Cycling group slates ‘half-baked’ local active travel scheme design

By Rebekah O'Reilly

The Irish Cycling Campaign has strongly criticised Westmeath County Council's proposed second active travel scheme for Athlone, describing it as “half-baked” and "a hodgepodge” design and urging the local authority to rethink the plans before granting approval.

The submission relates to the council's proposed 2.25km active travel route between the Cornamaddy Roundabout to the Wash House Turn near the TUS Athlone campus.

While welcoming investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, the campaign said it was "very disappointed with the hodgepodge approach and very mixed standards of design proposed for this active travel upgrade".

It added: "It is disappointing to see different standards of design approach for the different sections along this 2km stretch, much of the design standards well below the recommended standards outlined by the National Cycle Design Manual (CDM)."

Despite its criticism, the campaign also welcomed a number of aspects of the proposal. It described the planned upgrade of the R446 roundabout as a "major improvement" on the existing layout, praising the inclusion of protected pedestrian crossings and safer facilities for cyclists.

It also welcomed upgraded signalised pedestrian crossings and additional crossing points near the college, saying these would help reduce vehicle speeds while providing safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists.

The organisation further praised the inclusion of protected side-road crossings with raised tables, describing them as an important safety enhancement. It also welcomed plans to narrow the carriageway to six metres, saying this would help calm traffic while creating more space for walking and cycling.

Although it noted that some cycle track widths remain below national guidance, it accepted that one constrained section was understandable given site limitations. The campaign also welcomed the limited land acquisition proposed to facilitate improvements along the route.

However, it said one of its main concerns was the inconsistent treatment of roundabouts along the scheme.

"We note also the disappointing different approaches to the roundabouts along the proposed scheme, with some proposing the recommended/preferred segregation between pedestrians and cyclists, while others propose shared facilities," the submission reads.

It also criticised the proposed width of some cycle tracks, which have a "lower than recommended" width.

The organisation questioned why the Garrycastle Roundabout had not been redesigned to include segregated facilities.

It called on the designers to revisit the roundabout "to ensure the generally recommended segregation of cyclists and pedestrians."

While critical of the overall design approach at the Altown (Greenway) Roundabout, the campaign welcomed the proposed zebra crossings on each arm of the junction and tighter approach geometry, saying these would improve overall safety and make access to the Old Rail Trail Greenway easier and safer.

It also welcomed planned upgrades to both main road and side-road crossings elsewhere on the route as positive measures for active travel users.

The campaign also expressed disappointment that no major improvements are proposed along part of the existing route where cycling facilities are already "substandard".

"It is disappointing to note that no major improvements are proposed along this section, which has a very tight, narrow and low-grade cycle track. Instead the Council is proposing to 'wait and see' if cycle numbers increase."

The submission was also highly critical of the proposed arrangements outside Cornamaddy National School.

"The poor active travel design arrangements around the Cornamaddy National School are unacceptably bad, and particularly in this area where we are trying to encourage greater active travel to schools," it said.

The campaign argued there was sufficient space to reduce on-street parking and provide cycle tracks and footpaths that meet acceptable design standards.

Summing up its concerns, the organisation said overall it was disappointed that this proposed scheme has come seeking Part 8 approval for a “hodgepodge design mixture and a half-baked approach” to the overall improvement of the route.

The submission concluded by urging the council to reconsider the design.

"The Irish Cycling Campaign would hope that a more consistent and CDM-aligned design approach is taken to this proposed scheme, and urges that the Council reconsider the overall design approach, and the adaptation of acceptable standards."

Westmeath County Council's Part 8 proposal forms the second phase of its wider Athlone Active Travel Scheme, a €13 million programme that aims to deliver 15.4km of improved walking and cycling infrastructure on six approach roads into the town.