Fingal County Council is seeking applications from residents who are interested in participating in an upcoming 'Quiet Streets' programme.
To apply fill out the form below. Please review the criteria before completing your application.
What are ‘quiet streets’?
Quiet streets are streets that have been enhanced to improve the atmosphere and the safety of residential areas. Streets chosen for the programme will receive tailored solutions that aim to reduce the impact of through vehicular traffic on residents while enhancing air quality and making the street a more attractive and pleasant place to spend time or play.
Solutions might include planters or bollards to stop through motor traffic using the street and prevent cars from taking 'shortcuts’ through residential areas, a practice often called ‘rat-running’ or ‘cut-through’ traffic. Quiet streets are delivered using ‘filtered permeability’. This means people walking, wheeling and cycling can take the most direct route, but cars that are just passing through are diverted away to reduce through traffic.
Quiet street will maintain vehicle access for residents living on a street, while preventing through traffic.
The quiet streets programme aims to enhance safety on the street and create a more vibrant and enjoyable living environment for residents.
Why is the quiet streets programme needed?
Not long ago it was common for people to walk, linger or play in residential streets. Most homes had fewer cars and there was less traffic near to where people lived. With higher car ownership and more people living at home into adulthood, as well as more multi-generational family homes, this has changed. Our cars also tend to be larger and more powerful than they used to be.
As a result, fewer people feel safe walking or cycling near their home, and fewer children feel safe playing in the streets where they live. We'd like to reverse some of those negative changes, so that everyone can enjoy a feeling of comfort and safety at or close to home. The Quiet Streets programme means people walking, wheeling and cycling can take the most direct route, but cars that are just passing through are diverted away to reduce through traffic.
How will Quiet Streets locations be chosen?
We want to hear from the people of Fingal. Is your residential area affected by heavy volumes of through motor traffic or speeding? Could your street be made safer, so that people of all ages can walk, cycle and chat outside their homes? Are alternative routes for cars and other motor traffic available? If your street matches the following criteria, you can nominate your area to take part in the programme:
- Your street is in a town or village in Fingal.
- It is a residential street (no commercial premises, schools etc).
- Street is currently affected by traffic using it as a cut-through or shortcut, or other road safety issues.
- Your street is not a main street or thoroughfare.
- The majority of neighbours are interested in participating in the programme. Streets with an active residents association may find it easier to gauge interest.
- You are interested in a minimum commitment of 6 months to trial solutions .
Example: Haverty Road, Marino & Hackney Council (UK)
There are lots of examples of quiet streets and filtered permeability in Ireland, the UK and further afield. Haverty Road in Marino is a residential street that was being used a ‘rat run’. The residents of Haverty Road were concerned that their street had become extremely unsafe, for local residents, children, vulnerable adults, pedestrians and commuter cyclists who use the street.
In 2022 as part of a pilot, Dublin City Council installed bollards on one end of the street, as seen in the pictures below, preventing through traffic from using Haverty Road, while preserving access for residents from the other side.
The residents report that the scheme is very successful in reducing dangerous driving on the street, creating a better atmosphere on the street.
In Hackney the Council used planters to stop the movement of through traffic through residential streets, leading to a safer street life for everyone living in the area.
