2010-02-12 Support 30 km/h Sample Letter to Councillors

Dear Councillor,



Since the introduction of the 30 km/h zone there has been a positive change on the O'Connell St axis and on the quays. 



My family and the neighbours I have spoken to would like to see this maintained. 



Please think of ordinary people rather than media hype. Figures released by the National Transport Authority show that 30 people have lost their lives since the year 2000 in the 30 km/h zone. How many lives are worth the one additional minute it takes to cross the 30 km/h zone? 



Work by Sweden's National Roads Authority backs this up: a car travelling at 50 km/h impacting with a vulnerable road user (pedestrian or cyclist) results in a 80% fatality rate whereas at 30 km/h this reduces to approx. 10%.



Some 20 per cent of our children are obese or overweight. "A city is more civilised not when it has highways, but when a child on a tricycle is able to move about everywhere with ease and safety ... Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people" says Enrique Penalosa, who as mayor helped to make Bogota a leading city, and inspired many other mayors across the world. 



When I drive I'm willing to impose the small amount of discipline it takes while crossing the 30 km/h zone. For our own sake, and for the younger generations, it is not too much to ask. 



I would appreciate your response on these matters. 



Yours sincerely,

Name and address

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or here-
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For more information see www.dublincycling.ie/30