Cllr Alan Curran has enthusiastically welcomed the provision in the 2024 budget to include the construction of raised, and segregated cycle lanes on the Western Distributor Road from the Cappagh Road to the Deane Roundabout. The proposed cycle lanes would have a positive impact on traffic, are cost-effective, easily funded, and present a straightforward, uncontroversial solution.
“This is fantastic news. For the last six years a team of us from the Galway Cycle Bus have been cycling groups of primary school students to school because the existing painted cycle lanes are completely inadequate for safe cycling. There are five schools with over 2,000 students adjacent to this road. Safe cycling options are essential for the community, impacting daily commuting, shopping trips, and access to pitches and playing facilities,” said Cllr Curran.
Neasa Bheilbigh, organiser of the Galway Cycle Bus added: “We are delighted to finally see safe cycling infrastructure being installed on the Western Distributor Road. This will provide an essential part of Safe Routes to School in Knocknacarra and beyond, connecting future schemes on Clybaun Road and Bóthar Stiofán. It is vital that the infrastructure design is child-centred so families feel safe and confident cycling to school. Hopefully the CycleBus will be out of business before too long!”
“I would like to thank the Active Travel Team in the council for listening to the concerns of the community and working with all stakeholders to accelerate this project. I would also like to thank all the councillors in Galway West who lobbied hard for this project over the years, and who joined us on the cycle bus on many occasions to experience for themselves the dangers facing children and students as they cycle to school or college,” remarked Cllr Curran.
The Siobhan McKenna Road in Westside will see a similar intervention with an upgrade to cycling facilities along this stretch. The design of both schemes will commence in early 2024.
