A new plan for a cycle lane in south Dublin includes a 200m detour through a cemetery.
It follows objections to a dedicated two-way track for bikes along Deansgrange Road, that would have involved making traffic one-way for part of the stretch.
The cycle path is part of the Active Schools Travel programme that will see 25km of safe, segregated cycle tracks built. It was put on hold after threats of legal action over the plan for Deansgrange.
The project will cater for 65 schools in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown area.
The new proposal will see a two-way segregated path for bikes that will maintain two-way traffic and won't impact on current bus routes. It will see part of the cycle lane detoured through Deansgrange Cemetery.
It has been welcomed by local TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and councillor Marie Baker.
Great news from @blackrockette on the Deans Grange Cycle route🚲
New proposal will see a 2-way segregated cycle track, maintaining 2-way traffic & no effect to current bus routes. Thank you to Councillors who advocated for an alternate solution, particularly Cllr. Marie Baker.😃 pic.twitter.com/J6oHvJv3fo— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (@CarrollJennifer) December 8, 2021
But Green Party councillor Tom Kivlehan says it's not ideal;
"The cycle lane in the cemetery would be very narrow between graves, also there's a sense that some people wouldn't use the cemetery, some people don't like going into cemeteries."
He says there are also security issues and the graveyard is not open 24 hours a day.
The plans will be discussed at a council meeting later today.
