Locals issue plea for an off-road bike facility

NORTHSIDE residents are calling on Dublin City Council to provide a safe site for local youths interested in the sport of Motocross.

‘Darndale Moto X’, a group led by David Lanigan, is urging the city council to provide land for a designated track in the area to ensure the safety of those participating in the sport – also known as scrambling – and members of the public.

‘Darndale Moto X’ recently held a meeting at the Bell Building to discuss the proposal and highlight the growing problem of local youths not having a designated track.

Mr Lanigan said: “A large group, including around 40 motorcyclist/scramblers, attended the meeting with a lot of

them willing to help us get the land we need from the council.  

“It was not a protest. We were just looking to highlight the growing problem our youth have in Darndale with nowhere to use. There are a few vacant sites belonging to Dublin City Council in the area.   

“Approximately 40 local youths got ‘Scramblers’ for Christmas and they are out on public roads because they’ve nowhere else to go.

“They have taken to the roads, footpaths and even football pitches, which in itself is a worrying issue with younger kids and pedestrians alike.

“At the moment I am pushing the council to allocate a Motocross ‘Scrambler’ track to the youths in order to keep them off the roads and pathways, 

and to try and create some 

means of safety not only for the riders but also for the general public.

“These youths shouldn’t be on their bikes on the roads. We need a safe environment so they are not out on the road or going through football pitches.”

Mr Lanigan conceded that if the city council was able to provide the community with a track that public liability and insurance would be an issue. 

“We’re not sure of the cost but if Dublin City Council allocated some land for the riders, the youth are in agreement that they would pay a weekly fee to cover insurance costs,” he said.

Mr Lanigan pointed to the success of two Motocross tracks that have been provided on the Northside at Alfie Byrne Road, Fairview and in Mulhuddart. He  said a similar facility would be needed to cater for the youth in the Darndale area. 

He also said it would not be practical for the youths to travel to the Fairview facility.

“We would need somewhere in our own area,” he said. 

“Distance is a shame as a lot of the kids would need a trailer and car to get them there which for the families would be too expensive.” 

Mr Lanigan has contacted Dublin City Council and it has asked the group to put a plan in place.

“We have submitted a letter to Dublin City Council requesting a meeting and also a petition with hundreds of signatures from people in the community who are in agreement that a Motocross track should be provided in the area,” he   added.

Meanwhile, ‘Darndale Moto X’ is currently seeking more local volunteers to get involved in the project.  

A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said it would welcome a meeting with the group to consider their proposal and to see how it could potentially be accommodated in the Darndale area. 

“Obviously a motorcycle track could not be located close to houses but the details of the proposal and site constraints can be discussed with the group,” she said.