A proposed two-way cycle lane for Deansgrange has become Dublin's latest controversial cycling project.
Under Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's proposals, a stretch of the existing driving lane in the south Dublin village would be removed and replaced by a two-way cycle lane.
It would mean a one-way traffic system would be introduced in part of the village.
Some locals say this will exacerbate traffic problems, and The Irish Times reports a group of businesses is now planning legal action against the plans.
The council, meanwhile, says it understands the concerns of residents, but the changes would be an opportunity to reduce motor traffic in an area that often has congestion problems.
This particular route is part of a larger-scale plan to develop 25km of dedicated cycle lanes in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, in order to provide safer cycling access to the area's schools.
The Pat Kenny Show spoke to a councillor opposed to the Deansgrange plans and a resident who supports it.
Fine Gael Councillor Marie Baker insisted she's not anti-cyclist.
She said: "I’m actually an active member of the cycling forum in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.
“My concern about this particular [case] is the traffic would only be able to flow from the Blackrock direction towards Deansgrange.
"Anybody beyond Deansgrange village who normally came via Deansgrange Road would have to go an alternative route. They’d either go up to the N11 or use Bakers Corner.”
“It would be a major diversion.
However, she said the most significant impact would be for those who live on Deansgrange Road itself.
She argued: "Their life is going to be seriously interrupted. We’re talking about hundreds of households permanently going around in loops.
“I don’t think it has been thought through, to be perfectly honest. I don’t think the social and economic implications of actually installing the two-way cycle lane have actually been looked at.
“Is there an alternative? Possibly, but I think that would require more money to be spent.
"I think that’s part of the problem here - this is a cheap and cheerful outing by the council.”
'Quite dangerous' stretch of road on a bike
Local resident Orla Hyland, meanwhile, says she supports the proposed change.
She observed: “I just think our kids should be cycling and walking to school safely. If they were, it would take a huge amount of traffic off the roads.
“That particular stretch is really quite dangerous on a bike.
"I use it quite regularly, but you need to take up the whole driving lane on your bike and have quite a lot of confidence to do that… it’s just not safe, and I wouldn’t send my own child down that particular road."
Orla said she believes more children should have the freedom and independence to cycle and walk to school, rather than being driven by their parents.
In a statement, the council says they received 6,431 submissions as part of the public engagement about the overall 'Active School Travel' plans.
Around 499 of those submissions - around 8% of the total - specifically opposed the Deansgrange proposals.
The council said: "While it is important to continue to facilitate motor vehicle access, Deansgrange Road is also an essential missing link in the active mobility network.
"It currently lacks safe conditions for cycling it is a barrier for people to reach destinations on and around Deansgrange Road and across the County by active travel modes. This means that potential active travel users are more likely to drive.
"By providing safe conditions for walking and cycling on Deansgrange Road it would link the networks on either side and would enable more people to choose to walk or cycle for their trips instead of driving a car."
The Deansgrange debate follows similar controversy over a cycle path in Sandymount, with the courts recently ruling in favour of those opposed to the trial scheme.
Dublin city councillor Mannix Flynn and local residents lodged a legal challenge to a six-month trial of the two-way path.
Judges now say the council's plans need to go through the full planning process if it is to proceed.
