Dublin plans to become more cycling-friendly with new bike routes

Dublin is planning to catch up with other European cities by making its streets much more two-wheel friendly and now has four plans ready – one of which will become the blueprint for the city’s cycling future.

The Liffey River along which Dublin’s new cycling route will be based. Image by William Murphy / CC BY 2.0

It is expected that within weeks a proposed segregated cycle route along the river Liffey in the city from the Phoenix Park and Heuston train station on the west side to the Point village in the other direction will be available for examination to the public. The Irish Times reports that three of the four options will involve a two-way riverside path on the sunnier side of the Liffey along the north quays.

Dublin City Council’s recent bike scheme has proved very populars with Dubliners Image by William Murphy / CC BY 2.0

When it emerged last year that the proposed cycle routes could reduce motoring space, it led to strong opposition from car owners and Dublin city retailers. They claimed that it would lead to a worse case of gridlock on the quays, which are already slow during rush hour traffic. It is now understood that none of the four shortlisted routes will encroach on current traffic lanes for vehicles but will involve taking car routes away from the river in partial diversions. But there is still a fear that cars and buses will be affected if the cycle highway goes ahead.