‘Safer for children in cities to get to school than in Conamara’
PARENTS, local people and schoolchildren in four villages along the R336 Conamara Coast Road took part in walking protests yesterday (Wednesday) morning to highlight ‘the daily perils’ faced by pedestrians, cyclists and schoolgoers.
More than 1,000 people, including schoolchildren, took to the streets of Bearna, Na Forbacha, An Spidéal and Indreabhán between 8am and 9am, with the aim of getting traffic calming measures introduced in the four villages.
Traffic data provided to local parents by Galway County Council on traffic volumes and speeds through the four locations has been described by local people as ‘frightening’ and a reminder of the need for urgent action to be taken.
On the west side of Na Forbacha, over a period of 317 days, 1.6 million vehicles passing through the village were recorded with an average speed of 60.5km/h in a 50km/h zone – one driver clocked up what was described as ‘a shocking speed’ of 184km/h (over 114mph).
The traffic volumes were even higher than that on the east (Galway City) side of Na Forbacha with over 786,000 vehicles using the road over a 122-day period – half of them were over the speed limit and one driver was clocked at 160km/h (almost 100mph).
Local Bearna councillor, Tomás Ó Curraoin told the Connacht Tribune that councillors were ‘blue in the face’ trying to highlight and get action to calm down traffic along the R336 villages.
“We need traffic calming measures as a matter of absolute urgency. Speed ramps, proper pedestrian crossings and decent footpaths are all basic needs. There is a real danger here for schoolchildren, given the speed of the traffic,” said Cllr Ó Curraoin.
One of Wednesday’s protest organisers, Cathal Ó Flatharta from An Spideál, told the Connacht Tribune that the crucial issue to be tackled was the speed at which the traffic was driving through the villages.
“We need speed ramps and proper zebra pedestrian crossings, to make it safe for children, their parents and grandparents to walk to and from the local schools. As things stand, there is a real danger in doing this,” said Cathal Ó Flatharta.
Another parent from Indreabhán, Seosaimh Ó Fátharta, told the Connacht Tribune that with new schools having come on stream, there was now a particular urgency about dealing with the traffic issues.
Pictured: Yesterday’s walking protest to demand urgent road safety improvements for Bearna. Photo: Brian Harding.