A councillor in Limerick has branded a new segregated cycle lane in the city as a “shit show” and called for people to contact the ‘active travel’ team in the city to complain about the lane causing traffic delays.
However, some social media users pointed out the same councillor had pushed for the cycle lane to be installed, sharing a video (below) she recorded at the time – from her car – speaking in favour of it. She said at the time confirmation the cycle lane was going to be installed was “fantastic news” as many children used the route to cycle to school and was “very worried about those children, including my own”.
In her latest comments, Cllr Catherine Slattery said when a car had broken down on Childers Road last Friday it caused traffic “chaos”. And she believed the cycle lane – which she claimed was never used – was to blame for the traffic congestion caused by the break-down.
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Posting her complaint on social media, she urged people to email the active travel office, working within Limerick City and County Council, to complain. She shared the email address of the active travel office, which is working in Limerick, with funding from the National Transport Authority, trying to transform Limerick’s cycling and walking network to improve transport with an emphasis on sustainability.
Cllr Slattery, who believed the active travel office’s work was delaying traffic on Childers Road, said a car had broken down on the road and noted “traffic was held up” behind it.
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“It’s crazy, there is nowhere to pull in and cars cannot go around as there is traffic coming towards you,” she added. “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???? If not, can a section of footpath be used to move the cycle lane in and widen the road. It’s chaos most days with traffic delays.
“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,” she said, adding the email address of Limerick’s active travel office.
Limerick Urban Cycling group said Cllr Slattery was now "advocating to remove a cycle lane that takes no lane from car traffic or parking because of traffic". It added Childers Road was "a primary route for cycling and needs to be completed as a cycling route".
