COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor F. Warfield

"Pedestrian guard rails are used to separate pedestrians and vehicles at junctions. London recently removed 60kms of it's existing 200kms of pedestrian guard rails. That recognising the significant street clutter across the Rathfarnham/Templeogue/Terenure areas, a lack of visual appeal and the mixed evidence that they reduce pedestrian accidents, this motion seeks to start a discussion on the issue and requests South Dublin County Council policy on pedestrian guard rails."

REPORT:

It has been the practice for many years that guardrails for pedestrians and vulnerable road users (school children etc) are provided on safety grounds at busy intersections. This is not primarily to separate vehicles from vulnerable road users but to ensure that these vulnerable road users face oncoming traffic and they cannot inadvertently cross in front of traffic. They also provide a safe refuge and rest area on wide junctions for these users.

While it is in order to declutter streets and improve visual appeal safety of these road users is paramount. In order to make our villages and urban areas more appealing the Council has embarked on a village enhancement initiative in each of 14 villages in the County which is currently being rolled out. As part of this initiative many guard rails will be removed as well as other unnecessary road furniture where speed limits are les than 50 Kph and they will only be retained where a primary safety issue occurs.