Dublin City Councillors are due to make crucial decisions on speed limits in the City shortly. The whole process has been delayed following a recent letter from the CEO to the Lord Mayor and Councillors so there’s no definite date for the next stage. However, we anticipate that the issue may be raised at the Council Meeting on Monday 14th June. We need everybody to contact their local councillors and urge them to support the default 30 km/h speed limit. There’s a sample letter/email below. You can find out who your local councillors are here. Don’t delay, contact them today.

Dear Councillor,

I am writing as a member of Dublin Cycling Campaign to urge you to continue to support the proposed introduction of a default 30 km/h speed limit for Dublin City. This is a critical and important marker for Dublin City to lay down in supporting a safer and healthier city, and to be a standard bearer in the Irish context.

We are calling for 30 km/h speed limits to be introduced on the majority of roads throughout the City. The key reasons for urging you to support the default 30km/h speed limit for Dublin City include:

· International evidence indicates that a 30 km/h speed limit supports safer streets;

· International evidence indicates that a 30 km/h speed limit supports healthier urban environments;

· Ireland is a signatory to the Stockholm Declaration, an international pledge to mandate 30 km/h in; urban areas, and which is endorsed by the UN General Assembly;

· Many international cities have already adopted a 30 km/h speed limit in recognition of its benefits;

· Dublin City can be a standard bearer for safer and healthier streets in Ireland.

As Ireland emerges from a once-in-a-century global pandemic and a series of lockdowns, many people of all ages and abilities in Ireland have a new appreciation of active travel, walking and cycling. We also have an appreciation of the benefits they bring. These include calm and pleasant neighbourhoods, cleaner air, and improvements to overall health and well-being.

Introducing a default speed limit of 30 km/h is among the least expensive interventions towards creating a healthier city. It can also reduce the need for signage, offering the opportunity for much needed removal of poles and similar street clutter, improving the city visually, and improving wheelchair accessibility.

Ireland is a signatory to the Stockholm Declaration 2020, which was subsequently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. Already, Spain and the Netherlands have mandated all of their urban areas to introduce a 30 km/h speed limit. In recent years, 30km/h zones have been gradually introduced into parts of Dublin City, per international best practice, with the positive support of Councillors and general agreement that 30 km/h is the appropriate speed limit to reduce injuries and fatalities, and promote a safer environment.

Dublin Cycling Campaign is very disappointed that the recent letter (dated 4th June 2021) from the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council to the Lord Mayor and Councillors has resulted in further delays to the proposed introduction of a default 30 km/h in Dublin City. We had hoped that agreement could be reached at the upcoming City Council meeting on 14 June on a default 30 km/h, including provision for higher speeds on some roads where there is evidence that these higher speeds are safe.

Dublin Cycling Campaign fully supports the proposal for a default 30 km/h speed limit in the City. We want Dublin City to be safer and accessible to all, particularly schoolchildren. We hope that you do, too.

A decision by Councillors to introduce a default 30 km/h speed limit in Dublin City would go some distance towards fulfilling our international commitment. We hope that other Irish cities and towns will follow any lead given by Dublin City Council and introduce default 30 km/h urban speed limits.

Again, I urge you to support the proposal for a Default 30 km/h speed limit.

I would be happy to meet with you, probably online, if you would like to discuss this further including any questions or concerns you may have about particular roads in our area.

Kind regards,