General Election 2024

By the time that this appears in print, the results of the general election will be known. Three of  the sitting TDs are running for election so there will be at least two new TDs in North Kildare. Maynooth Cycling Campaign would like to congratulate the winners and commiserate with the losers. 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign  – Public  Meeting 14th November 

Maynooth Cycling Campaign held a public meeting in the ICA Hall on 14th November. We would like to thank those who came along to the meeting.  Among the issues discussed was Cycling Without Age (see next item below), Priorities for 2025, Amended Maynooth and Environs LAP,  Priorities for 2025 and General Election 2024.

Cycling Without Age

One of the main items on the agenda was Cycling Without Age. We were happy to report that the distance travelled by the trishaw in 2024 had increased to more than 300 km. We would like to thank Hans and the rest of the St. John of God/Genil Training for working with us in offering cycle tours to people who would have difficulties in cycling on their own. We have had a great response from volunteers who would like to be trained as pilots. The big challenge for 2025 is how to attract clients from the general public. A number of ideas were put forward at the meeting. These will be developed over the winter months and, hopefully, implemented in the coming year.  

Local Area Plan – Deletion of Proposed Permeability Measures

The Amended Maynooth and Environs Local Area Plan is currently open until the 6th December for consultation by the general public. The main issue for transport remains the deletion of the permeability measures. Maynooth Cycling Campaign opposes their deletion on the grounds that the deletion of such measures is contrary to government policy on climate, health and road safety. 

Maynooth likes to see itself as a progressive town with two third level colleges, good rail links to Dublin  but appears to be turning into just another anti-cycling town which is “addicted to fossil fuel” and which pays lip service to climate change. How else would you categorise a town where councillors 

• Oppose the removal of  a right turning lane into residential estates (on the Straffan Road)..
• Oppose officials’ proposal to turn a footpath  into a shared path (in Carton Avenue).
• Oppose the proposed trial when it was proposed to restrict motorised traffic to flow in one direction (on Parsons Street) .

Maynooth Cycling Campaign suggests that Kildare County Council is responsible in part for the level of opposition to increased permeability as it failed to make the case for their inclusion in advance of the publication of the Local Area Plan. 

Climate Change

In last month’s Newsletter Notes, we included early reports of over fifty deaths from flooding in the Valencia region as a result of heavy rainfall. This loss of life turned out to be a gross underestimate. It turns out that the number of fatalities was 216. Almost half were over 70 years of age which suggests that elderly people are a group who are at  high risk from climate change. It is ironic that many of them were trapped in their cars trying to flee the flood waters. 

Ireland too has seen flooding but not on the same scale as Valencia. In Listowel 70 homes were evacuated in the worst flooding for a generation. In Killybegs 16 houses and nine businesses were flooded. In England and Wales both experienced severe flooding in the same storm.

Cop29 has just finished in Baku. It was reported that 1,773 fossil fuel  lobbyists attended the conference – outnumbering the number of delegates from countries participating in the conference. Despite all the talks over years , global fossil fuel emissions continue to rise. The oil companies knew that their businesses had an impact on the climate, but chose to continue plying their trade. They are doing the same today.  

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is a non-party independent local lobby group advocating for  better cycling infrastructure in Kildare. ​​