What is shared space?

Shared space is a traffic calming measure originally developed in the Netherlands, which creates a street space that is shared by motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike. All traffic control devices, such as signals, stop signs, pedestrian crossings, kerbs and cycle lanes are removed, placing the focus on quality of life within a city, rather than moving through a city with speed, making it easier and more pleasant to get around on foot. Pedestrians, motorists and cyclists share the same space. This concept has become more popular in the UK and other European cities in recent years.

Shared space and people with sight loss

The difficulty with this concept for people who are blind or vision impaired is that it places the emphasis on eye contact and person-to-person negotiation between those using the space to decide on right of way. This creates an obvious barrier for people who are blind or have low vision, who may not be able to see drivers and cyclists to engage in this kind of negotiation.

Footpath kerbs act as clear boundary markers. Without kerbs, people who use a long cane or guide dog find it impossible to travel safely and independently, as it is very hard to locate where the footpath ends and the road begins.

Shared space in Ireland

In Ireland, no true shared space design has been fully implemented but instead, bits and pieces of the original concept have been adopted, for instance in O’Connell Street in Dublin and Patrick Street in Cork. However, in both of these locations the shared space design had to be retrofitted to make it more accessible to pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind have found that on Patrick Street in Cork, it has been extremely difficult to train guide dogs to work in the kerb-less conditions. Guide dogs operate by moving forward and stopping at any kerb they encounter, awaiting instruction from their user at that point. The owner memorises specific routes using kerbs as orientation clues, and orders the dog either to turn or to cross, each time they come to a kerb. It is not possible to train dogs to stop when they reach tactile paving at the edges of roads. If traffic is allowed to share space with pedestrians, the work becomes too stressful for guide dogs, who do not know how to keep their users safe in these conditions, and who can be startled by cars and cyclists passing close beside them.

One of the difficulties in Ireland is that there is no policy or standards in place for the use of shared space by those involved in urban design. Outside of the Disability Act 2005 and Part M of the building regulations, which covers access for people with disabilities, engineers, architects and planners are unsure of how to implement shared space to the benefit of all and the concept is being interpreted differently by different individuals and companies. As our population ages and sight loss becomes more prevalent, this problem is only going to become more obvious.

Increase in sight loss among Irish population

The Vision Impaired Service Providers Alliance (VISPA www.vispa.ie), of which NCBI is a member, produced a report entitled “Eyes on the Future” (2008) , which provides vital new information about sight loss and ageing in Ireland.

There are more than 14,800 people who are blind or vision impaired known to NCBI. However, these figures appear to underestimate the true extent of blindness by approximately 30-40%. There may be a further 4,000 to 5,000 people throughout the country that have significant difficulties with their eyesight but, for a variety of reasons, have either not been identified, or sought out the services that are available to them.

In fact, about 30,000 adults in Ireland are currently living with significant sight loss as a result of not having the appropriate spectacle correction. This is most likely due to the lack of awareness of the importance of regular eye exams.

According to Eyes on the Future, the number of blind people in the Republic of Ireland (using World Health Organisation definitions) aged 55 years and over is likely to increase by 170% between 2006 and 2031. The increase in the number of people who are vision impaired for the same period is estimated at 180%.

What can be done?

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has made a call for “safe space within the shared space” and NCBI backs this request. When upgrading streetscapes, if shared space is being considered, NCBI recommends that footpaths and kerbs are only dispensed with where there is no vehicular or cycling traffic. However, if traffic is allowed to share space with pedestrians, kerbs must be used.

If the principles of universal design were integrated into the concept of shared space, it may be possible to make cities and towns safer and more user-friendly for everyone.

NCBI calls for further research into the benefits of the use of shared space in urban design and for the development of standards for those involved in designing our towns and cities. The Government has committed, through the Disability Act 2005, to create a more equal environment for people with disabilities and this must be followed through, with the Department of the Environment as the leading organisation, to planning our towns and cities to the benefit of all citizens. Any debate around the development of a shared space strategy for Ireland should be driven by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

About NCBI

NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that provides support and services to over 15,000 people of all ages who are blind and vision impaired throughout the country.

Our vision is for people who are blind and vision impaired to have the same opportunities, rights and choices as others to fully participate in society. Our mission is to enable people who are blind and vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.