Quality Bus Corridors (QBC) and cycle routes are being developed along ten radial and one circumferential route as part of the Dublin Transport Initiative (DTI). The scheme is funded by the Dublin Transportation Office through the European Union OPERATION Programme. The author has carried out the design for the first two QBC and cycle routes along the Malahide Road and Blanchardstown corridors in Dublin, for Dublin Corporation's Environmental Transport Planning Division and Dublin Bus Company. Dutch cycle facility specialists Grontmij Consulting Engineers were involved in the project as sub-consultants. These corridors contain some of the busiest roads in Dublin. The characteristics of the roads vary from high speed dual carriageways to village centres and narrow city streets. To achieve safe and comfortable facilities for cyclists and significant priority for buses represents a considerable challenge. The Malahide Road corridor, the first corridor to be designed, is seen as a flagship project by Dublin Corporation, and will be used as a test bed for innovative design features which could be implemented on other corridors in Dublin. Construction began on both corridors in Autumn 1997. The paper includes reference to experience of the scheme actually in use.
Samenvatting