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The Newry to Omeath road must be one of the most dangerous roads to cycle on anywhere. I really do thank God every time I get off this road on to the safety of the Carlingford Lough Greenway at Victoria Lock. It looks like it could be a while though before the greenway links straight to Omeath. Hopefully the stretch to the border from Omeath will be complete by the end of this year. Until planning gets approved though anyone who wants a wee 12km cycle to the lovely village of Omeath will have to run the gauntlet of vehicles not slowing down and being just too close. Today I could easily have kicked one car without hardly taking my foot of the pedal!
Cycling through Newry at rush hour today I saw just two other bicycles ... I wonder why?
Meanwhile south of the border Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD announced yesterday that his department was making €290m available for walking and cycling infrastructure. Back up here in the 'wee' north Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd MLA agrees for greater collaboration for active travel and greenway delivery. You can collaborate all you like but if money isn't actually promised nothing will happen.
Back in Newry I would be concerned that proposals to link the Newry Canal Towpath to the Carlingford Lough Greenway through the City on a new path between the Canal and the river might be put in the back of a filing cabinet market 'To Do's'
It's totally unbelievable that here we are 12 years after the Newry City Centre Masterplan proposed 'a comprehensive network of foot and cycle paths.
Newry City Centre Master Plan 2011
"The existence of the Newry Canal and Clanrye River running through the centre of Newry makes it uniquely suited to a comprehensive network of foot and cycle paths. These paths or Greenways present a real opportunity to link the majority of Newry’s neighbourhoods with one another and with the city centre.
"The benefits of such a system would be considerable. It would encourage many more people in the city to walk or cycle to and from the city centre, thereby reducing road congestion, improving air quality and greatly contributing to the health and fitness of the city’s population."
Sure we can only dream!
