Hope of a more active school run across Ireland

Cycling to school in Ireland isn’t safe everywhere but there’s hope and things are changing for the better. Here’s a bit of a roundup…

RTÉ News today covered Limerick Cycle Bus and the retention of Shannon Bridge, as well as cycling to school in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area of Dublin and Kerry:

As the school year gets under way, there's been a jump in the number of children cycling to and from school. For those biking it for the first time, groups around the country are offering help and advice under the Get to school on your own fuel banner. | https://t.co/6KpQo48hpy pic.twitter.com/0gN7hBTLjF

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 1, 2020

In Dublin City Centre, the filtered permeability bollards on Grangegorman Lower are blocking rat running, calming the streets and helping children cycle to school:

This morning’s walk. pic.twitter.com/kZJy2xzqzU

— Stephanie Dickenson (@StephDickenson) September 1, 2020

This is what around the sane spot used to look like:

Before/after: https://t.co/4d0btQFSSz pic.twitter.com/utLyME2HFc

— Mike Banim (@MikeBanim) September 1, 2020

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the councils getting most of the praise:

Thanks @dlrcc Safe cycling to school this morning on the new protected cycle lanes @dlrcycling @dublincycling pic.twitter.com/OO1vHiHraD

— Emma Tierney (@itsemmatiernial) September 1, 2020

The new, segregated cycle lane on Newtownpark Ave makes the commute to & from school by bicycle a safe & viable option. Kudos @dlrcc. @dublincycling @dlrcycling @IrishCycle @Iloveblackrock @blackrockette @SeafraBlackrock #cycle #cycling #blackrock pic.twitter.com/3n4VMpEbzE

— Dick Notrom (@Devilsad2) September 1, 2020

Here a senior Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council official links to its Active School Travel Initiative:

New 2-way cycle lane on Carysfort Avenue in #blackrock getting plenty of use for school travel this morning. #ActiveSchoolTravel #carysfortns #dlrcc https://t.co/XIdXhv5I0H pic.twitter.com/47UhQI852O

— Robert Burns (@robertburns73) September 1, 2020

A new cycle bus is also running in Clontarf:

Well done to all involved in @GreenlanesNS Cycle Bus prologue stage this morning for first day back in school led by @donna_cooney1 and supported by @DubCityCouncil pic.twitter.com/UdDVZ9xXv6

— Fergus Craddock (@FergusCraddock) September 1, 2020

In north Dublin, in the Fingal area, Malahide’s School Street has returned… other places are due to trial ‘School Zones’ which will not restrict cars as much:

As children return to school, the School Streets Initiative has resumed in Malahide between 8:30-9:15am & 1pm-2:45pm, Monday to Friday. Free Park & Stride facilities are provided at Bridgefield Car Park, Back Road Car Park and Seabanks Car Park. #BackToSchool pic.twitter.com/ahl4bnzkIa

— Fingal County Council (@Fingalcoco) September 1, 2020

But there’s still a lot of work to do across Dublin and across the country:

the council can put paint on every stretch of road they can find, but if junctions are not well thought out, its all for nothing.

it should not be this complicated, kids should not need to preempt left hooks on their way to school pic.twitter.com/KemQNcxTxk

— Alan D (@AlanDub13) September 1, 2020