A trial of the Liffey Cycle Route could go ahead this summer, according to Dublin City Council executives, but would require private motor traffic to be banned from some sections of Dublin’s Quays. The topic was discussed at February’s City Council meeting after a major protest and an online petition highlighted people’s frustration at the ongoing delays to the Liffey Cycle Route.

More than 250 people attended the Liffey Cycle protest on Sunday 26th January, which was organised by Dublin Cycling Campaign. The mass cycle started from Grand Canal Dock, with the group cycling a loop of Dublin’s Quays as far as Dublin City Council’s offices on Wood Quay, before finishing up back at Grand Canal Dock.

As with previous Liffey Cycles, this family-friendly protest enabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy a leisurely cycle along the Quays, all whilst highlighting the urgent need for improved cycling infrastructure in the city. A team of more than twenty Dublin Cycling Campaign marshals coordinated the cycle and kept motor traffic at bay as the large group of cyclists passed freely along the Quays.

Along with the Liffey Cycle protest, an online petition to trial the LIffey Cycle Route has been gaining massive traction. More than 4,000 people have already signed the petition, which expresses frustration at the proposed 2024 completion date for the project and calls for trial measures to be implemented in 2020.

That proposed trial was the subject of debate at February’s City Council meeting, with Councillors from across the political spectrum expressing their frustration at the ongoing delays to the Liffey Cycle Route and voicing support for the proposed trial this summer.

Brendan O’Brien, the head of Dublin City Council Technical Services, told councillors at Monday’s meeting that they must agree to ban cars from sections of the Quays if they want to trial the Liffey Cycle Route. Regarding the pinch points where there are only two lanes, O’Brien said that one lane had to be dedicated to public transport. The second lane can either be given to cars or to cyclists, he said. “It is a simple choice.”

A series of options will be presented to Councillors at next month’s meeting, outlining what can be done, what would be difficult to do, and what would require the banning of cars from sections of the Quays.

Dublin Cycling Campaign is currently planning the next Liffey Cycle Protest. If you would like to be involved in organising these protests, or our general campaign for the Liffey Cycle Route, please send an email to liffeycycle@dublincycling.com expressing your interest to get involved.