Pedestrianisation of Patrick St

The Cork Land Use and Transportation Study 1978 proposed that Patrick St would made be a pedestrianised street to create a pleasant and traffic free street. I request that the city would be ambitiuos in its aims for Patrick st and go beyond the measures of the City Centre Movement Strategy to create a fully pedestrianised Patrick St. This would be aligned with a significant number of stated Strategic Objectives , SO1 Compact Liveable Growth, SO3 Transport and Mobility SO4 Climate and Environment, SO8 Environmental Infrastructure, SO9 Placemaking and Managin Development.

Cities across the world have introduced traffic free zones which have been economically and environtmentally successful. Cities cited in the Green & Blue Infrastructure study such an Utrecht, Aarhaus and Stockholm are prime examples that should be studied and replicated here. The success of the Re-Imagine Cork pedestrianisation plan for 17 streets in the city centre is also a clear indication that pedestrianisation works for businesses and also creates a more pleasant and enjoyable city experience free from the noise and pollution of traffic congestion. The existing enforcement of the Patrick St priority bus corridoor is not effective, as evidenced through various media articles and the recent council motion on compliance issues. There are currently many closed shops front and vacant premises on Patrick st. Pedestrianisation of Patrick St would revive the street to make it a truly modern European main street and an attractive centrepiece for the city.