— Deadline for feedback is this Monday, January 10, 2022.
— A number of primary city centre routes downgraded in plan
— Some planned town and rural routes removed.

A revised version of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan is up for consultation — it covers Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

The previous plan has so far only been implemented in bits and pieces, with few signs of a segregated or low-traffic network in much of the area covered by the plan. But routes being in the plan or not is a key deciding factor of if the National Transport Authority will fund and prioritise projects, and this is more important with an increase in Government funding.

In the Dublin City, streets such as Cork Street / Crumlin Road, Capel Street, Parnell Street, South Great Geroge’s Street / Camden Street, South William Street, Old Kilmainham Road / James Street / Thoman Street / High Street, have been downgraded from a primary route to a secondary route

The removal of a number of sections of primary routes means there’s no north-south primary route between Christchurch and Grand Canal Square — over 2km in the core city centre.

On the other hand, a number of secondary routes have been upgraded to primary routes in the draft plan, including the Phibsborough Road, part of the Navan Road, and Ballymount Drive / Bunting Road / Kildare Road / Clogher Road.

Some planned town and rural routes have been removed and there no rural maps were released showing routes between towns beyond, which was part of the previous plan.

The new draft GDA Cycle Network Plan was released as part of the ‘Supporting Documents’ for the public consultation on the Draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042. The report for the new GDA Cycle Network Plan can be read in full on the National Transport Authority’s website, while the high-level maps can be viewed below alongside the current below.

According to the new GDA Cycle Network report, the vision is that: “The GDA Cycle Network seeks to be an inclusive cycling environment that is safe for all cycling abilities and ages with strong functional and recreational connectivity between homes and key destinations,” but cycling for all is not defined and authorities have previously used the phrase to refer to designs which are not in keeping with Cycling For All.

The report states: “The 2013 Plan was evaluated and further developed for meeting the goals of the 2021 GDA Cycle Network Plan. Technical assessment and stakeholder input were important supportive tools for the project.” But little or no detail is given stakeholder input.

It said that: “Comprehensive analyses were conducted for achieving some or all of the project goals, as presented in various sections. Analysis points to improving junctions early (including roundabouts and other nodes), for providing safe crossing points for cyclists and reducing the connectivity gaps – though a revised National Cycling Manual will primarily support design elements.”

It added: “Physical barriers and low accessibility areas were identified and analysed, and new links proposed where possible. These proposals would be expected to make the network more permeable to cyclists, but also other non-motorised road users.”

The new draft plan and maps can be found at nationaltransport.ie/gda/supporting-documents and the old/current GDA network and maps can be viewed via irishcycle.com/gda. You can respond to the public consultation via the NTA public consultation portal at consult.nationaltransport.ie.

Old and new maps:

Dublin City and Suburbs

Dublin City Centre old and new:

The following are sorted in the order of from the North East (Howth) anti-clockwise around the city to the South East. Areas further away from the city follow:

Dublin North East old and new:

Dublin North Central old and new:

Dublin North West old and new:

Dublin Mid West old and new:

Dublin South West old and new:

Dublin South Central old and new:

Dublin South East old and new:

County Dublin towns

Sword Malahide and Portmarnock old and new:

Lusk, Rush and Donabate old and new:

Balbriggan and Skerries old and new:

County Meath towns

Navan old and new:

Kells old (no new map found):

Trim old and new:

Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne old and new:

County Kildare towns

Maynooth, Celbridge and Lexlip old and new:

Clane old and new:

Naas, Sallins and Kill old and new:

Newbridge and Kildare old and new:

Athy old and new:

County Wicklow towns

Bray old and new:

Greystones old and new:

Arklow old and new: