42 CORK METROPOLITAN AREA | TRANSPORT STRATEGY Metropolition Town Centres and To support sustainable travel, proposed Age Friendly Town Centres Urban Expansion Areas new carriageway layouts and junction Changes to age-profiles of the CMA will geometries will be assessed against Urban Expansion Areas (UEAs) were require that the public realm and transport Design Manual for Urban Roads and identified by the Cork Area Strategic Plan network will need to adapt to consider Streets (DMURS) standards and principles as the best locations for the development the needs of older people, those with to ensure consistency in quality. of new communities in Metropolitan Cork. mobility, visual or hearing impairments Each UEA has been divided into specific and those with buggies. These include land use zonings and included within the District and Neighbourhood provision of attractive public seating areas respective municipal district local area plans. Walking Network particularly within shopping areas and The Walking Strategy further identified mid-points between residential areas and Within the Metropolitan areas, UAEs are a series of district and neighbourhood town centres. subject to the development of Masterplans centres of which local improvements to by Cork County Council. Areas targeted the network and provision of local services Innovative solutions including providing for pedestrian priority improvements within a 20-minute walking catchment publicly-accessible toilets, addressing should include the town centres should be targeted to support local site-specific concerns and enforcement themselves, their adjoining residential walking trips and the need to travel of illegal parking on footpaths will help areas and schools. longer distances. address some common barriers to walking. Regular audits with a variety of Given the high level of out-commuting These include the southern section of stakeholder groups representing older experienced in the Metropolitan towns, the Cork Docks area, Ballinlough and people, pedestrian groups and those with the enhancement of walking routes to Beamount and the growing cluster of disabilities are envisaged to identify and stations on the suburban rail network, student accommodation at the Lee Fields. address site-specific issues. and the design and layout of residential development, will be key to promoting Improvement in Walking Routes Accessibility and Universal Design safer and higher walking levels as part of to Schools linked trips. Universal design is the design of an environment so that it can be accessed, There are high levels of car usage understood and used to the greatest for relatively short trips to places of New local road links will be provided education, particularly for primary schools in some areas to support access to extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability and disability across the CMA. Walking will become planned UAEs at Ballyvolane, Water a more attractive choice through the Rock, Ballynoe, Blarney/Stoneview (including visual, auditory, physical, sensory and cognitive). implementation of safe, legible, pleasant and Ballincollig and the planned walking routes and improvements to the Monard Strategic Development Zone. The principles of universal design will be pedestrian and cyclist environment within The development of these areas in the immediate vicinity of the school. These predominantly greenfield sites offer the considered in the development of the pedestrian network for the CMA. could include best practice examples opportunity to integrate high quality and such as the EU-funded ‘School Streets’ pedestrian (and cycling) environments projects in Edinburgh and Hackney, and at the outset. ‘Walking Buses’ from designated drop- off areas. Further detail is provided in the ‘Supporting Measures’ chapter. CORK METROPOLITAN AREA | DRAFT TRANSPORT STRATEGY 43 EXAMPLE OF WALKING, PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND URBAN REALM IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUGLAS VILLAGE CORK METROPOLITAN AREA | TRANSPORT STRATEGY 45 Wayfinding Opportunities to improve permeability to Local Amenity Routes Lack of awareness of routes and distances existing developed areas should be sought The Walking Strategy is proposed to to destinations is often quoted as barrier in conjunction with the implementation of enhance the primary pedestrian network to walking. Much of Cork’s existing way- the public transport, pedestrian and cycle by increasing the permeability to existing finding signage system consists of finger network enhancements provided for within and proposed amenity routes by better posts, that are inconsistently applied, often CMATS including: integrating them into strategic walking damaged and primarily aimed at visitors. Provision of direct, high-quality routes. Many of these are located in pedestrian connections to high capacity areas immediately adjacent to rivers and An integrated map-based system along public transport corridors, bus stops and are proposed as Greenways in the Cycle the lines of the Legible London system major walking destinations; Network Plan and include areas north of is proposed to provide a wider range of Provision of traffic-calmed Quietways for Ballincollig town centre, areas near the users with a better understanding of the pedestrians and cyclists; Old Passage line and the Lee Fields. surrounding area, highlighting accurate Requiring quality design and pedestrian distances and times to destinations and Minimising conflict between pedestrians accessibility audits in planning encourage users to choose their own and cyclists will become a more pressing applications for new residential areas; walking route to their destination. concern as the popularity of these areas Provision of pedestrian and cycle increase. Where full separation between Improving Permeability crossings to link areas that are separated pedestrian and cyclist movement is by roads or other physical barriers A permeable street network is a key not possible, site-specific interventions including the use of countdown signals at including traffic calming of adjacent component of supporting more accessible, appropriate crossings; and walkable and cycle friendly environments. residential streets, low level bicycle However, much of the residential Planning and design that ensures rumble strips and considerate walking and development layout across the CMA in accessibility for persons with mobility cycling campaigns to reduce conflict may recent decades has tended to favour challenges. be appropriate. impermeable, cul-de-sac layouts leading to circuitous routes to local services, schools The NTA’s Permeability Best Practice Guide and public transport stops. is available to assist local authorities and other organisations in tackling the issues Quality permeability measures and traffic that impact on permeability providing management measures including Home a basis for addressing the legacy of Zones, DIY Streets and traffic filters severance in Irish urban areas. to restrict rat-running by vehicles and facilitating street play, should be considered in relation to all future developments. CYCLING Additional 56,000 13,000 daily car trips potentially cycling trips made in the AM peak transferable to cycing period easing congestion 19.5m annual cycling trips 200km 150km 60km 140km Primary Secondary Inter-Urban Greenway Cycle Network Cycle Network Cycle Network Network Expansion 20 mins of activity a day of Bicycle Sharing reduces the risk of hearth disease, Systems type 2 diabetes and some cancers Strategy cost estimate by at least 20% is approximately €230m ( +BusConnects Enhanced End-of-Trip cycle elements) facilities positive impact on mental health Cork City Council Black Ash Park & Ride CORK METROPOLITAN AREA | TRANSPORT STRATEGY 47 07 CYCLING Cycling is a low cost, sustainable and Cork Metropolitan Cycle Key priorities for development of the The vision for the Cork growing mode of transport in the Cork Network Plan 2017 Cycle Network Plan are as follows: Metropolitan Area. The NDP 2018-2027 Metropolitan Area Cycle The 2017 Metropolitan Cycle Plan is Designating a coherent network of east- commits to the delivery of walking and the starting point for the CMATS Cycle west and north-south cycle routes across Network Plan is to provide cycling networks for all of Ireland’s cities. Network. The 2017 Plan was devised the area which will provide access to all Translating this at a regional level, the Cork a coherent, safe and to increase cycling mode share from its major trip generators; Cycling Network Plan for the CMA and attractive cycle network present low base and to provide a clear The first priority in terms of access will surrounding towns was published in plan for the development of the cycling be employment areas and third level that will support a shift 2017 and forms the basis for much of network to encourage greater levels of education followed by schools. These this chapter. from the private car to cycling trips to places of employment, priorities have been established to education, recreation and leisure. support proposed modal shift targets. cycling for employment Additional cycle links have been proposed Cycle links to new development areas and education trips as well to align with the CMATS proposed public The routes outlined in the 2017 Network have also been prioritised; transport networks including BusConnects as provide a strong basis Plan have largely been retained and and new orbital link roads. These Providing the highest possible Level updated to include new primary for increasing