Cycling projects are at the centre of many of the schemes announced on Monday by Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan TD (Greens) under the Pathfinder Programme to be implemented by local authorities over the next three years.
The projects announced today are for counties Wexford, Longford, Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Tipperary, Kildare and Kerry. There is also a cycling component - such as installing parking for bikes and safe zones around schools - in other counties, though they are not 'projects' in themselves. Furthermore, Dublin the College Green and Dame St areas are to become low traffic environments.
The 30 pathfinder projects are part of the National Sustainable Mobility project, aimed at improving active and sustainable travel and reducing emissions.
They were submitted by local authorities as exemplar projects to the Department and their inclusion in the pathfinder programme is aimed at ensuring they are supported so they are rolled out quickly, rather than any new funding being announced.
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The cycling projects are contained under two headings including 'Cycle Network/Corridor Proposals' and '10-15 Min Neighbourhoods'. The cycling projects are as follows:
'Cycle Network/Corridor Proposals'
Wexford Cycle Network
This project will be delivered by Wexford County Council and involves combining several proposed walking and cycling schemes to develop a network which, when complete, will comprise over 10.5 km of both off-road and segregated on-road cycle paths. The network will provide enhanced walking and cycling access to several schools, develop an active travel link between Barntown Village and the centre of Wexford town, link with the Eurovelo cycle route to Rosslare Harbour, and develop active travel connections to the town’s train and bus station at Redmond Square. Where feasible, the project will also incorporate streetscape upgrades with new street tree planting and drainage systems.
Longford Cycle Network
This Longford County Council Pathfinder project will comprise a radial cycle network along three approach roads leading to Longford town centre, with the ‘Battery Road (R198)’ and ‘Ballinalee / Major Well’s Road (N63)’ sites advancing north and eastward towards the N4, with the ‘Farranyoogan (N63)’ extending westward and with further access opportunities to the Royal Canal Greenway. Each location involves the introduction of a new cycleway connection and improved footpath provision. Where feasible, extensive tree planting and sustainable drainage systems will be provided. These connections will lay the foundation for a core network connecting areas of highest employment, retail, educational and social activity. The proposed routes are also in line with Longford Town’s Local Transport Plan, County Longford’s Active Travel Strategy, and the draft version of the National Cycling Network.
Rural Cycleway Rapid Deployment – Navan to Trim
This Pathfinder project will be delivered by Meath County Council on part of the R161 between Navan and Trim and will look at methods for rapid deployment of a rural cycleway on the verges of a regional road in the county. The project will explore pragmatic and cost-effective ways to construct a safe, segregated facility quickly within the existing road boundary while finding solutions to deal with any segregation, drainage, boundary treatments, junction/access layouts, signage, surfacing and safety issues. If it proves successful, the trial will be scaled up and applied to longer stretches of regional roads across the country.
Dundalk Regional Road Cycleway
This Pathfinder will be led by Louth County Council and will develop a 4km section of the R132 Dundalk Inner Relief Road to deliver improved walking and cycling facilities and a safe commuter corridor. The safe commuter corridor will allow for pedestrians and cyclists to “hop on, hop off” to access areas along the length of the town, and will complement the existing cycle lanes that are predominantly within the town centre. Providing walking and cycling infrastructure and public realm space along this corridor will lead to improvements in air quality and access local services such as education, health, retail, sports and leisure, employment and public transport stations.
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Mullingar Cycle Corridor with links to Dublin-Galway Greenway
This Westmeath County Council project involves the provision of a walking and cycling route from the west to the east side of the town to bring cyclists into the core of the town, linking into the Dublin-Galway Greenway/Royal Canal Blueway and incorporating improved public realm aspects. The walking and cycling facilities along this route will service key destinations including business, retail, residential, educational and leisure. The cycle corridor will complement the existing bike hire scheme in the town, which has seen increasing usage numbers since its launch at the end of April 2022. It is intended that the provision of improved infrastructure will facilitate further expansion of the scheme.
Wicklow Active Travel Links
This Pathfinder project will be delivered by Wicklow County Council and will fast-track the delivery of a number of core walking and cycling infrastructure projects providing connectivity to towns within Wicklow, focusing in particular on Wicklow town and Greystones. The project will include the provision of high quality, safe, legible pedestrian and cycle links to train stations and public transport hubs in the county.
Five Cities Demonstrator: Waterford Cycle backbone
This Pathfinder project will link Waterford City to the Waterford Greenway in 2023 through the Bilberry connection, which is currently under construction. The project will see this connection being extended across the River Suir to the proposed Strategic Development Zone lands, and along the Dublin Road and inner Ring Road to provide a cycle backbone to the city.
Five Cities Demonstrator: East Cork Sustainability Corridor
This Pathfinder project will link with the Inter-Urban Demonstrator project connecting Waterford and Cork. The project will be led by the NTA and link Cork City Centre to the Dunkettle roundabout, as well as linking in village and town networks along the Greenway.
10-15 Min Neighbourhoods
Dublin
- Five Cities Demonstrator: Dublin Active Travel City | The Five Cities Active Travel demonstrator for Dublin will encompass several schemes across all four local authority areas. The schemes incorporate elements of cycle infrastructure, traffic reduction, road space reallocation, public realm improvements, and the 10-min neighbourhood. Its component parts are:
- Dun Laoghaire/Blackrock Area (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) | 10-minute town model to include segregated cycle facilities, the creation of ‘blocks’ which will be accessible
to pedestrians only, an expansion of walking and cycling options into the area south of Dun Laoghaire. - Dublin 24 Area Rapid Build and Castletymon neighbourhood (South Dublin County Council) | This scheme will include rapid delivery of a 11km cycle network in Tallaght/D24, and the development of Castletymon as a 10-min neighbourhood via walking and cycling infrastructure, with public realm improvements. Both projects will link with the Dodder Valley cycle scheme creating an overall enhanced walking and cycling network.
- Dublin City Centre (Dublin City Council) | The city centre element of this pathfinder will combine the conversion of College Green and Dame Street to a low-traffic environment with the enhancement of public transport and active travel provision via the review of the City Centre Transport Study. The project will implement major changes in College Green/Dame Street, the North and South Quays, Beresford Place, Gardiner Street, Pearse Street/Tara Street, and Stephens Green, in conjunction with the rollout of BusConnects and CycleConnects to transform travel within the city centre.
- Swords/Airport Connectivity (Fingal County Council) | Dublin Airport is one of the biggest employers in Dublin and a high proportion of staff live in the Swords area, which is less than 5km to the north, but which currently has poor cycle connectivity. This active travel demonstrator will rapidly build out a network in Swords to facilitate improved connectivity which will be further enhanced when the BusConnects scheme is complete in 2028.
Letterkenny – Reallocation of Road Space for Walking and Cycling | Donegal County Council will deliver a series of pedestrian- and cyclist-focused schemes aimed at improving the 10min-town active travel journey between key destinations throughout Letterkenny. The Project includes two schemes linked to Safe Routes to School, and will link residential areas with education, employment, commercial, recreational, retail and tourist sites through high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure.
Lismore Park, Waterford – Improving permeability in a city-centre residential area | Waterford City and County Council will convert Lismore Park to a pedestrian, cycle, and public transport centred community. The project will re-design the major routes and green open spaces of Lismore Park to a sustainable transport community with the goals of the 10/15-minute neighbourhood. The area to be developed is located immediately north of the South East Technological University (SETU) campus on the Cork Road. The project will also include the development of a cyclist friendly “quiet route” through this area.
Clonmel 10 min town | This Pathfinder Project will be delivered by Tipperary County Council and aims to reduce the dominance of the car within the town centre and reduce carbon emissions. The project will prioritise pedestrian access to town centre streets. At certain locations it will involve creation of shared spaces, wider pedestrian facilities with seating, cycle stands and smart technology, incorporating tree planting, landscaping and drainage measures. The project will connect existing and proposed walking and cycling infrastructure such as the Suir Blueway, proposed Suir Island pedestrian and cycling bridge, the proposed Cahir to Clonmel Greenway and the Safe Route to Schools Projects. The complete project will provide a viable alternative for people to choose sustainable mobility over the private car, taking a whole journey approach to how people can live, work and relax in the urban environment.
Naas Mobility Network Integration | The Naas Mobility Network Integration project aims to reduce traffic congestion in Naas town centre, improving safety and accessibility. It will see the completion of a 45m extension of Corban’s Lane as an alternative route for traffic and will involve linking and construction of walking and cycling infrastructure. The project will also link with existing Active Travel infrastructure and will construct further routes to connect residences, schools, retail and medical facilities and existing public transport.
Killarney - 10 min town | The Kerry County Council Pathfinder will encompass the construction of a core defined cycling network in Killarney. The project will also incorporate a number of Safe Routes to Schools. The Pathfinder will facilitate Killarney’s development as a sustainable, compact, settlement in line with 10-minute town principles, whereby a range of community facilities, schools and services are accessible in short walking and cycling timeframes from homes.
