Provision for cycling in Celbridge falls far short of meeting national standards so cycling is an unattractive option for the less confident and younger cyclists who use footpaths in the absence of safe cycling infrastructure well into their teenaged years. People need to be able to move about safely using active modes before they will consider them.
11.3. GDA Cycle Network Plan
We note the proposed cycle routes on p.7 of the Draft 2021 GDA Cycle Network Plan (Set 2). We welcome the change to the GDA Cycle Network for North Kildare including an inter-urban route between Celbridge & Maynooth on the R405, the proposal of a River Liffey crossing point for cyclists near the Slip in Celbridge and the proposed crossing of the M4 from Castletown Parklands via the Liffey Business Campus to the Wonderful Barn.
Since many routes marked on the GDA Cycle Network for Celbridge cannot accommodate both 2-way traffic and infrastructure for active modes of transport, initiatives to make space for cyclists in Celbridge are likely to be costly. While some initiatives might be completed without incurring significant cost, costly infrastructure projects such as a second river crossing and a ring road to divert traffic away from the heart of the town seem unavoidable in order to make more space for active modes of transport on radial routes to/from Celbridge town centre.
11.5 Cycle Parking
Lack of appropriate cycle parking and badly located cycle parking is a big issue on main streets and centres of towns which discourages cycling. The provision and relocation of cycle parking to areas with good levels of passive surveillance is key to promoting residents to cycling to their main streets/centres. Cycle parking provided near outdoor dining should be heavily promoted.
11.8. Emerging Personal Mobility Modes
Measures CYC9, CYC10 & CYC11 relating to e-Bikes, Electric Scooters and Other Emerging Personal Mobility Modes are welcomed but the rise in personal mobility is inevitable so the challenge of providing space for personal mobility users whilst protecting pedestrians and other vulnerable transport infrastructure users is one that needs to be addressed urgently.
Given the permanency of transport infrastructure, waiting for the inevitable to happen and for the slow passage of legislation before responding with suitable infrastructure design does not appear prudent.