Sir, – Well done to Olivia Kelly on her feature on cycling in Dublin ( April 19th). It is encouraging on all fronts to see the uptake in city cycling and to see how the city planners are responding by supplying safer delineated cycle paths. Especially welcome are the off-road paths, such as the Grand Canal one. The one omission in her feature was the S2S, the planned Sutton to Sandycove 22km continuous, level, off-road cycleway (though she did write about this on March 31st). The S2S was first mooted in 2001, and has since been endorsed by Dublin City Council, most of the political parties and local councillors, the Dublin Transportation Office, Dublin Regional Authority, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Councils, and the Department of Transport. S2S has the support of all organisations promoting tourism, health and cycling.
Olivia reported on March 31st that Dublin City Council is seeking contractors to build the first 2km section in Clontarf, and this contract has gone out to tender. As an S2S advocate, I am delighted with this development and now call on all candidates in the forthcoming local elections on May 23rd to support the completion of the full 22km route. Once completed, the S2S will provide a dedicated, level, continuous, off-road, cycleway across the whole of Dublin Bay. It can link in with the canal cycleways and other cycle routes to create a citywide cycling infrastructure. This will enable commuters, schoolchildren and students, shoppers, leisure cyclists, tourists and families to exchange the car for the bike. It will reduce emissions, create efficient cross-city options, benefit health and outdoor activities, and make Dublin city a bay city rather than one with its back to the bay. Yours, etc,
CLARA CLARK,
Newtownpark Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin
Sir, – I am a pedestrian , driver , cyclist and grandfather. I walk with my small grandchildren on the footpath which shares with a two-way cycle lane. It can be dangerous for us as cyclists approach from behind, some at speed, almost brushing shoulders with me and preventing us walking at leisure .
A bell or some warning of their approach would be a benefit. What is the law about bikes having a bell ? “Where are you going with no bell on your bike?” was an often-heard phrase when I was a lad, but it is particulary appropriate nowadays. Cyclists, please take note! Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O’ TOOLE,
Castle Park,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24