Back in 2020, during Covid, Dublin City Council suggested trialing a two-way cycle path on Strand Road by making the road one-way for general traffic.
With a link planned and since built by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, it would have been the first (edge of) city centre to suburban council area cycle route. But the trial was challenged in Court, causing what is widely viewed as a chilling effect, which slowed the delivery of safe cycle routes in Dublin and beyond.
IrishCycle.com will be covering the outcome of the Court of Appeal judgment tomorrow, but ahead of that, you can find this website’s coverage of the Strand Road cycle path trial saga below — it spans 40 articles and thousands of words:
TIMELINE OF COVERAGE:
2020
- June 18, 2020: Large section of Dublin’s coastal S2S cycle route to be built using quick-build measures (DLRCC announcement)
- August 8, 2020: Dublin Bay route: Two-way cycle path to replace car lane on coast road in Sandymount (DCC announcement)
- August 2020: First look at the proposed coastal two-way cycle path in Dublin’s Sandymount
- September 17, 2020: Trial of Sandymount cycle path is not postponed to 2021 — Dublin City Council
- October 8, 2020: Dublin to get coastal cycle route after large majority support Sandymount trial
- October 19, 2020: Comment & Analysis: Sandymount cycle path: Claims by residents’ group are just plain wrong
- November 5, 2020: Sandymount cycle path trial to start on January 15th, says city council
2021
- January 8, 2021: Groups call for Sandymount cycle route trial to go ahead after opponents pull out of community form
- January 11, 2021: Covid-19 spike means Dubliners need Strand Road Cycle Route trial more than ever, says Lord Mayor
- January 11, 2021: Four Dublin city councillors back cycle route objectors, seek to stall Sandymount trial
- January 11, 2021: No online record for some groups mentioned in emergency motion to delay cycle route
- February 5, 2021: Anti-cycle path trial group raises nearly €14,000 so-far on GoFundMe
- February 8, 2021: Cycle route trial on Strand Road in Sandymount to start in March with prep work to start on February 15
- February 13, 2021: 5 things to help make Sandymount cycle path trial a success
- February 18, 2021: Trial cycle route in Dublin taken to court by serial objector councillor, and a local resident
- February 26, 2021: Sandymount cycle route trial suspended as Judge grants stay on works
- March 15, 2021: City Council asks ‘Irish Times’ to correct misinformation on Sandymount cycle route trial
- March 26, 2021: High Court case on Strand Road cycle route set for two days in June
- May 2, 2021: Cllr Flynn refuses to clarify issues around ‘Cycle Lane Action Group’
- June 24, 2021: Comment: Cycle path objectors put forward pure unadulterated nonsense in High Court
- June 26, 2021: Which Dublin Bay South candidates support the Strand Road cycle route trial?
- July 30, 2021: Strand Road cycle route trial given red light by High Court
- August 2, 2021: Analysis: Strand Road Cycle Route on Trial: Parts of judgment reads like a transcript of Newstalk show
- September 10, 2021: “Alternative” Sandymount cycle route is dangerous and would take years, says campaigners
- September 14, 2021: Sandymount cycle path tied to coastal defences would open in 2027… and would still be non-continuous
2022
- May 26, 2022: 80% of respondents support DLR Coastal Mobility Route extension to county boundary
- June 16, 2022: What’s the story with the Strand Road cycle route court appeal?
- September 18, 2022: Comment: Making Strand Road one-way for water main works should not be compared to cycle path trial
- November 24, 2022: “Armageddon forecast” of traffic chaos when Strand Road made one-way hasn’t happened, claims residents
2023
- February 11, 2023: Despite northbound closure of Strand Road, southsiders still find Dublin Airport
- February 15, 2023: “Critical issue” judge disregarded evidence Sandymount cycleway would be temporary
- May 19, 2023: Task force to assemble for “under siege” Sandymount ahead of Strand Road court judgement
- May 26, 2022: 80% of respondents support DLR Coastal Mobility Route extension to county boundary
- March 2, 2023: Traffic counts show increases, decreases and balancing of traffic in Sandymount area
2024
- January 12, 2024: Sandymount cycle route: Nearly a year on, still no date for Court of Appeal decision
- February 8, 2024: Sandymount traffic “remained pretty constant” while Irish Water had Merrion Gates blocked off northbound
- July 29, 2024: Strand Road cycle path judgment expected at least 20 months after last Court hearing
- February 8, 2024: Sandymount traffic “remained pretty constant” while Irish Water had Merrion Gates blocked off northbound
- December 16, 2024: Strand Road cycle path: Court of Appeal judgment pending for 2 years as decision “waited with absolute bated breath,” says Minister Ryan
2025
- February 12, 2025: Long-awaited Strand Road cycle path judgment due in April 2025