Dublin City Council is continuing its plan to shorten one of its only continuous cycle paths by 80 metres at PortobelloHarbour and replace it with shared space between people walking and cycling.The Grand Canal Cycleway route north of the canal at the location is marked as a Utility Greenway for commuter use in the NTAs 2022 Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and a primary cycle route on the councils own active travel plan, which was also published in 2022.The project is planned to go to Part 8 planning in the coming days or next week after it was presented to the South East local area committee of the council yesterday afternoon. Construction of the project is hoped to start next year.The project to redesign the harbour area was originally named Portobello Harbour Plaza but has since been renamed Portobello Harbour Park.As previously reported, the project is being managed by the city councils parks department, which has repeatedly expressed a firm preference against cycle paths. The preference of the park department is in stark contrast to that of disability groups, cycling groups and national guidance of cycle routes. For example, the Cycle Design Manual states: Footpaths should be clearly separated from cycle lanes and tracks wherever practicable. This reduces potential conflicting movements between pedestrians and cycle traffic and provides a more comfortable facility for all users.Minor changes to the areas layout have occurred since the designs were presented to the public last year. The changes, pictured below, mainly relate to a slightly wider area for people walking and cycling and some planting areas being made smaller and/or moved.The Dublin Bikes station at Portobello Harbour is also to be relocated to Lennox Street, meaning it will be at least over 100 metres further away from Rathmines Road than it currently is. Eddie OGara, landscape architect at Dublin City Council, said advanced works are taking place so that the station is open ahead of the construction. OGara said that defendable spaces or vulnerable user routes were being provided along the edge of the area for vulnerable pedestrians. Cllr Claire Byrne (Green Party) welcomed progress on the project. She said, The shared space was one of the issues that came up with residents, so Im really glad you found a solution to that.Cllr Mannix Flynn said he had concerns about bikes possible speed, especially delivery riders and cargo bikes, but he thought the plan was exceptional. OGara said that the area would look more like a place rather than a traffic route and that faster cyclists would be more likely to use the south bank of the canal.MORE: Portobello Harbour Park May 2024 Draft Part 8 Information PackWATCH: South East Area Committee meeting.The 2023design.The 2024 design.