Time for national cycle route strategy

We have contacted all of the major political parties calling for the development of a national cycle route strategy, and the establishment of SUSTRANS in the Republic.

SUSTRANS is a UK charity organisation that has been developing a national cycle network across the UK for the past ten years. It recently began implementing projects in the Republic. SUSTRANS are implementing the 'North West Trail' on behalf of six councils; Donegal County Council, Strabane District Council, Omagh District Council, Fermanagh District Council, Leitrim County Council and Sligo County Council.
For full details, please see: North West Trail

A Fun Way for Your Child to Learn to Cycle Smart...

Safety is no accident. You’ve already given your child the gift of life. Perhaps you even bought your child their first bike. What better gift could you give your child now than to teach them the art of safe cycling, or better still afford them the opportunity to teach themselves – children remember better that way.;)

The Cycle Smart website allows them to do just that. It’s a child-friendly safe cycling initiative sponsored by the UK’s Department for Transport. It comes in two versions, HTML and Flash – if you’ve got Macromedia Flash installed on your computer, try the Flash version – it’s much more fun. You’ll find a link at the top of the Cycle Smart website that’ll take you there.

So why not encourage your child to visit this Cycle Smart website today, by simply clicking on the above image?

And remember…safety is a small investment for a rich future!

What your councillors are doing to provide safe cycle routes in your area

We have provided this space to your County Councillors to enable them to tell you what they are each doing to provide safe cycle routes in the part of Fingal they each represent.

Brendan Gleeson voices his support

Brendan Gleeson e-mailed the following message of support to us, together with a lovely mugshot! Thank you Brendan.

"Nothing clears the head quite like getting out on the bike and letting
the breeze blow things back into perspective.

For many, however, the joy of cycling in the fresh air is a thing of
the past. Frankly, cycling on our roads has become too dangerous,
especially for the young. It is unwise and unfair to do nothing about
this.

The situation is not insurmountable. Designated safe cycling routes can reverse the trend. Kids are eager to get out there. Adults the same. Give people a safe environment and thousands will get back on their bikes. The benefits to health and well-being would be enormous. All it requires is vision and the persistence to see it through.

What a legacy Fingal Co. Council can bestow on the county, with the provision of the Coastal Way and a full commitment to the provision of safe cycling throughout Fingal. It would reap the rewards for generations.

I fully support Fingal Safe Cycling Action Group in their campaign and look forward to a healthier Fingal in the future. Not to mention those breezes in the spokes!

Brendan Gleeson"

Malahide - Good news on Barrack Bridge / Caves Marsh route

We are delighted to learn of Fingal County Council's plan for a 120 metre long boardwalk across Caves Marsh. This has the potential to resolve the current Nightmare at Barrack Bridge.


This plan will soon be open for 'Public Consultation'. Please contact the council, directly and via this BLOG, to voice your support for this positive development, but please ask that the boardwalk and related pathways be built to facilitate both pedestrians and cyclists, in keeping with Transportation Objective TO28 "to prepare and implement on a progressive basis a programme for the development of the Fingal Coastal Way for pedestrians and cyclists".

Thank you.

Everyone's a winner !

The pupils in Ms. Markey's 2nd class in St. Oliver Plunkett's National School, Malahide, recently completed a colouring competition to promote awareness of the need for safe off road cycle routes for children. Kids need the space to learn, safe from motorised traffic.

Ms. Markey found it very difficult to pick a winner, as all of the entries were excellent.

The winning entry was by Jack Quinn, with Ciara Furlong 2nd and Cliona Hamill 3rd.

The entries were so good, that the Fingal Safe Cycling Action Group decided they were all 'winners' and presented the class with a box of 'Heroes' chocolates to celebrate. Well done to each one of you.

Baldoyle Family Fun Cycle - Great Success!

Clowns, balloons, face painting, children’s disco, fire juggler – it was all action at the Family Fun Cycle organised on Sunday last, 1st October by the Baldoyle Family Resource Centre. The Fingal Safe Cycling Action Group were delighted to participate in this fun cycle, and to have the opportunity to report on this, the 3rd year of the ‘Baldoyle on two wheels’ event.

Up to one hundred families took to their bikes and completed the cycle that went from St. Peter and Paul’s Boys National School Baldoyle along the coastal cycle path to St. Anne’s park Raheny and back.


Threatening skies and a shower of rain at the start could not dampen the spirits, as the convey, escorted by the Gardai were led from the school to the safety of the coastal cycle path. They were also accompanied by a cycling parrot who later told Fingal Safe Cycling that he was completely bird-brained! Carmen Paredes, a community worker at the centre wishes to thank all those who helped organise the event, and those who contributed to the fund raising. Carmen was delighted to hear of Fingal County Council’s objective of building a safe, off-road cycle route from Baldoyle to Portmarock. This route will be part of the Fingal Coastal Way for pedestrians and cyclists, which will extend from the county boundary with Dublin City to the county boundary with County Meath. Carmen expects this annual event to continue to grow in popularity especially when the Baldoyle- Portmarnock safe cycle route is completed.

And a very special thank you to Jen, from the Adventure Group - who helped us out when we arrived at the wrong starting point! Thanks Jen!