General comments on the South Circular Road to city center active travel scheme

In general, I think this plan is excellent and it is the way forward to ensure a greener Limerick.  Please find below my suggestions for your perusal.

General

• Ensure consistent cycle flow pattern with road markings (arrows) across the city.
• Include County Council maintenance plan to mitigate for slippery surfaces in shared cycle / car surfaces – especially in areas where there are green spaces / trees nearby.
• Cyclists should be advised that they have a duty of care in keeping their speed down also as motorised wheelchair users and walkers may also be using these cycle lanes or crossing over them (and Vice Versa).
  • In general, all speeds should be kept below 30 KPH.
  • Cyclists need to observe traffic light system better than they do at the moment around the city.

Ballinacurra rd / SCR Junction

• Include additional energy efficient public lighting along this route.
• Include native fruit trees alongside walking area – replace non-native tree species if possible.

SCR / Lifford Avenue / Boreen a Tobar

• Include native fruit trees (e.g., eating apple trees, managed blackberry / raspberry hedgerows) in landscaping for use by the public.  Also include a wildflower area within the large green areas for biodiversity – with an appropriate county council maintenance plan to manage it properly.
• Include a Park & Stride from Dock Road to accommodate the traffic congestion at peak times due to the 5 large academic institutions, two churches and the many local businesses within this area.
  • A suggestion on this would be to retrofit the brownfield site at Courtbrack Avenue area (off the dock rd.) to become a car parking facility for busses and cars to drop off students.  Within this area, include a drop off roundabout system as well as a day parking for cars.
  • The car park would have a permeable paving surface. 
  • In addition, expand the cycle and walking lanes to include this drop off facility.

Mill Lane connect to Bishops Quay near Shannon Estuary

• In areas where there is an Architectural area of conservation, include public information signage to capture the character and architectural reasons why this area is an ACA. 
• Incorporate relevant artistic sculpture to visualise these reasons for the public.
  • In additions within the ACA, include a ‘Moss Wall’ feature to emphasise the need to reduce carbon emissions and that moss can draw down carbon and store it.  It can also be created utilising many varieties of moss and be a very impressive feature for Limerick city landscape.