A wonderful illustration showing how much public space we’ve handed over to cars

g g murpho

Why is so much space devoted to and handed over to the private car?

Why is there a persistent mindset that the “car has right of way”?

Why do cars have priority at crossings? Why don’t drivers have to push a button to cross the intersection instead of pedestrians?

Allinall

Yawn. Not again.

monument

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952065#Comment_120952065

This goes for everybody -- if you don't feel like contributing to a thread productively, just stay away from it.

-- moderator

Motorists stopping to push a button might create more traffic jams 😉 More cars in one place, admittedly stood still.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058308472/a-wonderful-illustration-showing-how-much-public-space-we-ve-handed-over-to-cars

To the first question: You know why. People need to be able to travel from A to B - including commuting for jobs. Motorised transport enables travel over medium to long distances.

Alternative is an expanded rail network, expanded public transport, an underground, a Metro. Preferably all of these things.

All fair points about pedestrians vs cars. But neither here nor there in a sense. We could build more pedestrian bridges over major roads if we were bothered, separating people from automobiles.

g g murpho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952141#Comment_120952141

That’ll reduce unnecessary journeys into cities then 😉😉

elperello

https://www.midlands103.com/news/midlands-news/new-bridge-opened-in-a-major-midlands-town/

Not all bad news.

magicbastarder

just slightly irritating that it's that chocolate teapot 'daddy got me my job' chambers getting the publicity.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952210#Comment_120952210

You only build pedestrian bridges over roads if motor traffic is the priority. That ship has sailed

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952992#Comment_120952992

Have you read the thread?

A pedestrian bridge over a road was opened in Athlone this morning.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953052#Comment_120953052

Sorry for any confusion but the new bridge in Athlone is over the Shannon River.

It's relevance to the thread is that it provides a separate crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

The motor traffic will continue to use the existing bridge nearby.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953088#Comment_120953088

Okay thanks

growleaves

The earliest horse-drawn vehicles first appeared in approximately 3000BC according to historians, when Mesopotamians drove horse-drawn chariots into battle.

Since the concept of automated transport can't be uninvented, I don't see it going away.

Micro-managed cities of the future may be pedestrian-only but not everywhere will be.

g g murpho

Anywhere a dipped kerb exists, pedestrians should have priority.

Mrs OBumble

When did cars become sentient beings, doing things for themselves, rather than being tools for conveying people to places quickly?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953341#Comment_120953341

Do you ask the same question every time you read a news article telling you that a car hit a pedestrian or hit a tree?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953052#Comment_120953052

Thats a funny looking road

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953604#Comment_120953604

See comment below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953088#Comment_120953088

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953253#Comment_120953253

Sorry, but I'm finding it hard to take you seriously. A length of road in a residential area has dipped kerbs at every gate. Your scenario would lead to a farcical and dangerous situation.

g g murpho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953717#Comment_120953717

Then drive at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see is clear.

Most of the dipped kerbs in short succession are in housing estates where you should be driving slowly anyway.

Slow down to 20 km/h if necessary (the speed limit is 30 km/h) in housing estates. No need to drive faster.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953717#Comment_120953717

That farcical and dangerous situation is the legal requirement at present. Pedestrians always have priority (dipped kerbs or not) as they are squishy

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120953799#Comment_120953799

That priority is only at junctions and crossings, not at every gate of every house. I agree that motorists should exercise extra care in residential areas but pedestrians do not automatically have legal priority just because the kerb is dipped. And I speak as an ardent pedestrian who doesn't drive much.

_Kaiser_

Yet another anti-car/motorist thread in a forum supposedly dedicated to ALL forms of transport...

We live in a country where public transport barely works in our capital and second city - and then only if you're willing to put up with the delays, slow progress, mid-journey changes to get from A to B, anti-social behaviour issues, and of course it's not exactly cheap.

Outside of those cities public transport is even more spotty and expensive (if available at all) and thus impractical for anyone not making a pleasure trip with plenty of time to do it - therefore the car becomes the only practical option, especially given the (in case some forgot) ongoing housing crisis and need to get to work, school, college or elsewhere reliably and predictably.

Running a car isn't cheap either - insurance, tax, servicing, fuel - but people do it because in many cases they have no other viable choices. I think that there a lot of people on forums like this who resent the idea that not everyone has the time or inclination to spend anymore of their time, or lengthening their day, to getting around from wherever they are to wherever they need to be. Plus all that money from car sales, servicing, parts and the rest goes right back into the Government coffers to be spent on all those cycle lanes and bollards and greenways let's not forget. We don't do ring-fencing.. it all comes out of the same pot.

Plus... some people actually LIKE cars and ENJOY driving. I know right! How very dare they!! They should be made walk/cycle everywhere like the rest of "us", because... errr.. the environment something, the need to get into a city infested with feral youth faster.. because it's the "right thing to do" and who do they think they are in their "metal boxes" (I know someone who actually describes motorists like this - despite owning 2 cars themselves, one of which is a pure toy!)

Get over it. For some people walking, public transport, cycling, sharing or some other mode will suit and be preferred. For others it won't and isn't and there's nothing wrong with that either.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120954186#Comment_120954186

"You'll eat those crumbs and be happy damnit"

Red Silurian

Good point but in a counter-argument if you look at Limerick City where

The main thoroughfare has been reduced from 3 lanes with 1 parking to 1 lane of traffic + bus lane with no parking. Also cycle lanes are being built on many existing roads

It's lovely to walk along the very wide footpaths but there's nothing to do anymore as so many businesses have closed. The city is literally dying on its feet from a business point of view with so many derelict buildings now an eyesore

magicbastarder

look at dublin - which streets do best in terms of retail? the ones heavily trafficed by motor vehicles, or the ones heavily trafficed by pedestrians?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120955748#Comment_120955748

Somebody should warn the businesses on Grafton St and Henry St about their imminent closure.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120955748#Comment_120955748

Ah the good old horsesht "Limerick is dying" line. Usually spouted by people who think coffee shops and restaurants are not legitimate business and think the city centre can magically attract B&Q Harvey Norman.

Ratio of derelict properties on O'Connell St. hasn't changed one bit since the road changed.

The only recent difference in Limerick is Thomas/Catherine St. have gotten busier since pedestrianisation.

blackbox

Roads were built for horse drawn vehicles long before cars existed.

That being said, I totally agree that vehicles should not be parked on public footpaths.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120955782#Comment_120955782

I agree with regards to Dublin but in many towns it's the other way round. Lack of access for motor vehicles has led to countless businesses closing or moving location in towns all around the country. We have a couple of pedestrianised areas locally and the businesses are at less than 60% occupancy while the areas conducive to driving are thriving.

blackbox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120955782#Comment_120955782

I suspect that shopping centres that provide convenient parking do the most business - apart from high end small goods (handbags, watches etc.) or items that will be delivered by the supplier.