Comment & Analysis: After the High Court’s ruling against the 6-month trial of a two-way cycle path on Strand Road in Dublin was overturned by the Court of Appeal, some councillors and others claimed it’d be easy to build a cycle path off-road along green areas. This article explains why that is a myth.
The trial of the on-street project, which now has legal approval, includes making Strand Road one-way for motor traffic and creating a two-way cycle path from one existing cycle lane. A trial of the project could be up and running in a matter of weeks.
While council officials have said that the off-road option could take 5 to 10 years because of planning and environmental assessments — you could add in another few years for delays and few more for legal action. So, the wait for an off-road option could amount to 15+ years.
This kind of delays would apply to flood defenses which some say the cycle path could be built on.
But why is the off-road section so different? As pictured in the Google Earth images above and below — there are missing sections where there are no green areas. These sections are effectively part of Dublin Bay.
As these sections are part of Dublin Bay, it means they are registered protected areas.
When previous areas, including what’s now Sandymount Promenade, were filled in these EU-level protections were not in place and nor were the environment screening process and planning law generally was far lighter.
This isn’t just something that’s abstract. Outside the wall on Strand Road are rocks which are nesting areas for birds, and other habitats, and Ireland generally is poor for its protection of natural areas.
The areas which are part of Dublin Bay along Strand Road are substantial and it includes a section where the cycle route would have to go between houses and the coast, opening it up to likely stronger objections and possible legal challenges.
The Sandymount Promenade grassed areas could also be subject to environmental protection because of heavy ground works and the laying of new paths could possibly have an impact on the protected areas just beside the promenade.
The on-street option is unlikely to have such impacts and the Courts have said it can go ahead.
Then there’s the level crossing — while it’s not impossible to make this wider, it’s another layer of difficulty.
So, the off road option is likely to take 10 years and could take 15+ years, vs the on-street options which could be in place in weeks.
The issues which people claim will happen with the on-street option can be found to be true or not during the trial, that’s the point of a trial. If the sky falls in, it can be stopped.
But the Irish Water works which made the road one-way have already proven that the sky won’t fall in. A trial will also add another travel option, but a successful trial seems to be what many fear.
I live on Strand Road and I think a trial one way system is a good idea. But if the one way was made north bound I think it would be better. The points about the foreshore being a special protection area (right out to Seapoint and beyond) is very valid. There are many bird nesting sites along the foreshore.