With the local elections looming (23 May) and candidate selection almost complete, Cyclist.ie sent out today its on-line survey questionnaire to all the party HQs and Directors of Elections seeking their cooperation in getting the link to each candidate and asking them to take the trouble to complete the survey. Continue reading Local Elections
Category Archives: Irish Posts
Ireland, see also NI
Call on Government to support Cycle To School initiative
Welcoming the pledge by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to extend the successful ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme, Michael Dawson, founder of One4all called on the Government to extend the initiative to a ‘Cycle To School’ campaign and keep Ireland moving.
Speaking today at the Dublin Business School/Lidl Annual Retail Conference, Mr. Dawson said:
“We know that since the introduction of the Cycle To Work Scheme countless jobs have been created as thousands more people have invested in new bicycles. There is now a real opportunity for Ireland to set the benchmark in youth cycling by extending the initiative to schools. Such a move would support the health of our children and the wallets of parents while also boosting employment in the retail sector.” Continue reading Call on Government to support Cycle To School initiative
Sligo-Mayo greenway development in County Plan
Context
- Use of Sligo-Mayo abandoned rail-bed for a walking/cycling greenway
- Council sought submissions from the public regarding the Draft Development Plan for the county
- This current / second submission follows on from the Manager’s report to Councillors Continue reading Sligo-Mayo greenway development in County Plan
State exams have “strong negative impact” on participation in sport
State examinations have a “strong negative impact” on the participation of children in sport, which in turn has “a lasting effect” on the likelihood of participation in later life.
Keeping Them in the Game: Taking Up and Dropping Out of Sport and Exercise in Ireland points out that the health issue most commonly associated with sport is obesity – and childhood obesity “reduces employment prospects and the likelihood of partnership as an adult”. Read article
Plans for Dublin
Car lanes to be given to walkers and cyclists on Dublin’s quays
A plan to reduce traffic lanes and remove parking spaces from the Liffey quays, and to create a new pedestrian and cycling boulevard, will be presented to Dublin City Council next week. Read article
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Council to consider making limit “default urban speed limit” for residential and shopping districts
The reduction in the speed limit from 50km/h to 30km/h in Dublin city centre almost eight years ago has failed to reduce traffic speeds, Dublin City Council has concluded. Read article
A lot done, but more to do …
We need to put brakes on obsession with car as mode of transport
” … Corrupt planning and the age profile of politicians who still think driving is the future have been part of the problem. But more than anything else there has been a lack of courage to do the right thing now even if the dividends aren’t seen before this generation of politicians has retired …” Read article
Cyclists welcome rejection by An Bord Pleanala of controversial Kerry N86 road design
Cyclists hail scrapping of NRA “fake greenway” scheme
Similar schemes based on putting recreational and touring cyclists beside busy trunk roads should now be halted and reviewed by Government
Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s National Cycling Network and Lobby Group, has welcomed An Bord Pleanala’s rejection (9 September) of a controversial Kerry County Council/National Roads Authority (NRA) scheme for the N86 in the Dingle peninsula. The road upgrade scheme running from Camp to Dingle had attracted particular concern because the designers planned to co-locate a tourist cycle-path directly beside high speed traffic for the entire length of the scheme (28 km), rather than making use of the old Tralee-Dingle Railway alignment (abandoned) and adjacent minor roads along the route. The designers missed the fact that an off road cycle route would be a tourist attraction in itself, creating an entirely new tourist product. Continue reading Cyclists welcome rejection by An Bord Pleanala of controversial Kerry N86 road design
Cyclists facing on-the-spot €50 fines for riding on footpaths
The Government is to introduce new regulations allowing gardai to impose fines of €50 against cyclists who break road safety laws, it has been learned. Read article
Politically Painless Active Travel
Politically Painless Active Travel Seminar in Derry on Wednesday 19th June 2013 (10am start) followed by a public meeting in the evening in Belfast. Full details
Come west along the railroad
Plans to turn disused railways into greenways – routes for cycling and walking – have proved contentious
The idea of turning abandoned railway lines into walking and cycling routes, called greenways, is catching on. Indeed, Taoiseach Enda Kenny knows all about the success of the longest greenway in Ireland, running from Westport to Achill, in his Mayo constituency.