— Cycle path is part of cycle routes aimed at connecting residential areas to schools. A Sinn Féin TD for Galway West/South Mayo has claimed in the Dáil that there was “very little or no public consultation” on the Deansgrange cycle route after the route went through three major iterations. The most recent proposal for the Deansgrange cycle route project — which has just been reopened to two-way traffic — was agreed on by a clear majority of councillors, with 24 voting for it, 13 against it, and three abstaining. The project was voted on after a statutory Part 8 process, including public consultation. Although some councillors opposing the project claimed that the changes to the project were substantial enough to warrant a fresh process, council officials strongly refuted this, stating that the scope of the changes fell well within the legal bounds of the process. Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell made the comments in a road safety debate in the Dáil after she was canvasing the day before in the Deansgrange area with her party’s local election candidate Callie Nic Rállaigh. Nic Rállaigh had objected to the cycle route because it used an existing shared path in Deansgrange Cemetery — an option which was tabled after opposition to making Deansgrange Road one way to fit in a cycle path as part of a route connecting residential areas to schools. The cycle route, which is now being built and includes removing on-street parking across from the graveyard, was developed as a response to heated opposition to the route using the existing paths in the graveyard. Farrell said in the Dáil debate yesterday: She said: “One of the real issues we see across the west — and I am thinking of Connemara, obviously, because I know it best, but I do know it is an issue across the west — is the state of the roads and how difficult and dangerous it is that they are in such bad condition. People are constantly saying that their tyres and suspension are going and that a whole range of other things constantly goes because of the state of the roads,” “And the impact that has because, obviously, it is incredibly dangerous. We see that in the LIS [local improvement] scheme, for example, there is a waiting list at this very moment in time because people are trying to access funding for their different roads. They simply cannot get it because there is not the funding available. Therefore, when we are looking at this, we also need to look at the state of the roads for safety reasons. I really believe that is a key issue in the west,” the rural TD said.On Deansgrange, Deputy Farrell said: “Of course, it is not just a key issue in the west; it is a key issue everywhere. That is the area I know best, however. I do spend some time driving around Dublin as well. I might not know it as well as Galway, but it is an area that I do know. Even last night, I was in an area called Deansgrange for the first time, I was with Callie Nic Rállaigh and we were just going around meeting and talking to people. And the key issue that came up at all the doors with everybody we were speaking to was the issue of the particular road there and the dangers that that poses on Deansgrange Road.” She added: “The dangers were quite evident to me even when I was just driving along because I was kind of driving within the cycle lane and the dangers that are there. And I think people really need to know what exactly is going to happen to that. There was very little or no public consultation on that. And I think with something as basic infrastructure as roads, we need to make sure the communities, the local people, do know what is happening.”

Bontrager released two new gravel tire families today, complete with a revised construction, new compounds, fresh tread patterns, and widths up to 50mm. Learn more about the Bontrager Girona and Betasso Gravel Tires and their new high-flow valve adapter here... The post New Bontrager Girona and Betasso Gravel Tires + High Flow Valve Adapter appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Brit triumphs from lone 45km breakaway, after days of battling allergies

Almost every rider that competed will have a story to tell about their experiences and an apocalyptic La Fleche Wallonne 2024. Even though, Santiago Buitrago finished 5th in the end, he very much struggled with the conditions. “One of the toughest, coldest, days I have ever had on the bike,” recalle...

Dublin’s Deansgrange Road has re-opened for two-way motor traffic, and the new cycle path is expected to open within days. Making the road one-way permanently was part of the original proposal, which was rejected by councillors. When making the road one-way was needed for the construction works, it had been a conspiracy theory outlined by some who opposed the route that the road would never open to two-way traffic. That has been proven wrong today. The cycle path is the third design solution proposed after consultation and long council debates. Councillors rejected the original proposal to make the road one-way for motorists. That followed a suggestion of using an existing path in the Deansgrange Cemetery for part of the cycle route so that two-way traffic could be retained without affecting car parking outside the cemetery. The existing proposal is an adjustment of the latter route with the graveyard section removed in favour of removing the on-street car parking across from it. It was voted for by a clear majority of councillors, with 24 voting for it, 13 against it, and three abstaining. This progress on the project was welcomed today by Minister for State and local Green Party TD Ossian Smyth, who said that the cycle path is to be open “over the next few days” He said: “Great news! The Deansgrange Road is now open for two-way traffic. The cycle lane will open over the next few days. Dún Laoghaire is transforming into a safer place for us all to walk and cycle.” Jason Cullen, chairperson of the Dublin Commuter Coalition, said: “Deansgrange road is re-opened to two-way traffic and the cycle lane is only days away from opening as well!! This is the link between two of the active travel routes for school children in DLRCC, it’s super important for the switch to active travel.” On Tuesday, the Deansgrange Cycle Route, a group of local residents who campaigned for the cycle route, said: “It’s definitely a massive improvement on the old situation. Night and day. Most of it is lovely and wide. Still, work is to be done in parts, incl. junctions. We will wait to see how the x-ing works in practice. Exciting times!” IrishCycle.com has asked Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council why road markings are directing users of the two-way cycle path to cycle on the opposite side than is the norm. This will be covered in a future article. Quick peek at the cycle lane with @dlrcycling this evening Definitely a massive improvement on old situation. Night and day. Most of it lovely and wide. Still work to be done in parts incl. junctions. Will wait to see how the x-ing works in practice. Exciting times! pic.twitter.com/e4julOuUaV— Deansgrange Cycle Route (@BikeDeansgrange) April 16, 2024

The latest video from Stio and Hyperlite Mountain Gear follows Bikepacking Journal contributor Brett Davis on a fatbiking and backcountry skiing adventure near his home in Durango, Colorado. Watch the wonderfully shot six-minute video and learn more about Brett's Salsa Blackborow here... The post Ride to Slide (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

World sprint champion tells Cycling Weekly about her earliest Olympics memories, drinking coffee in Jakarta, and her passion for Formula 1

 With downhill crashes a massive talking point in the cycling world currently, there has sadly been another brutal reminder about the dangers of the descent on stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps. Attacking and attempting to put time into race leader, Juan Pedro Lopez, Team Jayco AlUla's Chris Harper hi...

Reporting from the 2024 Sea Otter Classic, we got a first look at a brand new drop-bar adventure bike from Viral Bikes. Read on to find a photo gallery and learn more about the intriguing Viral Wander, a titanium bikepacking rig designed around the Pinion Smart.Shift system... The post First Look at the Viral Wanderer (Sea Otter 2024) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Mid-drive drop bar e-bike costs a grand less than its carbon sibling