MAYNOOTH CYCLING CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER NOTES for December 2025

2025

The past year has seen the completion or significant completion of two major schemes in and around Maynooth. The two are the Royal Canal Greenway between Leixlip and Maynooth and the Mill Street refurbishment. Both are a huge improvement on what was there previously.

We welcome the Greenway and its completion from the Dublin border to Athlone. We hope that the second half from Athlone to Galway will progress in the coming year. We welcome the fact that after many years, Kildare County Council is now providing access gates with the proper spacing in accordance with the National Cycle Design manual. However, it is frustrating that while the section closer to Leixlip has been finished with a high quality sealed blacktop surface, the other section closer to Maynooth is left with a dust surface. Next door, Meath County Council has just completed a new greenway which is totally sealed. Several years ago, the Danish authorities announced that as part of their efforts to decarbonise, that they would sealed “superhighways” in order to enable more cycling by 2030. It is not as if Ireland is projected to meet its targets in relation to climate change action and can afford not to maximise cycling and walking..

In 2026, we are looking forward to working with Maynooth Tidy Towns and Maynooth Sustainable Energy Community in 2026 on a sustainable transport project which also involves the Maynooth schools.

AGM

Maynooth Cycling Campaign held its AGM on 11th November in the ICA Hall, Leinster Street and a new Management Committee was agreed. We welcome Michael Murphy to the Committee and thank Karen Moore for her work over the past years. If any one else wishes to join the Management Committee, you will be more than welcome!

Funding for Local Climate Action

The Department  of Climate, Energy and the  Environment has given Kildare  County Council an allocation of €897,000 for climate related projects by communities to improve their local area. The project themes include community energy and travel. KCC has published on its website a list of successful applicants from the first round. The most popular application involved solar panels on community premises which are very welcome. The only applications relating to transport were for cycle parking.

Bollards at Moyglare Road.

From some of the comments on social media about parking by non-residents in housing estates, you would think that this was the major parking issue in the town. An increasing number of drivers are ignoring the efforts by Kildare County Council to discourage parking by the addition of more bollards on the shared path opposite St.Mary’s Boys School. Drivers parking their car can take up over half the width of the path. Maynooth Cycling Campaign has lodged a complaint to the Leixlip Gardai and look forward to their intervention.

Cycling Without Age

Last March, we received a grant of €200 from Kildare Community allocation for servicing of the trishaw. Unfortunately, during the year the trishaw developed two problems which cost €265. We applied for the additional funding of €65 from the Community fund but were refused. Maynooth Cycling Campaign is not sustainably funded from our membership. The Council has already cost the Campaign nearly €500 as it declined to accept our existing insurance under the Irish Cycling Campaign. The trishaw is owned and insured by Kildare County Council. If we are not reimbursed for the €65, we will have to reconsider our involvement with Cycling Without Age.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an independent local lobby group for better cycling facilities in Maynooth and Kildare generally. If you would like to support our efforts, we welcome new members. Why not join us – you can find details here.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for November 2025

AGM

Maynooth Cycling Campaign will be holding its AGM at 8:00pm on Tuesday 11th November in the ICA Hall, Leinster Street. Everyone is welcome!

Funding for Local Climate Action 

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has given Kildare County Council an allocation of €897,000 for climate related projects by communities to improve their local area. The project themes include community energy and travel. Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes suggestions for projects from members and non-members. The scheme is open until 22nd December.

Mill Street

There have been a lot of complaints on social media in recent weeks of congestion in Maynooth, especially at peak times. Most put the blame on Kildare County Council’s redesign of Mill Street and/or its construction. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but many of the comments are ill-informed. 

Last month, Maynooth Cycling Campaign website published “Mill Street An Alternative View” which gives a different opinion to drivers. One of the key questions is whether or not the Mill Street/Main Street junction was modelled for buses and if it was constructed in accordance with the design. 

Default speed limit

A coalition of road safety campaigners including the Irish Cycling Campaign is calling on the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien to issue a commencement order without delay for the default urban speed limit of 30km/h as defined in the Road Traffic Act 2024. By issuing a commencement order the Minister would require local authorities to apply a default 30km/h to the 85 currently defined built-up areas (defined in the Local Government Act 2001). This is a straightforward process for local authorities and would mean that 85 cities and towns would get the immediate benefits of safer 30km/h speed limits. Maynooth Cycling Campaign supports this call. While regrettably this would not include Maynooth itself, our neighbours in Leixlip, Newbridge and Naas would benefit from its implementation. The full Press Release is available here.

Parking and its Cost 

A secure car parking space in Manor Mills has recently been advertised for sale at a cost of €25,000. In the past when local authorities specified minimum car parking standards rather than maximum car parking standards as they do now, the cost to developers of not providing a car parking space was €10,000. While housing costs have increased significantly, it seems that the cost of car parking has kept pace. 

In contrast, Kildare County Council charges an annual fee of €5 for a Resident’s Parking Permit. Admittedly, this does not guarantee a parking place, but it is in effect another subsidy for car owners. It compares to a charge of €100 per year by Dublin City for a place in a bike hanger.

Bollards at Moyglare Road

And still on the theme of parking – Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes the erection of bollards adjacent to St. Mary’s Boys School in order to deter parking on the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. However some drivers, who are slow to take the hint, have simply parked further away. It is time for the Garda Siochana to do their job properly and enforce the law in relation to parking. In Japan, if there is no sign to indicate that you are allowed to park, you have to assume that it is prohibited. Perhaps it is time to introduce this rule to Ireland.

Most Dangerous Junction in Maynooth

Is the Glenroyal junction on the Straffan Road the most dangerous junction in Maynooth for vulnerable road users? On two occasions recently, our attention has been drawn to incidents where drivers leaving the Glenroyal broke red lights at speed and proceeded through a second set of lights narrowly missing pedestrians who had begun to cross the Straffan Road after receiving a green light. 

Is the Glenroyal junction on the Straffan Road the most dangerous junction in Maynooth for vulnerable road users? On two occasions recently, our attention has been drawn to incidents where drivers leaving the Glenroyal broke red lights at speed and proceeded through a second set of lights narrowly missing pedestrians who had begun to cross the Straffan Road after receiving a green light. 

MAYNOOTH CYCLING CAMPAIGN AGM

Just a quick reminder that the Maynooth Cycling Campaign AGM will be held in the ICA Hall Leinster Street Maynooth at 8:00pm tomorrow Tuesday 11th November.

The agenda will be as follows:

  1. Attendance/Apologies
  2. Confirmation of Quorum
  3. Presentation of Annual Report
  4. Financial Statement
  5. Elections to Management Committee
  6. Climate Community Fund
  7. Strategy 2026
  8. AOB

If any member would like to join the Management Committee, please let me know in advance of the meeting at maynoothcycling@gmail.com. Everyone welcome.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for October 2025

September has been a bad month for cyclist fatalities on our roads. Nearly nine months into the year, the number of cyclist fatalities has risen to 13 compared to 10 for the whole of 2024. The government is not doing enough.  

  • In Helsinki, a city of approximately 600,000, there were NO road fatalities in the last year. The critical measures to achieve this included –
  • Reducing speed limit in 50% of streets from 50kph to 30 kph over the last  50 years
  • Better enforcement by the police.

After announcing that they were going to reduce the default speed limit in urban areas, the government has changed its mind. They said that local authorities could lower the speed limit on certain roads but identifying individual roads where the speed limit is reduced is more bureaucratic rather than reducing the default speed limit where only higher speed roads have to be explicitly specified. You can view a short film about road safety in Helsinki on our facebook page here.

Kildare County Council proposes to open public consultation on speed limits shortly.

Car Parking & Motornormativity

Royal Canal Opens in Dublin

Finally, some good news – the Irishycle.com website reports that the central section of the Royal Canal Greenway in Dublin City is now fully opened after two and a half years of construction to make the route accessible for pedestrians and people cycling.The project included installing new, more gentle ramps, which are more accessible, and new shared crossings at the canal at the Phibsborough,/Drumcondra Road, Russell Street/Jones’ Road, Ballybough Road, and then finishing at the existing crossing on North Strand Road.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an independent local lobby group for better cycling facilities in Maynooth and Kildare generally.  If you would like to support our efforts, we welcome new members. Why not join us – you can find details here.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for SEPTEMBER 2025

Lyreen Pedestrian Bridge

It has been a long time coming – funding was provided for it a number of years ago – but Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes the new pedestrian bridge over the Lyreen River. It will greatly improve pedestrian and cycling facilities on Mill Street in the heart of Maynooth.

Road Safety

As far as cyclists are concerned, road safety has not gone away. The number of fatalities continues to rise. This is against a backdrop where the Department of Transport has announced the abandonment  of a 30kph default speed limit for urban areas. Instead of a default speed limit,  local authorities may implement 30km/h limits in urban areas where local authorities choose to adopt them.

Year2022 (12 Months)2023 (12 Months)2024 (12 Months)2025 To Date
(8 Months)
No of Cyclist Fatalities781110 

Substantial Number of Gardai Have No Interest in their Jobs.

Dr. Elaine Byrne, the chairperson of the Policing and Community Safety Authority has described as “shocking” a report which shows that a substantial number of gardaí assigned to Roads Policing are not doing their jobs, have no interest in doing them and don’t appear to care who knows.

While there are some people like this in every walk of life, it is shocking that a substantial number of gardai fall into this category. One of the core functions of An Garda Síochána is protection of the general public so it is doubly shocking that this includes roads policing where fatalities are increasing.

In the past, various cycling campaign groups have highlighted the indifference of some gardai. While we accept that there are many more serious crimes, the lack of enforcement of legislation regarding the parking of vehicles on footpaths or the parking on cycle lanes has been abysmal.

Provision of Cycle Lane Work near Moone 

The conversion of a hard shoulder on the R448 to a segregated cycle route has upset farmers and residents who live in the Moone area. The farmers are concerned that the narrowness of the road lanes are not wide enough for combine harvesters. Some of the residents argue that the section of cycle lane will be from nowhere to nowhere. The works have been described as a pilot with funding provided by the NTA. Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes innovation by Kildare County Council as much of the cycling infrastructure provided in recent years has not been in line with best international practice so we are somewhat sceptical about the quality of innovation.

The idea of converting hard shoulders to cycle lanes is not new. In 2012-13, the government provided funding to designate as “quietways”  the conversion of hard shoulders on a number of regional and former national roads. However the works were essentially limited to the addition of road markings so did little to enable increased cycling.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an independent local lobby group for better cycling facilities in Maynooth and Kildare generally.  If you would like to support our efforts, why not join us – you can find details here.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for August 2025

Are there Killer Orcas on the Dublin Road?

Dublin Road Maynooth

An orca is a moulded plastic separator which is placed along the white line of a cycle lane to discourage drivers from drifting (or parking) on it. While it is an overstatement to label them as “killer  orcas”, the positioning of orcas on the Dublin Road, while unlikely to lead to a fatality, could result in a nasty collision for a cyclist. Firstly, the cycle lane is defined by a line of orcas which is positioned 1.7m from the kerb. This contrasts with the former width which delineated space for parked cars of 2.4m. Reallocation of some of this 0.7m difference would have given cyclists more space. Secondly, at entrances to eight private properties, additional orcas are positioned at a 45o angle to the footpath which leaves a gap of only 0.8m between the kerb and orca on the left hand side and a gap of 0.4m between the orca and edge on the right hand side of the cycle lane. The Cycle Design Manual specifies a desirable  minimum width is 2m for cycle lanes with an absolute minimum width of 1.5m. 

In Dublin CIty, the Council places orcas on the white line which minimises the reduction in effective width of cycle lane. On the Straffan Road, Kildare County Council positions orcas on the inside of the white line which further reduces the effective width for cycling.

Celbridge Road

As a planning authority, Kildare County Council granted planning permission to Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich and Maynooth Educate Together school on the Celbridge Road some 25 years ago. It is unacceptable that there are still no safe cycling (or walking) facilities to the schools despite the authorities being aware of a number of road safety incidents. Kildare County Council did attempt to design facilities in 2019 but the quality of the design was very poor. More recently, Kildare County Council employed consultants to produce a high quality design but the NTA has declined to provide funding for the scheme. Maynooth Cycling Campaign is concerned about what elements of the design may be removed in order to meet the NTA approval. We have asked Kildare County Council for a copy of the published design in order to ensure that safety or quality is not compromised in the next chapter of the saga.

Royal Canal Greenway

Maynooth Cycling Campaign welcomes the reopening of the upgraded Royal Canal towpath between Maynooth and Leixlip. We welcome that Kildare County Council has provided access gates in accordance with the Cycle Design Manual which is in contrast to the substandard gates provided elsewhere. We welcome too that there are lengthy sections which have been black topped but disappointed that the Council failed to continue that quality of surface for the entirety of the scheme.

Mill Street

Work continues on Mill Street. The section on the east side between Manor Mills and Main Street is substantially complete and work has started on the equivalent section on the west side. Preliminary work has also started on the proposed pedestrian bridge over the Lyreen River adjacent to Manor Mills. 

The quality of design and construction is generally very high but it is disappointing that the design of the Pound Lane junction continues to prioritise traffic from Pound Lane rather than people on Mill Street. Best international practice and the latest edition of Ireland’s Cycle Design Manual are that footpaths and cycle tracks on a main route should continue across a minor junction. In other words, drivers should cross a footpath and cycle track rather than pedestrians and cyclists having to cross a road. The Manual also states 

 ….. it is recommended that all dedicated cycle facilities …… in urban areas in Ireland should be red in colour.

Coloured surfacing of various colours is used in several countries not because it looks nice but for reasons of road safety – to draw attention to vulnerable road users. Cycle lanes were coloured red on the Straffan Road so it again begs the question “What is the policy of  Kildare County Council”?

Mobility Hubs

In June, IrishCycle.com reported that Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, would announce a pilot project of mobility hubs in Carlow town, Cork city, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and Sligo town. This was the pilot ahead of a proposed wider rollout of hubs in some 300 centres across the country.

Mobility hubs are defined as locations where people can access multiple types of transportation modes in a central location. While we wish them every success with the pilot hubs, we are disappointed that Maynooth is not included. For a number of years, we have heard whispers of discussions on a bike share scheme between various partners – Kildare County Council, Maynooth University, the NTA and the Department of Transport but nothing firm has materialised. Hopefully something definitive will result from this latest initiative.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an independent local lobby group for better cycling facilities in Maynooth and Kildare generally.

NEWSLETTER NOTES for June 2025

Membership of Maynooth Cycling Campaign

Bike Week 2025

Cycling Without Age 

Cycle Path Trial on Strand Road Dublin 

Last month, the Court of Appeal overruled the High Court ruling which blocked the trail of a cycle path on Strand Road Dublin on the basis that the judge had erred on several points of law and fact.

A mix of advocacy groups, social enterprises, and others have come together to make the call for the cycle path trial to go ahead. The groups include: A Playful City, Cycling Without Age, Dublin Commuter Coalition, Dublin Cycling Campaign, I Bike Dublin, Irish Doctors for the Environment, IrishCycle.com, Irish Cycling Campaign, Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, and The Bike Hub.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign would like to add its support to the petition and asks its supporters and members of the public to sign the petition here. It is common practice for authorities to trail controversial  changes to roads to see their effect. If the changes are positive, they are made permanent. If the impact of changes are negative, they are abandoned. In contrast, in recent years, Maynooth councillors have voted against a trial on Parson Street.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is a non-party independent local lobby in Kildare. ​​

NEWSLETTER NOTES for OCTOBER 2024

Dáil Bike Shed

The bike shed was designed to cater for some 36 bikes which amounts to 9,333 euros for each bike. TDs are looking for the Office of Public Works to appear before a Dáil committee to account for this expenditure. In contrast, five years ago Utrecht built a state of the art multi storey bike parking facility for 12,500 bikes at a cost of 30 million euros which works out at a cost of 2,400 euro for each bike space.

Cycling Without Age

Despite the wet weather over the summer months, the Cycling Without Age trishaw has had good usage over the summer months thanks to Genil Training/St. John of God. However, the objective was that pilots would volunteer at weekends to offer rides to members of the public who could not cycle for whatever reason. While Cycling Without Age has received broad public recognition and support, it has turned out to be a case of “Cycling Without Passengers”. Maynooth Cycling Campaign proposes to hold a public meeting in the near future to discuss where we go from here.

Trans Atlantic Way

Everyone has heard about the Wild Atlantic Way which links Donegal to Cork along some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery. While the Wild Atlantic Route was designed primarily for car drivers, most people are not aware that there is also a 2,400km cycle race called the TransAtlanticWay which follows the same route. It consists of a single self supported stage between Derry and Cork. The race is not aimed at the common cyclist – rather the focus is on endurance cyclists. The race for individual riders was recently won by Benny Cassidy who completed the longer Cu Chulainn route in 6 days. While road racing is not within the general focus of Maynooth Cycling Campaign, we have to admire the stamina of the cyclists who not only race but also have to carry their own gear.

Maynooth and Environs Local Area Plan (LAP) 2025-2031

Everyone in Maynooth is now aware that the Chief Executive of Kildare County Council has published her response to the LAP public consultation. It must be said that any changes accepted appear to be fairly minor.

After a briefing to advise councillors, councillors can agree motions in the next number of weeks to vary the report. Approving planning policy is a reserved function for elected councillors rather than elected officials but changes have to be agreed bya majority of councillors.

Dublin Traffic Management Plan

Dublin City Council has implemented the first stage of their traffic management plan which seeks to restrict traffic rat-running through Dublin City Centre. Despite alarms expressed by various car park operators, the sky has not fallen in.

The City Council published their first report into its operation and according to the IrishCycle.com website the findings include:

● Bus journey times have reduced by over 20%

● Footfall in Dublin City Centre is up

● Traffic levels in the centre section of the quays are down by more than 60%.

This is not a surprise to Campaign members as it follows similar experiences elsewhere.

Maynooth Cycling Campaign is an non-party political cycling advocacy group.

The Cargo Bike Life in Maynooth: Why You Need One Today

If you live in Maynooth you may have seen me trundling around town on my big blue cargo bike. We bought it a couple of years ago and since then it’s replaced 90% of my car journeys. Let me tell you about it, and why I have found it to be a far more useful urban vehicle than any car I ever owned.

Our town has a wealth of amenities, but accessing them can be difficult in a car since the town centre is often congested with traffic. A bicycle cuts through the traffic with ease, but how then do you carry your purchases, kids, or raincoats? That’s where a cargo bike comes in, being a bicycle with room for shopping, passengers, and even cover against the rain!

Let’s dive into the top five benefits of cargo bikes, and why you should consider getting one today.

  1. Practicality

One of the most significant advantages of a cargo bike is its practicality. No longer do you need to worry about fitting everything into a small car boot or pannier bags on a regular bike. With a cargo bike, you can easily carry kids, pets, groceries, and even awkward loads like furniture. The versatility of cargo bikes makes them ideal for families in Maynooth, as they provide ample space and support for your daily needs.

  1. Fun and Enjoyable

Who doesn’t love a good bike ride? Cargo bikes add an extra layer of enjoyment to your trips. They beat sitting in Maynooth’s notorious traffic, and kids love them! Whether you’re riding to school, work, or just exploring our lovely town, a cargo bike can turn a mundane trip into a fun, memorable experience. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your family and enjoy the outdoors.

  1. Health Benefits

Incorporating a cargo bike into your daily routine is an excellent way to get regular exercise without even noticing it. Instead of driving, you’ll be actively engaging in physical activity while running errands or commuting in Maynooth. You’ll also be contributing to a cleaner environment by reducing your carbon footprint, which is a win-win situation for both your health and our town.

  1. Fast and Efficient

For short urban journeys in Maynooth, cargo bikes are often faster than driving, as they can navigate traffic more easily. With a cargo bike, you’ll never have to worry about finding a parking spot, which can be a real time-saver in our busy town. Additionally, cargo bikes allow you to explore Maynooth in a whole new way, discovering shortcuts and hidden gems along the way.

  1. Affordability

While the initial investment in a cargo bike can be pricey, there are ways to offset the cost, such as the €3000 Bike to Work scheme. Furthermore, cargo bikes are far cheaper to maintain and run than a car. There’s no need for fuel, insurance, or parking fees, and they require minimal maintenance. Over time, the savings can add up, making cargo bikes a cost-effective and practical alternative to using a car in Maynooth.

Models To Choose From

Mine is a Larry vs Harry Bullitt, made in Copenhagen and imported by Thinkbike of Ranelagh. The Bullitt is a type of “bakfiets” (box bike), with the cargo area situated low and in front of the rider – think MTB with a shopping trolley out front. It’s an arrangement that enormously versatile and surprisingly graceful, but it can be difficult to store.

For those with less space, or who prefer a more traditional riding style, there also exist rear-loading “longtail” cargo bikes like the Tern GSD.

To Electrify Or Not ⚡️

Most all cargo bikes are available with an electric motor. I opted for a non-electric model, and in the flatlands of Kildare that’s been enough for me. If you anticipate regularly carrying heavy loads or commuting to neighbouring towns, an electric motor would be a worthwhile upgrade, flattening hills and shortening journey times.

Conclusion

The cargo bike life has provided me with countless benefits and transformed my daily routines in ways I never imagined. From the practicality and versatility they offer to the fun, healthy, and efficient nature of their use, cargo bikes are truly an investment worth considering for Maynooth residents. If you’re looking for a more enjoyable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective way to navigate our charming town, it’s time to take a closer look at the world of cargo bikes. Who knows, you might just fall in love with the cargo bike life as much as I have!