Contra-flow cycle track installed on Dublin street after 32 year wait

— Contra-flow cycle track for Nassau Street was planned in April 2010.
— Video and images in Tweets below.

A section of the contra-flow cycle track is now operational on Leinster Street leading up to Nassau Street, after what a TD said today was a 32 year wait.

The lack of two-way cycling on many streets in Irish cities has been identified as a major barrier to cycling. In cycling-friendly cities internationally, contra-flow provision is provided by way of segregated cycle tracks on wider streets and also contra-flow without cycle lanes on minor single-lane streets.

It’s a decade to the month when city councillors at the time pushed back against a Dublin City Council plan for contra-flow, which was dropped due to lack of support. Then 1/2 decade ago, a councillor-backed push for contra-flow failed by one vote.

Soon, there should be no more long diversion around Trinity College when cycling from East to West in the city centre… pic.twitter.com/FO9zjfHgZk

— Ossian Smyth TD (@smytho) April 28, 2020

When I mentioned it to @EamonRyan , he said he first asked for this 32 years ago.

— Ossian Smyth TD (@smytho) April 28, 2020

Here’s a video posted by a member of the public:

Pretty nifty bit of cycling infrastructure you have to say pic.twitter.com/RbFzDEdaGN

— Phil (@rothairisbeoir) April 28, 2020

Cian Ginty

I am editor of IrishCycle.com and have reported on and commented on cycling in Ireland for over a decade. My background is in journalism -- I have a BA in Journalism from DCU and HDip in Print Journalism from BCFE. I wrote about cycling for national newspapers, and then started CyclingInDublin.com for overflow stories. Later the website was re-branded to reflect a more national focus.