the
tactile paving, he or she will be at risk of being struck by fast
cyclists on the cycle lane, or by a tram, or by a bus.
"Nothing should take precedence over pedestrian safety," it added.
The Council for the Blind also said that cyclists breaking red lights
could pose a safety threat.
Separately, a member of the Blind Legal Alliance who lives in Dublin 8
entered a submission also criticising the proposed plan. He is
critical of two cycle lanes and their interaction with pedestrian traffic in
the area.
Dublin Bus questioned the potential effect on journey times, saying
that if faced with reduced convenience, customers will be reticent to
use the bus for leisure or optional trips.
Among other groups critical of the plans are Dublin Chamber, retailers
such as Arnotts, Brown Thomas, and Jervis Street Centre, taxi drivers,
the Restaurants Association of Ireland, and the Irish Hotels Federation.
Irish Independent
Sent from my iPhone
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