Are Galway City Council’s cycle plans too good to be true? 

By Éimear Stockmann 

University of Galway student Sophia Waeldele commutes by bike daily from Dangan to the city centre. 

There is no bus that reaches her accommodation, and she likes the independence cycling offers her, but she is well aware of the risks on the road. 

“Cars don’t really know to look out for bikes,” she said.  

“First because of the weather, and now in the Winter; for visibility I always have to carry a Hi-Vis vest and my little reflector bands and stuff.” 

Ms Waeldele feels that Galway’s cycling infrastructure is in dire need of improvement. 

“I feel like the city is not really laid out for cyclists. There are hardly any bike lanes anywhere on the big roads,” she said. 

“There are a few places in town that have [bike lanes] but they just kind of end, and then you have to either go on the road or on the footpath, where you’re not supposed to go.” 

The bike lanes, she noted, end in the middle of the road, “so you can’t really merge safely”. 

“It would be nice to have a designated part of the road for bikes, so cars also know to watch those parts.” 

Her experience comes as Galway City Council’s latest project faces delays. 

Infrastructure projects 

The proposed Clifden Railway Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge was allocated €5.5 million from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, and the National Transport Authority (NTA) was expected to provide the remainder needed. However, as costs rose to over €15m, they withdrew. 

Upon completion, the bridge would cut a 1.1km journey to just 131m 

It is one of many similar infrastructure projects in Galway. 

Active Travel Communications Officer with Galway City Council Gavin Grace stated that the council remains committed to the development of the bridge in question. 

“It is a key aim of Galway City Council to introduce measures which reduce overall dependence on private cars,” he explained. 

“In line with national policy and the Galway Transport Strategy, we are working in tandem with partners including Galway County Council and the NTA to implement measures which address both the current and future transport needs of the city.” 

Mr Grace highlighted some of the other projects to illustrate the council’s efforts. Those completed include the cycling and walking infrastructure at Droichead an Dóchais, Wolfe Tone Bridge, Eglinton Canal, South Doughiska Road, The Crescent/Sea Road and Miller’s Lane. He also referred to ongoing projects at Ballybane Road/Castlepark Road, set to deliver a combined 3.3km of new segregated cycle lanes on both sides of the road. 

“Car Door Alley” 

Sam Storey works at An Mheitheal Rothar, Galway’s Community Bike Workshop, where he’s seen all sides of Galway’s cycling culture, including the road accidents. 

“We only get the experience of the cyclist, but it’s usually the car’s fault,” Mr Storey said. 

“I’d say the two most common things are a car cutting across a cyclist’s path, so it’s kind of like the bike ends up t-boning in the car. The other thing would be what’s called ‘dooring’; somebody opens a door of a parked car while the bike is passing, so the bike hits the door. That’s very common at Salthill Promenade, because there’s no bike lane. Loads of people cycle there; it’s got a nickname: Car Door Alley.” 

Mr Storey said the promenade “could be one of the best cycle lanes in the country,” which would bring in tourists, and encourage commuters to pick up an active mode of transport. 

“The infrastructure here is years behind the rest of the country or the standard of Europe. People here constantly complain about traffic,” he said. 

New cycle routes fully segregated 

In response to the road safety concerns, Galway City Council’s Gavin Grace emphasised the ongoing projects that promise improved cycling infrastructure. 

“As this new infrastructure increasingly interconnects, the Cycle Network will deliver a safer, more comfortable experience for cyclists and other road users,” Mr Grace said. 

“Where possible, the proposed routes are fully segregated, with cyclists physically separated from motorised traffic. In other cases, the network includes on-road cycle lanes or wide bus lanes to cater for both buses and cyclists along the same route.” 

Addressing unsafe driving, Mr Grace said new speed limits in 2023 introduced a 30km per hour limit in the inner city. 

But will Galway City Council’s ambitious infrastructure projects lead to effective improvements, or do they simply look good on paper? 

As Mr Grace points out: “the nature of infrastructure delivery means that this process takes time.” 

And in the meantime, who knows; Hi-Vis vests might just become all the rage!