Limerick bike lane plan is 'the final piece in the chain'
Route means students will have unimpeded access from UL campus to city centre
PLANS to build a cycle lane between the city centre and University of Limerick (UL) represents “the final piece in the chain”.
That’s according to the chairperson of the Limerick Cycle Campaign, Conor Buckley, who has pointed out that students cycling from the college will, when the project is complete, have unimpeded access between the Castletroy campus and Limerick’s bus and rail station.
“We are starting to see a network emerging that is connected. Cycle infrastructure really relies on connections, especially for younger audiences,” Mr Buckley said at a consultation event for the new cycle-way plan held at UL’s city campus in Sarsfield Street.
Council is set to appoint a design team and proceed to a planning process for the Active Travel scheme.
This will begin at Parnell Street, travel through Wickham Street move onto High Street and Mungret Street before coming onto Broad Street.
From there, it will move to Clare Street and link to the Park Canal for the final stretch to UL.
Mr Buckley has also said the fact the cycle lane is planned for quieter streets in the city will be a boost for both cyclists, and car drivers who are fearful of it bringing increased delays.
“It’s a quiet route. The numbers of cars are so small. This route does not connect out into the main suburbs. This is the back roads down to the canal,” he said.
Metropolitan district leader, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon, however, has voiced his opposition to High Street being closed off.
He fears it could exacerbate traffic jams from Wickham Street.
“It’s bad enough as it is. But now they want to have no traffic going straight on. All the traffic would have to turn right into Upper William Street,” he said.
He said putting a bike lane in Wickham Street was a mistake”.