A dedicated cycle lane is being created along Salthill Promenade to make it easier and safer for people to get their exercise in during lockdown.
All of the road way car parking along the Prom is being cordoned off by the city council this week, and will be used as a cycle lane instead during the crisis.
The country remains in lockdown until May 5 at least in order to limit the spread of coronavirus, and one of the few reasons people are allowed to leave their homes is to get exercise within 2km of where they live.
Councillor Clodagh Higgins said that she is delighted with this move, especially as a cyclist herself, and that it will hopefully help with social distancing by freeing up more space on the Prom.
“While this has been in the offing for a while now with the council planning to remove up to 90 car spaces on the prom to allow for a pilot cycle lane, the current pandemic has acted as a catalyst to speed things up”.
“Salthill will be unrecognisable as the line of parked cars along the prom detracted from the beauty of the village and it’s beautiful amenities and now we can fully appreciate it”.
Councillor Higgins said that the cycle lane should be in place by either Wednesday evening, or Thursday at the latest.
The city council has also closed Blackrock diving pier from today due to social distancing concerns expressed by the gardaí.
Additional fencing is also being erected at the entrances to Salthill Park to discourage people councillor Higgins said, and gardaí will be policing the area.
