The Green Party have outlined their vision for cycling in the County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown in a submission to the Council’s draft Cycling Policy

In it, they call for the appointment of a dedicated cycling policy officer for the Council; a more integrated cycle network and more focus on providing safe cycle routes to school

Local TD Ciarán Cuffe said he was pleased to see the Council come forward with a cycling policy but was disappointed at the delays in advancing the Sutton to Sandycove cycleway:

“Government policy is to ensure 10% of trips are taken by bike by 2020. The S2S can be a key piece of infrastructure for commuting and leisure and I am disappointed Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council are dragging their feet on this. I suspect the lack of Green Party representation on the Council has contributed to the loss of momentum

“A simple piece of infrastructure such as a southbound contra-flow bicycle lane on Newtown Ave – a one way street in Blackrock – would provide a coastal cycle link between Blackrock and Monkstown at a relatively modest cost”

“The County needs a joined up, comprehensive cycle network that is easy for cyclists to navigate and which encourages residents to chose the bike as the first mode of transport for short, local journeys” he added

Submission to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Review of Cycling

May 10th 2010

The Green Party in Dún Laoghaire and Dublin South strongly endorse the formation of a dedicated cycling policy for the County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown.

We note the headline Government target of 10% of trips by bike by 2020 and that urban Councils with a higher density of housing will likely have to achieve a figure greater than 10% to meet the overall Government target. Noting current levels of cycling in the County are only marginally above the 3% national average, the Green Party stresses the need for a strong and concerted effort by the Council in implementing its cycling policy to achieve the required modal shift.

Network
The County needs a joined up, comprehensive cycle network that is easy for cyclists to navigate and which encourages residents to chose the bike as the first mode of transport for short, local journeys. This should be a central theme of the cycle network audit. Similar to Denmark, bicycle lanes should be segregated along busy streets, re-allocating roads space to give cyclists their fair share of the road. Traffic junctions should be improved to give cyclists priority and remove traffic access restrictions for those on bikes.

Signage
Dedicated cycling signage should accompany an improved cycle network. This should include distances and estimated time by bike to key destinations. As the draft policy points out, in areas of heavy traffic, advertised shorter travelling times by bike could encourage motorists to make the switch to cycling.

Maintenance
Maintaining the physical cycling network is key to holding on to existing cyclists and encouraging new users. Cyclists should have a clear understanding of and access to who is responsible for the maintenance of the network. The Council should publish the schedule of cycle lane repairs to take place on a monthly basis and investigate the use of web based applications where cyclists can report cycle lanes in need of repair.

Mapping
Providing dedicated mapping of the revised cycle network should go hand in hand with network signage. Opportunities exist for web based journey plan mapping as well as the added tourism potential of dedicated leisure cycling maps aimed at UK based tourists using Dún Laoghaire harbour via ferry crossings.

Infrastructure
The Sutton to Sandycove Cycleway should be advanced as a key piece of cycling infrastructure, from a commuting, leisure and tourism point of view. In the shorter term, the installation of a contraflow cycle path along Newtown Ave in Blackrock would provide a coastal cycle link between Blackrock and Monkstown. At a relatively modest cost, this piece of infrastructure would be of significant value in providing a dedicated cycling option from Blackrock to Dún Laoghaire.

Safe Routes to School programme
The Council should build on the success of the Green Schools Travel programme and aim to have a “safe route to school” programme for every school in county. A 30kph speed limit in residential areas near schools should be used to facilitate this and the programme should include training in schools on how to cycle.

Dedicated Cycling Officer
The recommendation to provide a dedicated Cycling Officer working in the Council is strongly endorsed. This has been successfully implemented in Dublin City Council and is crucial in providing coordinated planning for cycling in the county.
 
Cycling to Work
Working with the local chamber of commerce and business groups, the Council should examine ways to encourage large and medium employers in the county to increase the numbers of staff commuting by bike. This could include promoting the Government Cycle to Work scheme, the provision of dedicated cycle parking, workplace travel plans and county wide Cycle to Work Days.  
 
Public Transport
The Council should actively work with Irish Rail to enable bikes to be taken on off-peak Darts and with all public transport operators to improve and maintain the cycle parking facilities at bus stops and train stations.  Bicycle access to Luas and DART stations should be specifically signposted.

Public Bikes
The Council should examine the feasibility of a “Dublin Bikes” style scheme for densely-populated areas and along the seafront and in key retail and business centres across the county. Such a scheme could be marketed as a key leisure attraction.