Opening the old railway tunnel at Bohermore, and turning the remains of the Galway-Clifden railway bridge at NUI Galway, into pedestrian and cycle lanes would “boost cycle tourism” and “encourage citizens to alter their transport habits”.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway West candidate John Connolly, who said the city “could do a lot more to make cycling a more attractive method of commuting”
Galway Fianna Fáil has developed a sustainable urban mobility plan, which “prioritises safe, integrated, designated, cycle routes and pedestrian paths”, and envisages using the current canal network, as well as potentially the Bohermore railway tunnel and the Galway-Clifden railway bridge, for pedestrians and bike users.
Cllr Connolly said the plan would “fully utilize the existing passages and thoroughfares of the city”, and could “promote sustainable transport options to residential areas”, boost cycle tourism, and commercial activity and accessibility. He also feels that the work would not be cost prohibitive. “We believe there are aspects of our current infrastructure that with simple low cost adaptations could transform how cyclists travel the city,” he said.
Mr Connolly, who served as a city councillor between 2004 and 2009, added that FF is committed to introducing a new national cycle way strategy, to ensure there are “genuine safe routes for cyclists which are not simply add ons to roads”
Fianna Fáil’s sustainable urban mobility plan can be read at issuu.com/fiannafailgalway/docs/ffsumpnov2015doc
