UP TO £15 million will be spent on 130km of bicycle lanes, according to Dublin Corporation. Its new report, Strategic Cycle Lanes Network Plan, published yesterday, envisages all lanes in place by the year 2015.
The lanes will be built along almost all roads within the city centre and out to the suburbs. The report proposes integrating the Luas line and the cycle lanes.
Written by two engineers from the Corporation's Environmental Traffic Division, the report says the new lanes should see Dublin cyclists increase significantly from the current 5 per cent. The report approved by Dublin City Council's Traffic Sub Committee, goes before the main council for final ratification.
In the meantime, it will go through a consultation process involving submissions from the public.
Councillor Ciaran Cuffe from the Green Party said bicycles were accepted as a major way to help "better traffic flow" in the city.
The report says if lanes are increased, there would have to be a "corresponding increase" in facilities for parking bicycles. One suggestion is that corporation multi storey carparks might be used.
The proposed lanes stretch out to the edges of Dublin Corporation's local authority jurisdiction. Among the targeted streets and areas in the city centre Clanbrassil Street, Pearse Street, the North Circular Road, Lesson Street and along the quays.
Councillor Brendan Brady (FG) said "cycling was finally being taken seriously as a mode of transport".