17/06/2015

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Where will your Bike take you?

The Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr. Fintan Warfield formally opened a new shared Pedestrian and Cycleway Track on the 15th June 2015. The project consists of a shared pedestrian cycleway between Palmerstown and Chapelizod. The route follows the Old Lucan Road alongside the southern wall of Stewarts Hospital, a protected, historic structure. Some features of the scheme include the construction of a limestone wall at the Palmerstown end of the scheme and a tree-lined thoroughfare flanked by a paved footpath adjacent to a historic wall on the approach to the entrance to Stewarts Hospital.

This link is one of a number of new cycle way projects completed by South Dublin County Council and was funded by the National Transport Authority and National Roads Authority. Mayor Fintan Warfield speaking at launch said “The new cycleway has the potential for connecting communities, providing access to amenities and local facilities as well as to enable commuter cycling en route to and from the City Centre. The Mayor added “it is appropriate that we open the route officially at the start of Bike Week, an annual event which runs this year from the 13th to 21st June. Bike week gives us the chance to actively promote our cycling infrastructure and to encourage and acknowledge participation in cycling activities”

Cycling is free, fun, and good for health and fitness and is suitable for all ages and for families. There are a number of activities and events on offer throughout the week all across the County. Whether it is a midday cycle along the quiet roads in South Dublin County or a more energetic mountain biking event in Ticknock Forest located in the Dublin Mountains. There is also a family fun cycle to close the week in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin on Sunday 21st June. Free bicycle checks are available throughout the week in a number of locations.

A significant focus during the week is always on schools and there is a programme of schools events scheduled to take place in our primary schools which will involve severalhundred children.  The schools are very supportive of our efforts in this regard and we thank the many school principals and teachers involved, there are many wider benefits gained through encouraging children cycle to school.

Bike Week enables us to showcase the many cycle tracks both on and off road which have been provided for the citizens of the County. Through our Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, a cycling sub group has recently been set up, this group will take an active interest and involvement in the planning and development the County’s walking and cycle network, in promoting and educating people about it and raising awareness of the service provided to local communities throughout the county.

For further information on all the events organised in Dublin for Bike Week 2015 visit  www.bikeweek.ie or the www.sdcc.ie

Images

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  Cllr. Paul Gogarty, Derek Keating TD, Robert Dowds TD, Mayor Fintan Warfield, Cllr. Ed O'Brien, Cllr Guss O'Connell, Cllr. William Lavelle
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  Mayor Fintan Warfield Opening Palmerstown Cycleway
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  Mayor Fintan Warfield, Mairead Forsythe of Dublin Cycling Campaign, Dara McGaley of Cycle Clinic