Following a meeting between The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Councillors from Dublin City Council, (DCC) and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council (DLRCC), agreement has been reached on a new approach to advance the S2S project. This would complete two further sections on the seafront; one between Irishtown and Merrion Gates and the other between Blackrock and Seapoint and is an exciting prospect for supporters of the S2S.

The agreement follows the publication of a study carried out by the NTA in 2016 and public comments on it in January 2017. While much of what is now proposed remains the same as the 2016 proposals, there are also significant differences that seek to address the most contentious parts of those proposals:

1. A new cycleway alongside the existing promenade on the seafront between Sean Moore Park and Merrion Gates, as before. (c 2.0kms)
2. The proposed flyover at Merrion Church/ Merrion Hall to allow the permanent closure of the Merrion Gates will not now proceed.  It is acknowledged that there will be increased delays to road traffic when the frequency of Dart services increases in September 2018.  There appears to be no viable solution to the problem at this time.
3. Provide improved cycle ways and footpaths on the Rock Road between Merrion Gates and Booterstown Dart Station, as before.
4. Improve the existing shared cycleway and walkway through Blackrock Park between Booterstown Station and Blackrock, as before.
5. The 2016 proposal to make Seapoint Ave one-way for road traffic will not now proceed. A new seafront walkway and cycleway will be provided between Blackrock and Seapoint in place of the walkway (only) on the seafront.  (c1.2kms)
6. It is proposed that (with the support of the NTA) Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council  will proceed with the development of these proposals under Part 8  of the Planning Acts.  This sets down the procedures for local authorities to carry out public works within their own areas and will involve development of the designs and the necessary environmental studies as the first steps.
7. The NTA has undertaken to provide funding for the project.

Part of the new route between Blackrock and Maretimo which will be behind the sea wall.

While supporters of the S2S will be disappointed that the whole of the route is not on the seafront and that the proposals in respect of the section between Merrion Gates and Blackrock are less than ideal, it has to be acknowledged that these new proposals will see the completion of approximately 3.2 kms of the amenity on the seafront. This would be the first section of the S2S to be undertaken in South Dublin Bay and a significant step towards the achievement of the overall project, for which we should all be grateful to the NTA and the Councils of DCC and DLRCC.  We hope everyone will get behind this initiative.

Further information can be found in this article by Olivia Kelly in the Irish Times of 4^th June 2016

Michael Collins and Clara Clark

for:  Sutton to Sandycove Promenade and Cycleway

In his acceptance speech following his election as Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Cllr on 19^th June 2017, Cllr Tom Murphy made the completion of the S2S his first priority:

“I suppose some of the things I’d like to see happen during my term of office and which I’d like to promote.  The first item I would like to see us promoting is the S2S; I think that it is really important that’s progressed very far throughout Dublin itself.  We’re very important and one of the final links of that and it’s something I think all the Members will agree that it would be something that would be fantastic from a tourism point of view but also linking the city and the people in general and we’d all like to promote.. “

Cllr Kate Feeney, who is a long term supporter of the S2S project, was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach and she also supported the project in her inauguration speech. Their statements are a welcome confirmation of the support that continues to exist across all of the main political parties for the S2S project. Backing at this level within the Council will be crucial in furthering the project in the next 12 months.

Cllr Tom Murphy and Cllr Kate Feeney with colleagues following their election in DLRCC.

We congratulate both Cllr Murphy and Cllr Feeney on their election and wish them well in their term of office.

Two excellent articles by journalist Olivia Kelly in the Irish Times Saturday 6^th May following the opening of the Dollymount Section of the S2S.  They are also on the I.T. website at the following links:

Missing link’ in Dublin Bay cycle path opens in Clontarf

How 2km of cycle path in Clontarf became a 25-year saga

Today the Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr formally opened the 2Km stretch of the S2S between the Wooden Bridge and the Causeway to the Bull Island. For supporters of the S2S it was a momentous occasion, being the first section to be completed since the campaign was started in 2001.  There is now a continuous off- road walkway and cycleway all the way from Sutton to East Wall.  Fantastic!

Lord Mayor Brendan Carr Cuts the Tape

Among the attendance: Ciaran Cuffe (Dublin City Council), Clara Clark (S2S & Cycling Without Age) and Colm Ryder (Dublin Cycling Campaign).

Cycling Without Age is a Danish concept created in 2012 www.cyclingwithoutage.org). The idea is to take residents of nursing and care homes out for a spin on a specially designed rickshaw bicycle, piloted by volunteer cyclists. Clara Clark & Charles Mollan were granted the first Irish royalty-free licence. Clara is a long-time S2S group member.

The first rickshaw bike arrived in Dublin on Monday, 13^th March 2017. We were delighted to take up the invitation from the Dublin Cycling Campaign to participate in the Dublin St Patrick’s Day Parade under the banner of 200 Years of Cycling. See the photo of us at the start of the parade.  We purchased this first bike from personal funds, so as to have a model to demonstrate to nursing homes and sponsors. We hope to have this bike crowd-funded.

Now that we have the bike here, we will be happy to talk to people, organisations, nursing homes, potential sponsors and others about how to promote the concept of Cycling Without Age (www.cyclingwithoutage.ie) here. We already have expressions of interest from some sponsors and organisations, and offers from volunteer pilots, whom we will train in the bike’s use.  Please let us know if you would like more information.

Clara Clark & Charles Mollan

www.cyclingwithoutage.ie

clara@claraclark.ie 

Tel: 087-2515439; 01-2898533

17 Pine Lawn, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

What is the S2S?  Why is in the News?  Why is it worth supporting?.  Check out this short briefing document:-   161124-s2s-briefing-paper-nov-2016

We thank the large number of Supporters and Public Representatives that attended the meeting in the Tara Towers Hotel on 15^th November. There was a presentation of the proposals for the Sandymount/Merrion/Blackrock Study s2s-presentation-nov-2016  and a lively discussion of the issues. In the end, there was consensus around the following resolution:

1:  Accept the proposals as a significant step forward.   

2:  Express the hope that the required environmental assessments would demonstrate that the need to protect birds/ habitats can be reconciled with the provision of (a) sustainable transport systems and  (b) access to amenity for the community.

3:  Work towards the provision of a fully coastal cycle / pedestrian route as the preferred option.

It is expected that the NTA will hold public meetings on the proposals on the 22^nd and 23^rd of November in the Tara Towers Hotel.  Supporters of the S2S Project are urged to attend those meetings and contribute in support of the project.

Note:   16^th December 2016: Final Date for the submission of comments to the NTA

Supporters of the S2S Project are invited to a meeting which will be held on

Tuesday 15^th November at 7.30 pm in the Tara Towers Hotel, Merrion Road.

The purpose of the meeting is to explain the proposals and the background in more detail and to discuss the approach we will take to the submission which must be submitted before the 16th December 2016.

We attach a paper in which we present our initial analysis and reaction to the report and hope that you will find helpful in understanding the proposals and issues. A copy of the paper may be found here:  s2s-initial-comment-on-the-sandymount-blackrock-study-nov-2016

If you wish to read the NTA report in full and check the supporting documents, please go to the following NTA website.https://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/nta-opens-consultation-on-ambitious-proposals-to-tackle-merrion-gate-bottleneck/