Newbridge cycle lanes raised at separate Kildare Municipal District meeting

The cycle lanes in Newbridge were raised during a recent North Kildare Municipal District meeting.

Specifically, the topic was raised at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Friday, February 6 last.

It came about when Fine Gael Cllr Tim Durkan submitted a motion to Kildare County Council (KCC), in which he called for KCC to write to the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Specifically, he wanted KCC to request "a full review of the active travel design specifications for adjoining footpath and cycle lanes given two recent accidents on Mill Street, Maynooth".

His motion was seconded by Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney.

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RESPONSE

Replying to Cllr Durkan's motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting that this would be a matter for the members to agree upon.

Speaking further on his motion, Cllr Durkan noted that two cyclists had suffered injuries as a result of the accidents.

He subsequently told KCC that he would instead submit the motion directly at the next full KCC meeting.

A brief discussion on cycling, as well as the need for cycling infrastructure throughout the entire county, shortly followed Cllr Durkan's comments, and when the Newbridge cycle lanes were raised, this prompted a response from the Mayor of the MD, Fine Gael Cllr Brendan Wyse.

Mayor Wyse remarked: "In the case of Newbridge cycle lanes, anytime I've been down there, I never seem to see any bikes on it."

As for cycling infrastructure thoughout Kildare, Mayor Wyse had this to say: "We do not have sufficient, protected infrastructure for cycling, and that intimidates young people."

He added that he wished to see the matter resolved, as it "would be great to get more young people cycling" in Kildare.

SIMILAR SENTIMENTS

Mayor Wyse's views on the Newbridge cycle lanes echo previous criticism from his party colleagues, Cllrs Peggy and Tracey O'Dwyer, who both represent the Kildare-Newbridge MD.

Back in the September 2025 MD meeting, Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer told one of KCC's engineers that "nobody uses" the cycle lanes.

She also noted that the cycle lanes were initially implemented in 2021, and that while the lanes were meant to be a "temporary measure", they still remain in place in Newbridge.

Then, during the November 2025 MD meeting, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer also expressed a lack of faith in the project.

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

Clarifying his views on the Newbridge cycle lanes following the meeting, Mayor Wyse told the Leinster Leader:  "I would be critical from the point of view that the infrastructure is going in without pre-consultation with local communities, and tax payer's money is being spent on infrastructure that is not being used, or causing injury.

"I think that time should be taken to work with the community before putting in active travel infrastructure to ensure it will be used and is safe and good value for taxpayer's money."

He added: "It is hard to reverse the work once done, so I can only push for future projects to be done better."

In related cycling news, a recent road safety audit has raised concerns about vehicle speeds and layout issues on the R448 between Timolin and Moone in South Kildare.

The 3.5 kilometre-long scheme forms part of a National Cycle Network pilot scheme which is being delivered by KCC.

(LEFT) Fine Gael Cllr Tim Durkan who submitted the original motion, and (RIGHT) the Mayor of the Municipal District, Fine Gael Cllr Brendan Wyse, who gave his views on the Newbridge cycle lanes. Both photographs are file photographs.

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.