Mixed reactions to new Avonbeg Road pedestrian and cycle scheme
Work on the new Avonbeg Road Cycle Scheme this week

Mixed reactions to new Avonbeg Road pedestrian and cycle scheme

MIXED reactions were expressed surrounding the new Avonbeg Road Cycle Scheme with some resident’s describing it as “disgraceful” and others lauding the 1.3km route.

As part of the South Dublin County Council initiative, the existing two-metre footpath to the north of Avonbeg Road has been increased to four-metres for shared pedestrian and cycle space.

Traffic calming measures are also part of the plans, with the existing carriageway width of Avonbeg Road being reduced from nine metres – which the council believes “encourages excessive speeding”.

Reducing the road to six metres “is consistent with residential streets” and “result in slower car speeds and a safe and quieter environment for residents” according to the council.

However, this has been a bone of contention for residents in the surrounding community of Avonbeg, St Dominic’s and Bolbrook.

Avonbeg resident Teresa Fox expressed her concern last week to The Echo while standing next to the new cycle scheme.

“I think it’s ridiculous. If they just put in the cycle path, it would be grand, but they narrowed the roads,” Teresa tells The Echo.

“It’s terrible because when it is busy now, it is hard for cars to get up and down the road easily.”

At that point in the conversation, Teresa’s neighbour Lilian Doherty turns and says: “It used to be a great road, didn’t it Teresa?”

Lilian had been outlining how the road could be dangerous now for cars due to the narrowing of the road for the new cycle lane.

“My daughter brings me around to go shopping in the car and its dangerous because the cars need to overtake each other now, nearly crashing into people. It’s disgraceful now,” Lilian exclaims.

As The Echo rambled down the new cycle path, Chairperson of Dominic’s Active Men’s Social (DAMS) group, Terry Fayne, expressed how he felt the scheme was improving the amenity of the area.

“I think it’s great,” Terry says, outside Dominics Community Centre.

“I do a bit of running with Tallaght Athletic Club and I know this new route is going to extend right out to Ringsend, so, for me, that’s great for going on those long runs.

“I’ve heard people saying that it’s too wide and the road is too narrow for people passing up and down.

“There’s not that much traffic on the road. You have the [Tallaght] bypass which takes the bulk of the traffic, I can’t see it being a major issue.

“I think they should be happy because if it restricts the cars using the road, isn’t it better?”

Further down the 1.3km stretch, Bolbrook resident Peter Kearns was stopped while walking on the new path to have a quick chat.

“It’s great for pedestrians but for cars, I thought maybe they should have left the road a bit wider,” he says.

“See some people park out on the main road and it is affecting the traffic flow.”

Meanwhile, Zoran Pantic, who lives near the scheme says it is “excellent”.

“Traffic is so bad in all of Dublin, it’s good to encourage people to use bikes,” Zoran says.

The Avonbeg Road Cycle Scheme is under construction and is set to be ready for action by the end of the summer.

Read more about the cycle scheme HERE on Echo.ie.

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