KILDARE: Making footpaths and cycle lanes safer 'could save lives'
Icy conditions and fallen leaves make conditions treacherous for pedestrians as well as cyclists.
Naas councillor Colm Kenny has asked Kildare County Council to remove fallen leaves from the south ring road in Naas.
Cllr Kenny said that while the council has committed to removing the leaves from active travel routes (footpaths and cycle lanes) it should also commit to the gritting of these routes in icy or frosty conditions.
He said this would make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists and “prevent injury due to slips, trips and falls during wintry conditions.”
The guidelines for local authorities covering this work were updated in the wake of Covid-19.
“Pedestrians will take priority on Irish streets, followed by cyclists, public transport users, and finally private vehicles thereby prioritising road space for walking, cycling and outdoor seating. Reducing traffic congestion in town centres, enabling space for the expansion of the pedestrian/cyclist environment and increasing active travel along major routes is the aim. However if footpaths are not gritted and de-iced and are perceived as unsafe, people will revert to the use of their cars,” said Cllr Kenny.
His comments are endorsed by medical opinion. Newstalk reported that a doctor at Dublin’s Mater Hospital had also called for paths to be made safer.
“If you get a hip fracture, you have a 25% mortality the following year but also from a system point of view as well, each fracture costs the health service [money]. It would save the system money by gritting the footpath as a public health measure,” he said.