Road space is going to be reallocated to cyclists on Dublin's southside.
Measures include the removal of parking spaces in Ranelagh and Merrion Square to make way for a cycle lane under new Dublin City Council “active travel” plans.
One scheme will see a clearer cycle route going from Clonskeagh to the city centre via Ranelagh and the other from Trinity College to Ballsbridge via Merrion Square.
Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College, Brian Caulfield told Newstalk Breakfast that the changes are "long overdue".
"They're part of what was recommended by the OECD and it's what's been recommended for a number of years", he said, "that we get rid of parking spaces in and around the city centre so that we can make people move more easy through the urban realm".
There is currently no bus lane in Ranelagh where the changes will be made, but instead around a dozen pay and display parking spaces.
"I suspect those are the things that are going to go, so there is no bus priority there", Prof Caulfield said.
"Getting rid of those car spaces, you're freeing up space, you're making buses run quicker."
He says roughly 1,000 people travel through Ranelagh every morning so giving up parking space "is a very small sacrifice".
The plans will be presented to Dublin City councillors on Monday.
Merrion Square
The new plans are only the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to making Dublin more functional for the majority of commuters, Prof Caulfield says.
"It's all part of this ethos of getting rid of car parking in the city centre", he explained.
"When you look at the percentages of people that get into Dublin City Centre, there are a very small percentage of people that still drive into the city."
"Giving the space back to the people that use other modes I think is a very equitable thing to be doing."
"It hits all our climate goals, it frees up traffic, the benefits are numerous."
Listen back to the full conversation here.
Main image shows a Dublin City Council worker in the clamping department looking at a car on Merrion Square. Picture by: Sam Boal/Phototcall Ireland
