A number of car parking spaces in Limerick City are set to be transformed into urban sanctuaries courtesy of a Limerick Smarter Travel initiative.
The Travel and Transportation Department of Limerick City and County Council has been awarded €7,000 by the European Commission to design and promote a new type of urban infrastructure, called a 'Park and Picnic Pod'.
The transportable pods will provide inbuilt planting, seating, small tables and bicycle parking in empty car-parking spaces outside four city centre cafés.
The ‘park & picnic pods’ project is one of 19 projects around Europe to receive funding under the European Commission’s Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, entitled ‘Do the Right Mix’.
Limerick Smarter Travel Project Manager, Pat O’Neill said the pilot programme is part of a series of initiatives being implemented by Limerick Smarter Travel to promote greener and more sustainable ways of getting around the city.
He continued: “These Pods support sustainable urban mobility by providing combined bicycle parking, seating for walkers, and built in planting and tables for recreation and coffee. They will be conveniently located in car-parking spaces and they will be maintained by nearby urban cafés in partnership with the local authority."
Mr. O'Neill added: "For the cafés in question, these pods will provide additional seating space for customers, conveniently located bicycle parking for customers and staff, the additional benefits brought by increased natural planting in an urban area and a discrete location to advertise their café offerings."
Paul Crowe, Director of Travel and Transportation, Limerick City and County Council, commented: “This project has been designed with Limerick and her citizens in mind and will complement the ongoing efforts being undertaken to make Limerick City a more attractive and friendly location for cyclists and pedestrians. The pods will also enhance the visual appearance of the city centre streetscape, and will help to promote greater numbers of people to commute to work by bicycle or on foot."
The three-year "Do the Right Mix" campaign, now in its final year, has seen over 605 sustainable urban mobility actions at local, regional and national level registered on the www.dotherightmix.eu website. The aim is to encourage people to move away from car travel and use a mix of more sustainable methods of transport in their day-to-day lives.
Limerick’s ‘Park & Picnic pods’ project, supported by the European Commission’s Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, is expected to be launched in September 2014.
For information on all Limerick Smarter Travel initiatives, visit www.limericksmartertravel.ie or contact 061-407453