Last summer I attended a demonstration protesting a pilot cycle lane between Timolin and Moone in south Kildare, a project known locally as the road to nowhere. Delivered by TII and the council under the national cycle network plan, over €2 million has been spent installing concrete islands and hard kerbs. Instead of improving safety and access, locals describe the road as an obstacle course and a death trap. Crucially, members of local cycling clubs have told me that they will not use the lane. Since the summer there have reportedly been 80 incidents on this stretch, including two serious ones where cyclists were hospitalised. Many vehicles have been damaged too. There was no meaningful consultation before this pilot began. No funding has yet been allocated for maintenance. An urgent safety audit was completed last December but it remains unpublished. Can this situation be addressed before a life is lost? Will the audit be published and will an end be put to yet more waste of public money?

Sentiment score: -0.20