Snapshop of Luas BXD traffic plans positive for cycling

Plans included 1.75m cycle lanes on both sides of St Stephen’s Green East

Dublin City Council has released the first snapshot of traffic management works needed for Luas Broombridge construction, and, so-far, it seems like good news for cyclists.

The works relate to St Stephen’s Green South, an area that is outside the remit of the An Bord Pleanala approval for Luas BXD, so it is subjected to part 8 planning approval by the city council.

It is proposed to provide a new 1.75m wide cycle lanes on both sides of east of the green. The lane on park side will continue northbound, and the council says “It is intended that this link will be extended to College Green.” A cycle lane is for the first time included inside the southbound contra-flow bus lane.

There will be be also be some moving about of bicycle parking and the Dublin Bike station, to fit in with the new footpath layout and crossings. Here are details from the council’s report on the changes:

Read more

Cycling low on list of priorities for transport minister Varadkar

UPDATE: John Carroll, an advisor to the minister, has contacted us via Twitter to say: “That list is not in order of priority. It’s a list of priorities.”

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, has released his list of priorities for 2013 — and cycling is down the list.  

Varadkar’s department for the first time covers transport, tourism and sport and cycling ticks all three boxes as a mode of transport, a sport, active leisure activity and an attractor for tourists.  But cycling comes in 18th of 20th of the minister’s priorities for the year ahead.

The full list below, from a press release issued tonight, shows where cycling stands:

Read more