Sir, – Your report, “Dublin to Galway Cycle link proposal” (Home News, September 14th), is a perfect example of how we lack the necessary leadership to dig us out of our current difficulties.
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar correctly (if belatedly) recognises that Ireland lacks the cycling infrastructure that is the norm elsewhere, and also seems to be coming slowly around to the realisation that there are substantial foreign currency earnings to be made if we can enter the cycle-tourism market.
The Royal and Grand canals are in public ownership, and Waterways Ireland favours the development of cycleways on their banks. There are existing towpaths along the waterways, they just need upgrading to allow for cycling and walking – a scrape of a digger and simple rolled grit overlay is all that is required in most cases – hardly rocket science.
So what does the Minister do? He “instructs the NRA to start planning for the project”. Translation: he instructs the NRA to commission another report.
Wouldn’t it be great to see the Minister in charge of tourism actually saying “I have instructed the NRA and the Department of Transport to immediately establish a national network of off-road trails on canal banks, disused railways and river navigations, linked by minor roads and permissive access on private lands where appropriate. I want this network established within 12 months, so that we can start making serious money from these disused assets, as well as providing safe and enjoyable holidays and commuter routes for our cyclists at home”.
Instead, we get the usual “can kicking” – paralysis by analysis. Plus ça change. – Yours, etc,