Some comments as an atmospheric/AQ scientist on cyber trees & Cork city #airquality:
1ST
It’s a huge positive that AQ is being seriously discussed. @corkcitycouncil is doing innovative monitoring work (incl. with us in @craclabucc) & it’s good to see cllrs engage with the problem 2ND
That’s important because local AQ is a HUGE problem.
E.g., my rough calcs on premature deaths (city & county):
Road deaths (2019)=15
Covid = 50 (@ 25/7)
AQ = 80 (metro only)...a quick pro-capita est. from natl figures. It’s likely higher in Cork city.
And that’s EVERY year

@CorkCyclingCrew's submission on CMATS was extremely critical of cycling modal share. We termed it "introtrovertibly flawed" & "professionally indefensible".
Here's why:
@cyclistie @LimerickCycling @GalwayCycling @dublincycling @IBIKECork @EamonRyan

https://twitter.com/LornaBogue/status/1307062742663204864

1) It used out of date census data, 2011, not 2016!. If this was a research thesis, this would require major revisions & complete reworking of data.

As a result...

1/4
Just got in my comments for Cork’s draft development plan.
Have you? It’s at
bit.ly/2YiNS1Z
Deadline Friday 4pm

I highlighted sustainability & green issues as vital.
Transport, health, development, & green spaces are esp important. 2/4
That’s why I called for Lee to Sea greenway to be prioritized as a flagship project.
bit.ly/3em6iWc
It really delivers for commuting, tourism, leisure. It hits multiple national, international, & local goals & policies— sustainable cities, health/wellbeing & climate

On cleaning streets & public health, here's a quote from @TheAtlantic:
James Hamblin, our health reporter;
"The speculation is that some of this was hygiene theater to make people feel more safe by showing them this big, strong government response...." "...The only theoretical way that it could possibly matter is if people are walking around seeding the sidewalks with coughs and sneezes, and you walk on it and get a little bit on your shoe, and then walk into your house and then touch your floor...."

The @CorkCyclingCrew interactive map of proposed extension to bike sharing scheme locations is here bit.ly/321AGO0.
Check it out!
For each new location, the group identified trip attractors, likely users, & condition of nearby cycling lanes. Stations were aligned with the scheme's spacing philosophy & with evidence from Philip Lowney's real-time Cork scheme data:
bit.ly/2RFMrHS

1/
Monday 9 March we’ll welcome @KHayhoe to Cork for 2 climate talks. Katharine is a leading climatologist & science communicator. She’s also a person of faith.
I’m esp. excited about the 8pm Christians in Science lecture b/c it touches my work as a scientist & my Christian faith 2/
As a scientist, I study how light interacts with gases & particles in air. These interactions drive climate change. Research questions remain but not these core findings:
(1) our climate is changing
(2) people’s actions are the cause

We’ve known this for decades!

Yes, @tmfcork is great & unique & does valuable work!

But it doesn't always voice pub.trans. users views. Examples springing to mind where a bus/train representatives group would be valuable: 1. Pana ban: BE said too little too late, tho' their customers were main beneficiaries of change. @CorkCyclingCrew & @tmfcork were the main voice in support, tho' Pana ban of little benefit to cyclists. A passengers voice was need in this debate to win over councillors

1/
Here’s a little thread about mobility & liveable neighbourhoods. I’ll call it

THE WOMAN & THE WALL

#Ballincollig has a magnificent park, the #RegionalPark. The park has riverside & woodland walks, playing fields, playgrounds, & historical buildings. It’s well used & loved. 2/
Recently, the central path in the park was extended to a new eastern entrance, making it accessible from new neighbourhoods.

Nearby residents want to use it.

Here’s what I like about Blackrock GW scheme:
path widened: 3m -> 5m (+++)
access: more access points, exisiting access improved (++)
native tree planting (++)
sensitive retention & inclusion of railway heritage (++)
improve lighting & security (+) I don’t like:
lack of segregation.Big bad point on an otherwise great scheme!
Best intl practice is segregation between slow & fast users.
Does cyclists/scooters weaving in & out of peds sound smart? I don’t think so either!

As pic shows, people will use both L & R sides!