The secondary gates in the Phoenix Park will not open to drivers in vehicles from next Monday, as had been planned, and further restrictions on motorists are also being devised so cycling and walking in the park can increase.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) said since a number of
gates around the perimeter of the park had been closed during the Covid19
pandemic period cycling and walking had increased.
It added the way the park was being enjoyed had changed
during the pandemic and, as a result, it planned to extend the current
restrictions on vehicles and was working on further restrictions.
The news will be welcomed by cyclists as the park has
always been popular with those on two wheels.
While some gates have been closed during the lock-down period they were due to open again next Monday. But those plans have now been shelved and the OPW has said cyclists and pedestrians will be further prioritised in the park.
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OPW Commissioner John McMahon, who has responsibility for Heritage said the park was Dublin’s ‘green lung’.
“The OPW is determined to ensure that the park is a safe, quiet, green space for our visitors, where flora and fauna thrives and where visitors’ health and wellbeing can be enhanced through experiencing the natural environment in the park,” he said.
“With this in mind, reducing the volume of ‘through-traffic’ is critical and maintaining safe, quiet, open spaces for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy is a key priority for OPW.”
In a statement announcing the next phase of plans, the
OPW said: “Further measures to curb traffic volumes in the park are likely to
be introduced in the coming months as the park has seen a sea change in how the
public and visitors are enjoying the biodiversity, natural landscape and
wilderness of the park.”
Already space for cyclists and pedestrians had been
increased by one third down Chesterfield Ave, the main road in the park. The
OPW has already put in place 7km of new cycle lanes, by transforming hard
shoulders where drivers often parked to cycling lanes.
Current arrangements for vehicular access whereby cars
can access the Park through the Castleknock and Park Gate Street gates will
continue and the current parking arrangements will be maintained, though more
restrictions for vehicles are being planned.
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