Cycling campaigners in Galway say they're "disappointed and disgusted" after plans for a temporary cycleway in Salthill were scrapped by the local council.
Last September, Galway councillors voted nearly unanimously in favour of the 3km cycleway.
The cycleway was due to open in March and be in place for six months.
However, many politicians backtracked on their support for the proposal following complaints from local members of public, businesses and emergency services.
Last night, councillors voted 13 to 4 to abandon the plans.
Martina Callanan, deputy chair of the Galway Cycling Campaign & member of cyclist.ie, told The Pat Kenny Show campaigners are "disgusted" but not surprised by the development.
She argued: "It’s the same old, same old.
“Let’s be clear: councillors decided to vote on this motion before the public consultation was published. Bikelash is predictable - councillors should be leaders at bringing people along.
“What we’ve learned is that local government can’t be trusted… not an inch of safe and separate cycleway has been built here.”
She said campaigners no have "no confidence" in the local council to keep cyclists safe on the roads.
She said engineers and the NTA could have worked together to address any technical problems associated with the plan.
However, she said councillors have now halted the process so "nothing changes" in Galway for cyclists.
Council stance
Fianna Fáil Councillor for Galway City West Peter Keane said councillors "genuinely believe" in improving cycling infrastructure in a city that's currently "choked with traffic".
However, he claimed this particular plan just wasn't feasible.
He said: "Unfortunately what was presented by council engineers as the plan to deliver on the resolution was so far-reaching in terms of the negative practical consequences - for residents, businesses, schools, sports clubs, and most importantly our blue-light [emergency] services.
"We could not in any [conscience] vote to proceed with the plan as it was presented. It was a bad plan."
Cllr Keane admitted that "in hindsight" councillors shouldn't have voted for the proposal without a detailed plan, and that has left the council in an "embarrassing position".
He said: “Following an arduous process after we had voted in September… we had some 7,500 submissions.
“This was a plan that lacked any contingency, and really just couldn’t be supported.”
He added that while the council is dtermined to improve cycling infrastructure, they also need to ensure a balance is struck between "competing interests".
