A temporary cycleway in Salthill will be introduced in March and is expected to stay in place for six months.
Monday’s meeting of the Galway City Council was controversial with a number of councillors expressing concern about several issues surrounding two options presented.
In September, Cllr Donal Lyons sought for a debate to take place, but that did not happen. He wanted a comprehensive plan to be presented back then, but that was supplied this week.
Sections of the proposed cycleway between Grattan Road and Barna Road will result in one way vehicular traffic systems which will mean changes to transport routes also.
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Councillors were told that 1,000 vehicles per hour used the route at peak times in the morning and evening.There will be public consultation with some councillors aggrieved that businesses in Salthill could suffer.
Cllr Lyons said: “It is a pity that when this motion was being brought forward this information wasn’t available.The proposals will do significant damage to businesses in Salthill. We have very little time for consultation.”
He also added that local residents would be impacted. “With Covid restrictions there was serious disruption to local estates. It is a proposal that should be looked at.”
Another source of concern was raised by Cllr Declan McDonnell, who said that ‘disabled parking is an issue’. “People like to sit in the car to get fresh air from Salthill,” he said. “They have been doing this for 70 years. Businesses in Salthill need on-street parking. I agree with Cllr Lyons that consultation shouldn’t be rushed on this.”
Problems with re-routing
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While eager to see a cycleway developed, Cllr Niall Mc Nelis highlighted the lack of transport options currently available: “I would love to see a cycle lane in Salthill, but people use cars,” Cllr Mc Nelis said. “We don’t have a public transport service to get you from A to B. If we do go ahead we need to have meaningful debate.”
Cllr Terry O’Flaherty stated that ‘upheaval’ was likely. “There will be quite a lot of disruption,” she said. “Of course I’m for cycling, but there will be huge upheaval.”
Problems with re-routing public transport and cars were mentioned by Cllr Peter Keane. “A big issue would be the re-routing of public transport and more than 1,000 vehicles,” he said. “I hope we have a fair and balanced debate.”
'Deep concern'
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Cllr John Connolly also stressed “deep concern” at the impact options would have on public transport and for people in South Connemara.
Trialling a new way will be beneficial for the people of Galway according to Cllr Owen Hanley. “A trial is so important in this,” Cllr Hanley said. “This trial will show so much of what we think will work put into a Galway context. It will not be without its issues.”
Cllr Martina O’Connor added “it was great to see it going on public consultation;” while her Green Party colleague Cllr Niall Murphy wants an alternative method to be tried.
No alternatives?
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“While much of the debate focused on keeping as much parking as possible, it was not really acknowledged that less parking means less car traffic – and less car traffic is in everyone’s interest,” Cllr Murphy remarked. “As the population increases, Galway will eventually run out of space for cars. And when that happens, we need to have some infrastructure for the alternatives.
“If we continue to prioritise car use then when the city reaches its limit, there will be no alternatives. So I think we need to be brave enough to try something new.
“After its brief implementation of six months, it will be removed, and we will have the chance to compare two versions of the Prom, and the benefits of better cycling infrastructure will be clear,” he concluded.
