Dublin has “no shortage of plans” for cycling, action needed says councillor

Cyclists in Dublin Rathmines routeDublin City councillor Ciarán Cuffe (Green Party) has criticised “a lack of vision and drive” to move plans for cycling in the capital forward.

Ahead of the annual lecture of the Dublin Cycling Campaign yesterday Cuffe said: “There is no shortage of plans and programmes to improve cycling, but there is a lack of vision and drive to move these plans forward. Agencies have to ask themselves, what are they doing to make improvements happen?”

Cuffe, a former junior minister for transport, is now the incoming chair of Dublin City Council’s Strategic policy committee on transport.

He said: “Good ideas have been around for twenty years, but often have only got as far as the drawing board. Looking ahead I intend to prioritise the needs of vulnerable cyclists: children; women and older people in my time on the Council.”

“This requires state-of-the art-facilities that are well designed and maintained. I understand the concerns of those who complain about cyclists on the footpaths, but the response has to include safer facilities for cyclists on public roads,” added Cuffe.

He said the issues he will prioritise on the transport committee includes: reducing the amount of one way streets that carry several lanes of traffic; introducing contra-flow cycle lanes in key locations such as Upper Camden Street, Stephen’s Green and Parnell Square; and reducing the timing cycle length of traffic signals to prioritise cyclists and pedestrians.

He is also focused on building quality cycle facilities on the Liffey Quays and along the Rivers Tolka and Dodder as well as continuing the works at the Grand and Royal Canal, and the Sutton to Sandycove Project.

He said: “It is time to build a real cycling culture in Dublin, learning from cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Paris.”


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1 comment

  1. These better not be more empty words from a politician. Ciaran has the best intention but one this issue maybe in quite a minority in the council. Other councillors need to be put under pressure to support these plans. Those of us who already use the bicycle, despite the poor facilities, to get about the city already know this is worth doing. People who haven’t considered cycling or who are reluctant due to the lack of safe infrastructure, may not know that they need this right now, but if it’s built they will in a better decision. Safe cycling should be accessible for everybody from 8 to 80 in our city.

    Reply

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