Cycle ramps between Dyke Road and Quincentennial Bridge.

Letter to City Manager, Galway Corporation 23/8/01

Re: Cycle ramps between Dyke Road and Quincentennial Bridge.

FAO: Mr. John Tierney City Manager

CC: Mr. I Ó Muircheartaigh, President NUI,Galway, Mr. Pádraig Ó Duinnín, President Students Union NUI, Galway, Ms. Alice Daly: Health and Safety Office, NUI,Galway

Dear Sir

On behalf of the committee, we have become aware that the informal "cycle ramps" arrangement between the Dyke Road and the Quincentennial bridge is to be replaced with a formal structure.  As your office is no doubt already aware, these have been used for many years by both students and staff from the University, as a means of transferring their bicycles between these two roads.  We are concerned to ensure that safety of these road users is ensured.  We are also acutely aware that there would be legal implications for the corporation if any accidents or injuries should occur to the users due to the use of inapplicable or inappropriate design standards. Accordingly we enclose a set of guidelines for such features.  These are based on pre-existing UK guidance for access to footbridges and have been developed for use on cycle networks.  The guidelines cover ramps and steps.  Where ramps are used the maximum gradient is 5% with 3% preferred.  For stepped installations the salient features are

1. Gradient of steps not to exceed 26.5 degrees

2. Wheeling ramp/channel to be provided of width not less than 50 mm and with adequate clearance from the wall.

It is also our view that provision must be made on both the Northern and Southern sides of the bridge.  If provision is only made on one side then this will encourage the use of the cycle path structures on the bridge in a two-way manner by cyclists from the University.  As you are aware the use of footpath type structures by cyclists is associated with both increased risk and severity of car/cycle collisions.  Cycling the "wrong way" on footpath/cycle path structures is associated with ten [1] to twelve fold  [2] increases in the risk of car cycle collision.  It is of course our expectation that the current cycle path structures will be removed or modified at the earliest opportunity; any new ancillary structures should take this into account.  Provision on the northern side of the bridge would also be available to city-bound cyclists from Newcastle/Westside/Knocknacarra who might otherwise attempt to cross the road at a most inappropriate location.

You will agree that it would be most unfortunate if any public funds were to expended on any structures that were to prove more difficult or hazardous to use than the existing informal arrangement.  We are sure however that with your oversight, adequate public consultation and adequate planning and guidance any new structures will be an asset to our city.

Yours Sincerely

The Galway Cycling Campaign can be contacted c/o the One World Centre, The Halls, Quay St, Galway