Laois council wants to know obstacles to switching from cars in Portlaoise

Laois County Council wants to know what the obstacles are to them using alternatives to cars and in Portlaoise as part of preparing a new transport plan for the county town.

The Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) also want the public to identify what are the three 'key issues' that need to be addressed in the forthcoming Local Transport Plan (LTP) for the town.

The local authority says the completion of this plan is an objective of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and its delivery will support many other national, regional and local objectives.

It says the plan aims to identify and recommend transport solutions to improve connectivity and accessibility within Portlaoise, ensuring that the town centre and its environs are "a vibrant, attractive and sustainable place wherein to live, work, visit and invest". 

County Hall says the aim of this survey is to first understand how people currently move around Portlaoise, why they choose current modes of transport, and what may encourage them to use more sustainable modes (i.e. walking, cycling, scooting, public transport) of transport in the future, if not already.

"We will use the results of this Survey to help inform and shape the recommendations and proposals of the Portlaoise LTP," says the council.

The online survey divides Portlaoise into  the following areas:

• Town Centre
• West (e.g. Portlaoise College, IDA Business Technology Park, Ballingham, Maryborough Village)
• North West (e.g. Scoil Bhríde National School, Rossleighan Park, Carmody Way, Ballyfin Road, De Vesci Court)
• North (e.g. Rossvale, Liogard, Dunnes Stores, Beechfield, Craydon Court, Laurel Drive, Buttercup Avenue, Heather Lane)
• Inner North (e.g. Millbrook, Portlaoise Skatepark)
• Outer North (e.g. The Hermitage, St. Mary's CBS, Scoil Chríost Rí)
• North East (e.g. Ashley Gardens, Colliers Wood, Lake Glade)
• Outer East (e.g. Old Kilminchy, The Rock Inn)
• East (e.g. Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Grenville, Carrick Hill)
• South East (e.g. Holy Family Catholic Senior School, Summerhill Lane, Aghnaharna Drive)
• Inner South (e.g. Portlaoise Town Park, Laois Shopping Centre, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Glenside)
• Outer South (e.g. Downs Lane, Portlaoise Golf Club, Sheffield Cross)
• Outer South-West (e.g. Togher Woods, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Old Knockmay)
• Outer West (e.g. Kylegrove)

It asks people where they live and the means of transport, and the reasons for getting around the town.

It asks people if they would consider changing their typical mode of travel and if yes outlines options as:

• Run
• Cycle
• Scoot
• Bus
• Car

It asks people to choose the three things they consider to be biggest barriers to you walking more around Portlaoise from the following list:

• Lack of safe footpaths
• Lack of places to cross the street
• I don't feel safe because of driver behaviour / vehicular traffic is too fast
• I don't feel safe on my own / at night
• There isn't enough lighting at night
• Lack of public toilets
• Lack of places to sit / rest along the way
• Vehicles are parked on the footpath
• I have too much to carry
• The air feels dirty / polluted
• Poorly maintained buildings and public spaces 

It also asks people to pick from the following to identify the biggest barriers to you cycling/scooting more around Portlaoise.

• Please select at most 3 options.
• Lack of dedicated cycle lanes separated from vehicular traffic 
• Lack of places to park my bike/scooter safely
• Lack of places to cross 
• I don't feel safe because of driver behaviour / vehicular traffic is too fast
• I don't feel safe on my own / at night
• Vehicles are parked on cycle lanes
• I have too much to carry
• I don't know how to cycle
• I don't own or have access to a bike
• 21

Portlaoise is in line to get town-only bus service. Companies were invited in May 2022 to bid for a contract to help develop new local bus services Portlaoise which would have 72 stops on two routes that will crisscross the Laois county town.

The survey asks which of the following possible measures would encourage people to try public transport.

• Better waiting facilities (e.g. footpaths to the bus stop, sheltered stops, real-time passenger information)
• More reliable timetable information
• Bus stop closer to home
• Bus stop closer to work
• More direct routes
• More frequent services
• There is currently no public transport near where I live
• Nothing would encourage me to use it

The survey concludes by asking the public to identify three key issues that need to be addressed in the new transport plan for the town.

The council says that once a Draft Local Transport Plan has been developed, it will publish it for another round of consultation to once again get public feedback on the draft proposals.

The link to the survey is  https://tinyurl.com/ PortlaoiseLTPSurvey

Alternatively, scan the QR Code underneath.