A city councillor wants a cycle path on Childers Road in Limerick removed because a broken down car and heavy traffic in the opposite direction made it hard for motorists to overtake the car on the road yesterday.
The move by Fianna Fail councillor Catherine Slattery follows local Fianna Fail TD Willie O’Dea’s intervention against Active Travel schemes in the city. She asked for the cycle path to be “removed or reduced” and, if not can, for a “section of the footpath” to be used so that the traffic lanes could be widened.
The cycle path in question on Childers Road in Limerick is planned to link into a wider cycle network for the city.
The cycle path was installed by a reallocation of space from previously excessively wide traffic lanes, which are a known safety hazard. The cycle path did not result in the removal of any traffic lanes, turning lanes or car parking.
Limerick Urban Cycling Group, a group which organises casual urban cycles, tweeted: “A local Councillor Catherine Slattery advocating to remove a cycle lane that takes no lane from car traffic (or parking) because of traffic. Childers Road is a primary route for cycling and needs to be completed as a cycling route.”
They added: “One of our members is a healthcare worker who commutes using this route. Will safety be removed because cars break down every so often?”
Cllr Catherine Slattery, replied: “Yes and I stand by what I say it has not been designed right and needs to be relooked at. I’m not against cycle lanes but if they are going to be done then do them right and do not try to shame me for having an opinion I’m entitled too it.”
Limerick Urban Cycling Group had quoted a Facebook post by the councillor where she said: “Childers Road Cycelane a S##t show. We need something to be done we cannot put up with this traffic chaos any longer. I have contacted Active Travel. Maybe you should too [email protected].”
In an image posted to Facebook showing what appears to be what she emailed the council’s Active Travel section, she said: “Something really needs to be done with the above a car broke down this evening and the traffic was held up behind it, it’s crazy there is nowhere to pull in and cars cannot go around as there is traffic coming towards you. A mistake was made on designing this cycle lane and it needs to be rectified. I use this road a few times a day and no one uses the cycle lane. Can it be removed or reduced ????”
She added: “If not can a section of footpath be used to move the cycelane in and widen the road its chaos most days with traffic delays.”
Clearly the drivers in the other lane to the broken-down car weren’t courteous enough to leave enough space to allow their fellow-drivers coming in the opposite direction overtake safely. Maybe instead of removing the cycle lane, all motorists be given a refresher course in the Rules of the Road and basic politeness? Failing that, a crash-course (no pun intended) in Tetris?
The other joke is that the cycle lane is too narrow. Impossible to safely pass another cyclist if there’s a cyclist coming head on. The green space on the side of the road with the wall and no lamposts could be reduced to make the bike path viable. Countless examples in Dublin of cycling infrastructure being designed and implemented by folks that don’t use cycling as a mode of transport. Build the roads and the cars will come. Build viable cycling infrastructure and the bikes will come instead.
Traffic was held up by a broken down car, but it’s the fault of the cycle lane? Maybe the counsellor should get out on her bike to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
The superficial analysis of the cycle lane is shocking. To describe a safe cycle lane as a ‘shit show’ and suggest nobody uses it is astonishing. To be polite