Cyclists set for transport boost

DUBLIN cyclists will benefit from hundreds of kilometres of new cycleways across the city if new proposals announced last week get the green light.

The Cycle Network plan covers the city’s four local authority areas as well as counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow and will increase cycle networks in the Greater Dublin region from 500 kilometres to an incredible 2,840 kilometres.

The plans were announced by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly, and they’re now open for public consultation until October 14.

The proposed cycle network will provide over 1,300km of new connections between towns in the rural areas of the Greater Dublin region.

The planned network consists of primary and secondary routes as well as Greenway routes through parks and along waterways.

Minister Varadkar said there has been a significant increase in the number of people cycling in Dublin in the last few years and they need to be catered for.

“We want that to continue,

? he added.

“This plan will treble the length of cycleways in Dublin. Added to the bike-to-work scheme, the extension of Dublin Bikes and greater integration with bus, train stations and Luas stops, it is our vision to have as many people cycling into the city every morning in 2021 as currently take the bus.

“This is hugely ambitious but I believe it can be done.

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It’s hoped a vastly improved urban network will attract new cyclists, as well as catering for increasing numbers of existing city-cyclists. Under the proposals some current cycleways will be upgraded and the busiest routes and sections will be prioritised for quality.

The planned network incorporates existing cycle routes such as the Grand Canal Cycle Scheme, but also proposes significant new routes, such as an off-road Dodder Route, connecting Tallaght to the South City Centre Business District.

The network has been devised following a comprehensive study of the location and condition of existing facilities, and of the patterns of travel shown in census data and household surveys.

A special cycling demand model was created for the main urban area of Dublin to assess the future demand in the busiest areas.

Commenting on the proposals, Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority (NTA) said:

“In essence, this represents a new transport network for the Greater Dublin Area, with a target in 2021 of 75,000 cycle users each morning.

“This would represent a three-fold increase in cycling over 2011 levels. In other words, the cycle network may carry as many commuters in the morning in 2021 as is currently carried by bus.

“Each year significant investment is made in cycling facilities in the Greater Dublin Area. Last year, 2012, the Authority provided grant-aid of e13.39m to cycling projects.

“This plan will inform the next decade of investment in cycling across seven local authorities areas in the region. It is the most comprehensive study of cycling needs ever carried out in Ireland and aims to satisfy the increasing demand for appropriate cycling routes.

“We will build on the resurgence in cycling which has occurred by meeting cyclists’ needs.

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Mr Murphy encouraged anyone with an interest in the proposals to review them and submit their views through the consultation process. The proposals can be viewed online at nationaltransport.ie or at NTA offices in Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2 from 9am-5pm.