Calls to appoint city cycling officer

A call was made this week for City Hall to employ a full-time cycling officer to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of cycling.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy made the call during a broad discussion about cycling, infrastructure improvements and road safety, at this week’s Cork City Council meeting.

He said that the ongoing work to segregate cycle lanes in the city was welcome: “I think the challenge for us going forward is to keep the momentum going into 2021 and beyond. We probably do need a full-time cycling officer in place in the council and I say that because of the momentum we are building around cycling. We need someone that will encourage and raise awareness…and who will liaise even closer with the cycling community.”

Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent welcomed the recently installed bollards along the cycle lane on Washington Street but said that it had “probably inconvenienced a number of taxi drivers” as well as delivery drivers, and possibly musicians who need to get equipment into venues on the street. He said the council should look at meeting with taxi drivers when changes are being made in the city centre.

Green Party councillor Colette Finn said she had received a lot of messages from cyclists welcoming the new bollards, while her party colleague Cllr Dan Boyle said that taxi driver representatives had been consulted with about Washington Street. Cllr Boyle also made the point that parking in a cycle lane is the same as parking on double yellow lines and urged City Hall officials to tackle the issue.

Independent councillor Mick Finn asked how some cycle lanes would now be cleaned as City Hall’s sweepers won’t fit down the lanes because of the bollards.

David Joyce, Director of Operations in City Hall, told councillors that the addition of bollards on cycle lanes is for “the safety and protection of cyclists” and taxi groups were informed about the changes. Mr Joyce reiterated the point that it is illegal to park in a cycle lane. He also said additional cleaning equipment would be bought to clean cycle lanes which have bollards.