John Gormley
Question:364 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to improve cycling facilities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27517/01]
Written Answers. - Cycle Facilities.
Individual local authorities are responsible for the provision of cycle facilities in their functional areas as part of their traffic management role. My Department, in association with the Dublin Transportation Office, published a design manual for cycle facilities, Provision of Cycle Facilities – National Manual for Urban Areas, which was circulated to all local authorities in March 1998. The manual is intended to assist local authorities to provide cycle facilities to a uniform and high standard. Ensuring the safety of cyclists was an important consideration in developing the manual, which drew on international practice, particularly from the Netherlands and the UK. The manual sets out comprehensive guidelines for the design and provision of cycle facilities, specifically addresses the need for continuity in relation to cycle facilities and shows examples where this can be achieved with particular reference to the question of continuity through junctions and at pinch points. The DTO is now reviewing the cycle manual in the light of experience since 1998.