DROGHEDA CYCLING GROUP welcomes the latest plan from Louth County Council for Active Travel measures. The plan launched last week is for cycle tracks from the train station to the Bridge of Peace and also on the Marsh Road from the Bull Ring as far as the Viaduct.
Chairperson Noel Hogan said:
“There are a lot of positive measures in the plan. Bikes will be segregated from traffic and from pedestrians and will have their own bicycle traffic lights. The bike tracks will be wide enough for two people to cycle side by side. There will be extra pedestrian crossings especially around the Bull Ring area and at the Rathmullen Road Junction”.
“However, as with everything, there is always room for improvement. We have a number of new bus routes and new bus stops in the town. Of course we welcome these improvements in public transport but we want to make sure that we get the best possible new infrastructure. One example of an improvement would be island bus stops as are currently being rolled out in Dublin”.
“The Active Travel Plans are not just for cyclists. The tracks are also for people who use electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters and even e-scooters. These vulnerable road users are often seen on our busy roads mingling with traffic and it’s not safe. We have proposed raised pedestrian crossings at certain points to act as a disincentive to dangerous speeding on our roads - a glance at the recent news about road deaths demonstrates how vital it is that safety is designed into our roads”
“We believe that even the most dedicated motorists will welcome these plans as more walkers and cyclists means fewer cars on the already congested roads and more available car parking spaces for those people who need them. We look forward to a time when the children of Drogheda will be able to walk or cycle to school and leisure activities as their parents and grandparents did”
Vice Chairperson James Shields said:
“I'm very pleased that Louth County Council are being proactive about promoting active travel, and welcome this proposal overall. I'm particularly happy to see engagement with the community on cycle routes. There are some things I think could be improved. In particular, I'd like to see more crossings for pedestrians, and redesign of bus stops to make them safer for all. I look forward to seeing how feedback from the community improves the final plan”.
We encourage everyone to look at the plans. They are available online:
https://consult.louthcoco.ie/en/consultation/drogheda-active-travel-phase-2
The public are invited to make submissions until Friday 20th October at 5pm. We hope lots of Drogheda people will to do so including positive comments and constructive criticism.
For further information contact:
Noel Hogan (086) 0874609