Former Councillor Reiterates Concerns Over Newbridge Cycle Lanes

Wednesday, 26 January 2022 10:29

By Caoimhe Harney

He says there is outrage in the town.

To install a cycle lane on the inside of parked traffic is an accident waiting to happen, that's according to former Newbridge Councillor Damien Molyneux.

"Firstly a driver reversing into a parking won't see a cyclist approaching from the opposite direction because the drivers vision would be blocked by the line of parked cars and especially if it's a parked SUV or Van.

"The space available for live traffic flow is now considerably less, the driver will have less space to swing towards the right and this will make parking harder and a more hasty manoeuvre, all it would take is the driver to cross into the cycle lane and it could cause a collision," he said.

"Secondly a vast of passengers that would be exiting from the cars, either young children or non experienced drivers, there might not have the skills or habits of looking behind for approaching traffic, nor would they have the same vision from the mirrors that the drivers would have, " he added.

"Because Newbridge Main Street has quite a hill cyclist going towards East direction could travel at high speeds," he insisted.

Damian has said the council needs to rethink the cycle lanes and necessary adjustments should be made.

"There's outrage in town over these lane," he said.

Moyleux said the changes were welcomed but that more has to be done.

"It's great to see that we are moving forward in our thinking on how to make our town more environment friendly and more accessible for everyone.

"We have seen the welcomed improvements in the town with upgraded footpaths and the installations of benches in random locations.

"The promoting of cycling in the town is a long over due project in fact over due by at least two generations so it's good to see that cycle lanes are starting to appear in the town.

"But unfortunately they have become the talk of the town in a negative way and probably with pure justification," he added.

Former Newbridge Councillor Damien Molyneux spoke with Ciara Noble on Tuesday morning's Kildare Today: