The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets has updated its guidance for local authorities in the wake of COVID-19.

Pedestrians will take priority on Irish streets, followed by cyclists, public transport users, and finally private vehicles.

A just-published interim advice notice has a renewed focus on traffic calming, and transferring road space to walking, cycling, queuing, and outdoor seating.

The notice is mandatory for all road authorities and replaces existing national urban design standards.

'Challenging'

“Implementing these measures will be challenging,” the notice says.

Motorists will be pushed to the edge of towns and directed to park their cars within walking/cycling distance or on a public transport route.

‘Park and stride’ facilities on the edges of town centres (or in close proximity to other destinations such as schools and parks) will be prioritised.

This is where people make the first part of their journey by car, park on the edge of a centre, and make the final part of their journey by foot, bicycle or via public transport.

This reduces congestion in centres, enabling space for the expansion of the pedestrian/cyclist environment.

Cycle lane widths will be increased on major routes. And more space allocated for outdoor tables and seating associated with food service.

Paths

Many paths In Irish city, town and village centres are too busy and not wide enough to enable social distancing.

There are also longer-term concerns about the impact on travel patterns and on the viability of businesses on traditional main streets. The publication notes the pandemic’s impact on travel patterns with a possible increase in private vehicle use.

If streets are perceived as unsafe, people tend to revert to the use of their cars.

Footpaths will be widened and traffic speeds reduced and on-street parking suspended.

There will also be additional cleaning regimes, and automatic sanitisation at public toilets.

Signs on social distancing and queueing will be introduced at conflict points such as junctions, and seating introduced.

Sustainable modes

The note advises local authorities, when considering COVID-19-related measures, to align with sustainable modes of transport (walking, cycling and public transport), advocate a multi-disciplinary approach to street design and promote the principles of universal design.

The publication notes the pandemic’s impact on travel patterns with a possible increase in private vehicle use.

It says that local authorities face challenges to ensure that streets and transport networks can safely operate.

"Authorities should also use the resources available centrally as already outlined to support, where appropriate, a re-examination of the design of streets and spaces with a view to implementing longer term planning and urban design polices that will enhance the attractiveness of city, town and village centres as place to live, work and spend time."

The National Transport Authority has written to councils with suggestions including:

• Widening of footpaths,
• Potential pedestrianisation of some streets,
• Potential one-way systems,
• Altering traffic signal times,
• Providing additional temporary facilities for cyclists,
• Physical activity facilities for all ages,
• Provision of some external space where appropriate to support business activities.

In Malahide, Co Dublin, a trial of pedestrianisation is under way with installation of on-street furniture and a car ban.