The Brackenstown area of Swords will have cycle lanes protected by plastic bollards as opposed to raised kerbs.
Fingal County Council officials confirmed to councillors today that raised kerbs will not be used in Brackenstown. This comes following a number of falls relating to kerbs installed to protect cycle lanes in Rivervalley.
The proposed scheme for Brackenstown will go to public consultation in the coming weeks and a leaflet drop to homes in the area will provide information on the changes.
The new protected cycle lanes will go from the Parkview roundabout in Swords Manor to St Cronan’s School and along the Murrough Rd and onto the Glen Ellen Rd as far as the entrance to Laurelton.
A crucial bit of the scheme will be a new two way cycle lane from the top of the Murrough Rd to St Cronan’s School in what is now a grass verge. The works will also provide a newly designed road front to St Cronan’s School to increase the pedestrian area and slow down traffic at the school entrance. This is designed to encourage as many children as possible to walk, cycle, and scoot to school.
Another new cycle lane will be placed beside the substation on the Glen Ellen Rd. This will provide a link between the new protected cycle lanes on the Murrough Rd and the Glen Ellen cycle lanes. At the Swords Manor football pitches the new bollards will prevent the dangerous parking that often happens along that stretch.
Commenting on the designs, Cllr Ian Carey said:
“So many people in Swords are locked into using their cars and the only way we can get out of this is through providing better infrastructure for people who want to walk and cycle. This will do just that. It is so important to encourage children to walk and cycle to school if they can. It is far better for them – it builds a healthy habit, encourages independence, improves the air quality around schools, makes the school area safer, and cuts emissions.
“I have a few issues with lighting around the new two way lanes and concerns about the maintanence of the bollards but hopefully they can be resolved. I encourage everyone to look at what is being proposed when it is launched and to make an observation if you see something that needs to be changed.
“I’m very happy to see this brought forward. We have learned a lot since the first protected lanes went in to Swords and I believe this is reflected here. I’m confident this scheme will bring a lot of benefit to the area.”
The public consultation should start in the coming weeks with more images and design details available then.
