Dublin Cycling Campaign is delighted with the Court of Appeal Decision in regard to the Strand Road (Sandymount) Cycle Facility Trial as made on Friday 11 April 2025.

The decision overturns a ruling of the High Court of July 2021, which had the effect of stopping Dublin City Council from proceeding with its proposed trial of the Sandymount Cycle Facility.

The Court of Appeal decision enables Dublin City Council to proceed with the trial of the 2km long segregated cycle track from Seán Moore Road to Merrion Gates.

More importantly, it gives all 31 Local Authorities countrywide the green light to proceed with other similar Section 38 schemes.

It is beyond belief that it took four years for the Court of Appeal to arrive at its decision, and – as indicated by several Dublin City Councillors – the initial High Court Decision had a chilling effect on the advancement of other important Active Travel schemes in Dublin and beyond.

The broader point here is that we are still – even though we do not hear enough about this from our TDs and Ministers – in the middle of a Climate Emergency. Meanwhile emissions from the Transport sector are growing apace.

We urgently need to complete Dublin City Council’s Active Travel Network – and, more broader, the Greater Dublin Area Strategic Cycle Network Plan. Additionally, we need the equivalent cycle networks of the cities of Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and of the towns around Ireland, advanced at pace. These networks will enable far more people to choose to cycle, help to reduce transport emissions and improve public health – amongst many other benefits.

In the case of the Strand Road, we want to see the trial that was originally planned implemented ASAP – and we utterly reject the notion that we need to wait for the flood defence works before having a safe cycling route along this part of the coast. The Primary School children who want a safe coastal route here could well be in their twenties by the time a cycle facility that is part of flood defences is realised. This is simply not acceptable.

Over the coming weeks and months, Dublin Cycling Campaign will be stepping up its campaigning for greater investment in and a more rapid development of high quality facilities in Dublin to enable more families, school children, college/work commuters and others to confidently and safely cycle to their chosen destinations.

To support us in our work, please consider joining Dublin Cycling Campaign, a Local Group of Irish Cycling Campaign, at this link. Thank you!

Further information and commentary on the case:

Irish Times

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorials/2025/04/14/the-irish-times…

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2025/04/14/councillors-clash-o…

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/04/11/sandymount-cyclew…

RTE

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2025/0411/1507121-sandymount-cycleway/

Irishcycle.com

https://irishcycle.com/2025/04/11/green-light-for-strand-road-cycle-path…

https://irishcycle.com/2025/04/14/fine-gael-councillor-looks-to-block-st…

Photo above (from the RTE website) shows Irish Cycling Campaign Spokesperson, Úna Morrison, on Strand Road.