Time for councils to prioritise cycling

Sir, – There has been a lot of coverage of the various cycle schemes in Dublin, and most recently in terms of some of the objections. Whatever the outcome, people in Dublin who care about sustainable travel can at least gain some comfort from knowing that there are people in their local authorities who were prepared to try.

Here in Galway we can only look on in envy. Salthill Prom is one of the country’s best-known leisure amenities, and it’s a fantastic place for both visitors and locals. However, it’s a pretty unpleasant place in which to cycle as the rows of parked cars and fast traffic leave very little room for error. On top of this, the council has erected signs on the prom itself banning cycling. The recent Covid lockdowns have prompted much discussion about the possibility of a cycle lane along the Prom (for which there is plenty of space without losing much parking), and there have been a public consultation, offers of central Government funding, and plenty of constructive suggestions from local groups. The council’s response has been to largely ignore all of the above without offering much in the way of convincing explanations.

Anyone who has visited Galway will know how car-dependent it is, and for a small, dynamic city the fact that it’s such a hostile place to cycle is nonsensical. If Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is serious about reducing transport emissions, then making places like Galway more cycle-friendly is surely in the category of “low-hanging fruit”, and adding a few kilometres of bike lane along a spacious scenic amenity area is a complete no-brainer. So I’d urge him to think of creative ways of putting a bit more pressure on reluctant councils to act in a positive way. – Yours, etc,

DAVE MATHIESON,

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Salthill, Galway.