Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland News
Proposal to ban cycling in Belfast streets - make your voice heard by 9th September
Those of you that cycle in central Belfast will be aware of the Streets Ahead road works ongoing. While this work will improve the look for the city streets Sustrans and other cycling organisations are very concerned that these street alterations will introduce one way streets on Donegal Place and Queen Street.
Currently there is a consultation process on a Traffic Order which includes making Queen Street one way only for buses and cyclists and Sustrans have formally objected to this proposal on the grounds that:
- one way streets are bad for cycling as the detour results in longer journeys often in fast busy streets
- one way streets will result in less people cycling and possibly more illegal cycling on pavements
- Queen Street is a strategic street for cycling through Belfast in a North South corridor
- we would like to see a contraflow cycle lane installed on Queen Street to maintain cycling in both directions
The public consultation on this order is open until Thursday 9th September. If you would like to object to this traffic order please email roads.legislation@drdni.gov.uk and copy the objection to belfast@sustrans.org.uk
Download the Traffic Order and read Sustrans' detailed response (pdf).
Celebrating 15 Years of the National Cycle Network - 18 September 2010
Join Sustrans on Saturday 18th September in a celebratorary bike ride on Routes 9, 93 and 99. Four rides will converge at Titanic Quarter starting from Lisburn, Comber, Bangor and Newtownabbey. Further details to follow.
If you are interested in joining one of these rides email patricia.wallce@sustrans.org.uk and details will be forwarded to you. There will be a minimum sponsorship fee for participation.
Big thanks to Globe Bikes who are supporting the rides this year. Everyone who registers and takes part in a ride has the chance to win a fantastic Globe Live bike.
The Newtownabbey Way takes another step forward
The Newtownabbey Way has taken another step forward towards completion as planning permission for the next phase of the path has been officially granted.
The scheme is part of Sustrans Connect2 project and the path is already open from the Loughshore beyond Monkstown and into ThreeMileWater Park. This includes the dramatic section under the Bleach Green Viaducts and an impressive new bridge at Monkstown.
The new path has inspired local people to join in various activities including bike maintenance sessions run by Sustrans Volunteers, tree planting, a cycle ride up the path to join the Mayor for an official ribbon cutting ceremony and a leisurely, sunny Sunday afternoon ride and picnic on the path during Bike Week.
The next phase of works will extend the path towards the newly refurbished Council offices at Mossley Mill where the Councils new Arts Theatre is also located.
Hire bikes now available in Derry/Londonderry
In a new initiative organised by Sustrans and Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau, hire cycles will once again be available in the City for the use of tourists and locals.
Six hire bikes will be provided and maintained by Claudy Cycles, and will be available for hire by the day or hour from the Bureau.
This is the perfect opportunity for ‘returning’ cyclists to try out cycling again and explore the extensive City wide cycle network. With the award-winning Foyle Valley Greenway just yards from DVCB there is the perfect environment for traffic-free and quiet cycling opportunities, if you haven’t been on a bike for a while. Or why not cycle along the riverside path using the new shared-use path through Fort George and explore the lovely network of paths in Bay Park? If you are feeling adventurous follow the path up the side of the Foyle Bridge, along Boom Hall Lane and after crossing Culmore road follow the first section of the Inis Eoghain Cycleway around Ballyarnett Country Park.
The bikes are ready - why not try it?
Ballymoney Connect2 scheme new bridge designs go on display
Local people were asked to comment on the design for a new walking and cycling bridge in Ballymoney. The proposed bridge is part of a new walking and cycling scheme for the town which will connect the expanding community in the south to the town centre including access to the station, Riverside Park, local schools and the leisure centre. It will replace an unmanned railway crossing and offer the local community a new more direct link to and from the town’s local facilities. This bridge and its connecting network of paths will effectively link the north and the south of the town for journeys by foot and bike. The designs were on display at different locations in the town and feedback from the community was generally positive. The planning application was submitted to Planning Service in June 2010.
St Matthew's celebrate Bike It with Conor Murphy MP MLA, Wed 16 June 2010
Conor Murphy MP MLA, Minister for the Department for Regional Development, joined over 100 children from St Matthews Primary School who cycled to school to celebrate their involvement in the Bike It project. Bikedock bike shop were on hand to fix bikes, and parents served up a healthy breakfast to all cyclists!
These events happened across all the Bike It schools as part of the Two Wheels, Two Weeks campaign, co-ordinated by DRD Travelwise.
Comber Greenway Vision
The Northern Ireland Assembly is currently considering whether to convert the greenway to a bus route incorporating a path of lesser quality than what is currently available. While Sustrans is keen to see improvements to public transport these should not be to the detriment of walking and cycling. We believe this will be the case should the bus route plan progress.
We have produced a Vision for the way forward which outlines a range of initiatives including improvements to the greenway, more space for buses on the road network and a range of Smarter Choice projects such as Safe Routes to Schools. We encourage interested supporters to read our vision and join the debate: please download 'A vision for sustainable travel within East Belfast' (pdf).