Cycle lanes remain a ‘thorny issue’ - Coffey

THE ‘ thorny issue’ of cycle lanes was raised again at the Dundalk Municipal District Committee.

Councillors raised concerns about the condition of cycle lanes around the town, after a motion tabled by Cllr. Emma Coffey.

‘In light of the extensive cycle laneways in the town of Dundalk and to maximise the benefits, I am calling on Louth County Council to carry out an audit of the existing cycle network within Dundalk.’

She added that the ‘peak and off peak volume, patterns and trends of usage of the cycle routes and destinations within the town should be established.’ The data could be used to ‘ensure existing and future funding streams’ and would help the local authority achieve its aims under the transport and development plans.

She said that while the issue of cycle lanes is a ‘ thorny subject’ in Dundalk, it had to be accepted that they were in place, but were not being maintained. She also criticised the lack of promotion of the cycle network, saying there was no map available to schools, and no cycling map on the council’s website.

Cllr. Mark Dearey said that the cycle network should inform plans for new housing developments, adding that there was a ‘ huge opportunity’ for a cycle link between Blackrock and Dundalk.

He said it was ‘ time to accept that we just can’t keep making every journey by car,’ but admitted that a lot of investment was needed.

He welcomed the new design for Clanbrassil Street which ‘isn’t about squeezing everything in to that space, but more about slowing everything down on the roadway.’

Cllr. Anne Campbell said that cycle lanes in town were not being utilised. She said ‘ this is not continental Europe’ and that the weather alone was a deterrent for any potential cyclists.

But the lanes along the Dublin Road were widely used, and she said were not maintained.

Cllr. Maeve Yore said there was ‘no joined up thinking’ while Cllr. Keelan asked for roadsweeping maps to see if this included cycle lanes.