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EXCLUSIVE

By Michelle Crean

Brand new bicycle parking stands have been installed in various parts of the town - helping to reduce access issues on some of Killarney’s main streets.

Less bikes will be attached to poles and railings, creating easier walking for pedestrians, due to the installation of the new facilities on Main Street, High Street, Courthouse, Hahah and New Street - with more in the coming weeks.

Over 30 bicycle stands will be installed altogether, along with a covered bicycle bay and it’s hoped the initiative will increase the number of people cycling.

The move comes after Kerry County Council received a grant of €16,000 under the Outdoor Recreation infrastructure Scheme administered by South Kerry Development Partnership (SKPD), through the Department of Community and Rural Development, in a bid to promote cycling as a sustainable travel alternative in the town.

“Killarney Municipal District is aiming to increase cyclist volumes into and around the town in the coming years through the provision of infrastructure including secure cycle parking facilities at convenient locations around the town,” Eileen O’Donoghue from Killarney Municipal District told the Killarney Advertiser.

“This is to further promote cycling as a sustainable travel alternative in the town.”

Councillor Michael Gleeson, Mayor of Killarney, welcomed the addition of the bicycle stands to the town and is looking forward to the addition of a covered bicycle stand as part of the project.

“The development of safe and accessible infrastructure is key to the promotion of cycling,” he said. “Not alone are there significant health and environmental benefits of cycling its promotion should also help to alleviate traffic in the town.”
He added that he has, for quite some time, been promoting cycling lanes and covered/safe parking for bicycles.

“Killarney and south Kerry should actively promote themselves as the prime areas for safe and healthy cycling. The potential is enormous. The overall area is so well known for the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara cycles that much of the beauty of the entire area is legendary. The message needs to get out there that towns, villages and businesses have a Céad Míle Fáilte for the cyclist and offers them safe and secure and easily accessible parking locations.”