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17th Jun 2017

Dublin Lord Mayor says that people with disabilities may be allowed to use cycle lanes soon

It will make it easier for navigating around Dublin city.

JOE

The matter will be voted on.

Dublin Lord Mayor, Brendan Carr, has said that people with disabilities may be allowed to use cycling lanes in the future. He has said that the proposal for the plan will be put to a city-wide vote which will find out the opinion of the people of Dublin.

This is prompted by the increasing number of pavement obstacles that people with visual and mobility disabilities have to navigate in Dublin City on a daily basis.

The Dublin Lord Mayor spoke at the Velo 17 on Friday which is the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) annual global cycling summit. Here, he said that “cycling is a form of access, not of speed. That was a real eye-opener to me.”

If the vote goes in favour of Brendan Carr’s proposal, the cycling lane will also become a form of access for those who are living with disabilities.

 

The Lord Mayor said: “Currently, we are aware of the extent to which people with disabilities have to go to circumnavigate obstructions on the pavements.

“I think they would be better off using the cycle lanes and would like to ask what the people of Dublin think about this,” he concluded.

Speaking to the Independent, Chairperson of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, Paul Corcoran, said:

“Disabled people certainly have the right to use them, like everyone else. I already see this happen occasionally, particularly when people are in mobility scooters. Sometimes the path is too narrow or the kerb is simply too high.

He added, “Personally I wouldn’t have a problem with it, though it does create the potential for conflict.”

 

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