[ad_1]
The town of Sandymount could be “absolutely destroyed” if a cycle path is built through it, as heard at a meeting of the Dublin City Council.
The council’s transportation department is examining “mitigation measures” to calm traffic in the town of Dublin 4 after the Strand Road cycle route comes online in February for a six-month trial.
The two-way cycle route on Strand Road will see traffic limited to one lane, with cars authorized to travel out to Merrion Gates only. Local residents have expressed concern that this will push cars into the residential areas of Sandymount.
A second two-way bike path could be built through the village of Sandymount, along with car restrictions, including traffic barriers, reduced parking, and one-way systems to slow down traffic and make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. .
Brendan O’Brien of the transportation department told council members on Monday that they had asked him to provide a report on possible mitigation measures that could be implemented if particular problems arise as a result of the Strand Road bike path.
One of these measures was the protection of bike lanes in the town. An advisory community forum also asked if there could be additional protection for cycling in Sandymount village, he said.
Fianna Fáil Councilor Claire O’Connor asked why the idea of a bike path through town was just now emerging.
“The fact that this second cycle track has emerged, you would have to wonder if [it] It’s such a well-conceived idea, why wasn’t it introduced early in this process? “, said. “I’ve always been concerned that it’s almost made up as we go along.”
Ms. O’Connor also raised questions about a consultation process that found 56 percent of respondents were in favor of the Strand Road trial.
“This figure that is disseminated in the media is that 56 percent of the people are in favor of the project, they are from all over the country,” he said. “Some of them are from Cork.”
While bike lanes were being introduced as a Covid-19 measure, he said it was clear that the measures would remain “long after Covid.”
No local initiation
The independent Mannix Flynn said that the cycling proposals had been initiated by the council’s chief executive, Owen Keegan, and the National Transportation Authority, and not by local residents.
“Mr. Owen Keegan can push for these measures whether we like it or not … I think Owen Keegan is sitting here quite a bit laughing at us.”
Mr. Flynn said he was a “professional cyclist”, but the plan “will make the village of Sandymount, on the one hand, have a bike lane and, on the other, totally and utterly destroyed.
Mayor Hazel Chu said mitigation measures were proposed to do what is best for the community during the trial period. “Ultimately, it is a test,” he said. “I know people don’t think it’s a test, but it is a test.”
Dermot Lacey, Labor, said a situation had arisen where “the local community, or a large part of it, just doesn’t trust the Dublin City Council on this.”
O’Brien said the mitigation measures would be introduced only by agreement.
[ad_2]