Cycling group criticises lane plans

IRELAND’S national cycling group has called for a moratorium on the Government’s €4 million plan to develop cycle lane schemes in up to 10 counties, claiming the projects could make facilities for cyclists worse rather than better.

Cyclist.ie says it wants a halt to the planned schemes announced last month by Public and Commuter Transport Minister Alan Kelly, pending a review of the safety and value for money of the new cycle lanes.

While Mr Kelly has staunchly defended his initiatives, the chairman of cyclist.ie, Dr Mike McKillen, said the needs of cyclists had been ignored.

He criticised building cycle lanes on hard shoulders, saying: “This is nothing more than a make-work scheme that simply ignores cyclists’ real need for safer interaction between motorised vehicles and riders on our public roads.”

Dr McKillen said cyclist.ie members have offered to provide the Government with a range of alternative schemes.

Asked specifically about plans for the development of 54-kilometre cycleway on the hard shoulder of the N7 between Nenagh and Limerick at a cost of €880,000, Dr McKillen said: “It’s good for contractors, not for cyclists. What’s wrong with using the hard shoulders as they are? Why go to all the expense of doing this?”

However, the minister defended his initiatives. saying he was willing to listen to what the members of cyclist.ie had to say if they wished to contact him. But he added: “I do not think their comments are fair.”