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By Sean Moriarty

Car parking facilities could be added to the Killarney urban cycling plan. Last week the Killarney Advertiser revealed a plan for up to 4km of cycle lanes within the town boundary.

Under the proposed scheme cycle lanes would be added to several major routes in the town and the Killarney Municipal District has invited members of the public to make comments on the plan and routes that have been identified.

Cllr Michael Gleeson is calling on the Killarney Municipal District (KMD) to include car parking facilities on the outskirts of town to encourage more cycling tourism into the town.
He also believes that the inclusion of car parks, outside the town and close to the new cycle lanes, would help alleviate some of the traffic congestions in the town centre, especially during the peak summer tourism months.

“As cycling by visitors is ever growing in popularity, that the Council would seek to provide small car parks, initially proximate to Killarney town, where motorists could park prior to the occupants going cycling throughout the area and the county. Such developments would, I'm sure, attract many to visit our county without having to endure and add to traffic congestion within the urban centre,” he said at the recent Killarney Municipal District Council meeting.

“The Killarney Municipal District fully supports cycling as an alternative to car usage into and around our town," said a Council spokesperson at the meeting. "The Local Authority was successful in 2020 in receiving funding for the design of cycle routes on a number of approaches to the town centre. These plans are currently out for public consultation. In order to promote and encourage cycling there will be a need to provide enhanced cycling infrastructure. As part of further plans and proposals in relation to active travel, the Council will consider both routes for cycling and adequate access points to those cycling routes.”

Plans for the proposed cycling routes through Killarney can be viewed on www.kerrycoco.ie up to and including Wednesday, February 3.