Fears ‘someone will get knocked down’ near Laois bus stops
Cllr Tommy Mulligan has called for a pedestrian crossing on the Mountrath Road
There are fears that “someone will get knocked down” at two bus stops located close together in Portlaoise.
Councillor Tommy Mulligan has called on Laois County Council to consider providing a pedestrian crossing at the bus stops on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise due to serious safety concerns.
Speaking at the June meeting of the Portlaoise MD, Cllr Mulligan explained that near the entrance of the IDA Park on the Mountrath Road there are two bus stops on either side of the road and quite close to each other.
The location of these bus stops is causing safety issues for pedestrians, particularly bus users and school children who are walking out onto the road at the stops where there is no pedestrian crossing.
“The bus service has been a fantastic addition to the town but it has also given rise to a few safety issues,” Cllr Mulligan told the council.
“Even though there is a pedestrian crossing back up towards the roundabout, it’s a considerable distance. Bus users, school children and pedestrians are not walking up to that pedestrian crossing. They’re dashing across the road when they get dropped off from the buses there.
“I have received numerous complaints from passerbys, motorists and residents from Maryborough. There’s a huge fear that someone will get knocked down as they are crossing that road there.”
The Portlaoise councillor argued that given the high level of concern there for pedestrians, a pedestrian crossing is “appropriate and pretty obvious.”
He also noted that he has enquired about the 60km/h speed limit on that stretch of road being reduced.
“I think if we get that speed limit reduced on that stretch it would help. It’s a vital safety issue,” Cllr Mulligan said.
Cllr Barry Walsh supported the motion, saying that he has witnessed first hand “kids dashing” across the road at the bus stops.
The Active Travel section of Laois County Council said that an assessment of the town bus service network and infrastructure is being prepared, and this will be used to inform future upgrades to the network including pedestrian crossing points on key desire lines.
The Roads Engineer will arrange to meet Cllr Mulligan to view the Mountrath Road.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme