Needs of vulnerable road users in Newbridge must be considered, local rep tells council

The needs of vulnerable road users in the town of Newbridge must be considered by Kildare County Council (KCC).

That's according to Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, who made the comments at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting.

He put forward the following motion to KCC on Wednesday, April 17 last: "That KCC adds additional time to pedestrian lights in the Newbridge area, in an effort to support vulnerable road users."

Cllr Pender's motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer.

In response to Cllr Pender's motion, KCC said via its report at the meeting: "The council's Sustainable Transport section fully subscribe to the hierarchy of road users, as set out by the Department of Transport with pedestrians, including people whose mobility is impaired, at the top of consideration when designing schemes.

"The section includes the Traffic Management team who, despite resource constraints, works closely with the National Transport Authority funded team to develop solutions at signalised crossings that prioritise vulnerable road users.

"In particular, new crossings and refurbishment of existing signalised crossings have been the priority for the team over the past few years and this will continue in this MD area, subject to an appropriate funding stream.

Cllr Chris Pender of the Social Democrats (File photograph).

"Options to reduce the width of crossings are considered when planning these works and this reduces the length of carriageway that pedestrians need to cross."

KCC continued: "This is the most effective way of prioritising pedestrians crossing the road by reducing the time needed to cross.”

"Options to extend the timings of the 'amber man' are included in Town Centre locations and kerbside detectors are used to facilitate this, when required," KCC concluded.

Cllr Pender mentioned to KCC officials present at the meeting that he had raised the issue at a previous MD meeting.

He added that the matter 'is becoming an increasing (recurrent) issue' for the MD.

Cllr Pender further told KCC that he did not accept the report, and asked KCC to carry out a reassessment of the town.

"Some of the most vulnerable members of our community feel vulnerable doing things that most of us take for granted," Cllr Pender explained to KCC: "I do accept that driver behaviour factors into this too, and I do understand the council's limitations, but we should be looking to build a society around vulnerable individuals, because it ultimately benefits all of us."