NOTE:  This page will be used to provide background information on Galway City and links to more detailed information.

July 2001: Historical Levels of Cycle use in Galway City

Vulnerable Road Users in Galway*

*Data from 1996 Census and Atlas of Galway, secondary school figures are for 1998, third level for 1999/2000

Travel by vulnerable modes in Galway city

The 1996 census lists following proportions for trips to school, college and work by the vulnerable modes in Galway city (foot, cycle and motor cycle)

• Travel by vulnerable modes: Trips to School

  • Children Aged 5-12:                         37.4 %
  • Students Aged 13-18:                      47.7 %

• Travel by vulnerable modes: Trips to College

  • Students Aged 19 and over:            81.5 %

• Travel by vulnerable modes: Trips to Work

  • Persons at work aged 15 and over: 30.0 %

Parking in Galway

• There are at least 10 "no bicycles" signs in Eyre Square, there is one municipal bike rack.   It has eleven spaces and is of a "wheel gripper" design that can damage bicycles and leaves them vulnerable to theft or vandalism.  In a 1998 submission the GCC requested it's removal, in 2001 it's still there.

• Recently the Corporation installed a different, but still unapproved, rack design in the Maingurd St, Spanish Arch areas, these allow the frame to be locked but do not properly support upright bicycles which fall over. The design has also been identified as a trip hazard to pedestrians.

• There are 1,000 "on street" and 3,000 "off street" car parking spaces in Galway city.

Galway's Roads Network 

• Galway Corporation has imposed road and junction types with a design speed of 60 mph or higher at locations where the stated speed limit is 30 mph and where there is mixed traffic of all modes.

• There are currently 13 multilane roundabouts in the City, the accident rate for cyclists on these roundabouts is 14 to 16 times that of motorists. The accident rate for motorcyclists is only slightly lower than that of cyclists.  A national study on Irish roundabouts from 1987 raises serious reservations about using them where high numbers of two wheelers are expected.  A Foras Forbatha report in 1979 raised the issue of the safety of cyclists in Galway and the roundabouts that were then proposed for the city.  Galway corporation was fully aware of these issues when they built a further five roundabouts on the new Western Distributor road.  More roundabouts are planned for the Seamus Quirke rd.

• Even within predominantly residential areas Galway Corporation has a policy of actually specifying the use of road junction designs that unnecessarily endanger and inconvenience pedestrians and cyclists.

• It is corporation policy to impose "cycleways" of a design that results in a baseline 50% increase in the rate of car/bicycle collisions. (Rising to a tenfold (x10) increase in some circumstances).

• There are only 14 signal controlled junctions Galway City, not all of these signalised junctions include pedestrian phases. There are only 10 signalised pedestrian crossings

• At some specific locations in the city any cyclist who attempts to use the "cycleways" in the manner directed by the accompanying signs can expect to incur a tenfold (x10) increase in the risk of car/bicycle collision.

• There are no fixed speed cameras anywhere in Galway City or County.  In fact to our knowledge there are no fixed speed cameras anywhere in the west of Ireland.

• Galway Corporation has an established practice of refusing to implement road safety measures such as traffic calming even when specifically requested by local residents.

• There are 130 miles of roads in Galway City, up until 2000 there was only one road (Murrough Avenue) that had any (2) municipally provided speed ramps.

• At least one major cycling tour operator refuses to bring groups to Galway City by bicycle on grounds of road danger.