Blazing trail for national cycle paths

I HAVE rediscovered the joys of cycling, after decades out of the saddle.

After seeing so many people, including some of more venerable years, getting back on their two-wheelers, I decided to give it a try once again, with a deal of family prompting let it be added.

It is encouraging to see the efforts being made as a result of the first National Cycle Policy, whose aim is to make conditions on the roads safer and easier for cyclists. The plan is have a minimum of 160,000 people commuting to work each day by bike — that’s 10% of all commuters — by 2020.

Today, less than 2% of commuters travel to work by bike, despite the fact that over 100,000 people drive less than 4km to work in Dublin alone.

Former Transport Minister Noel Dempsey gave a commitment to increase spending so as to bring this about and let’s hope his successor in the next government will have a similar priority.

In drafting the policy, the advice of some of the best European cycle planners was sought and the hope is that we will have a world class cycling infrastructure in place in by 2020.

Steps are being taken at national level to encourage more people to cycle. Some 140,000 schoochildren nationwide will be targeted for safe cycle training. More consideration is being given to the needs of cyclists in road design and €3 million has been set aside for refurbishment of key cycle routes in Dublin city and cycle routes between urban areas are being identified.

The National Roads Authority has plans for a 2,000km national network of cycle paths connecting cities and major town across the Republic. Work on a detailed route for the first interurban cycle path from Dublin to Galway is underway.

The authority has mapped out 13 route corridors serving the cities of Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway, and almost 100 large towns which will make up the National Cycle Network. The routes pass through all of the 26 counties except Longford and vary in length from 52km (Drogheda to Trim) to 286km (Wexford to Tralee).

Local authorities along the routes have identified almost 500km of potential off-road cycle routes, which are physically separated from the road by a grass verge or other barrier.

The network will be made up of off-road and on-road cycleways, which are not shared with buses and taxis, and cycle trails or dedicated cycle paths, which are entirely separate from the road network, along canal tow paths or disused rail lines.

Large parts of many inland and western counties are not served by one of the 13 route corridors. However, the roads authority said the route corridors were a skeleton around which the national network should develop.

The first phase of the Great Western Greenway, an 18km route from Newport to Mulranny, Co Mayo, was opened last April. Following the success of this first phase, a €3.5 million funding package has been agreed to complete the Greenway.

The initial 18km phase will be extended, from Mulranny to Achill and from Newport to Westport resulting in a 42km route which will loop around scenic Clew Bay, mainly along the line of the old Midland Great Western Railway.

The Department of Transport and Fáilte Ireland are co-funding the project, which has been developed by Mayo County Council. The project is the result of Mayo County Council and local landowners working together, and in partnership with other state agencies and bodies. It is expected that the route will be completed early this year.

It will be a world class outdoor attraction, providing an excellent recreational and transport amenity for locals and visitors alike.

A final word of advice to anyone taking up cycling — wear a helmet.