September 20th 2009: Skerries Cycling Initiative and Soundwaves Fun Cycle

On Sunday September 20th the SCI stewarded our annual Soundwaves Fun Cycle. 27 riders took part following a route from Skerries Mills to Togher Hill - where the less fit participants had to dismount !! - to Milverton Gates, Ardla Road and finally to Ardgillan Park where we had a picnic by the Rose Garden.  Blessed by good weather, a happy outing was had by all.  Health & Safety was monitored by Ray Ryan and our thanks to Glenn Wearen, Hildegard Ryan, Jane Landy and Garda Kate Daly-Ni-Bhroin for helping with the stewarding. 

Skerries Cycling Initiative Discuss Funding For Cycling In Skerries With Fingal County Council

At a mid July 2009 meeting with  SCI representatives Ray Ryan and Hugh Halpin, Senior Transportation Engineer Mairead Phelan outlined the applications being made by the council to Dept. of Transport Smarter Travel Areas Fund to secure money to develop cycling in Skerries and Fingal generally.  We were greatly encouraged by FCCs proposals which opens up the prospect of not only implementing the  Malahide-Skerries Cycling Study (Consultants report by Sustrans/CBuchanan 2009) but also the creation of a safe cycling route between Skerries and Balbriggan.  

June 21st 2009 : Fingal County Council Launches Pilot Scheme For Cycling In Ardgillan Park

On June 21st 2009, Fingal County Council (FCC) began the process of implementing the recommendations of the Malahide-Skerries Cycling Study (Consultants report by Sustrans/CBuchanan 2009) when they opened Ardgillan Park on a pilot basis to cyclists.  The scheme involves the shared use of a ~3km peripheral cycle route with access to central facilities on foot.  The scheme requires a "SHARE WITH CARE" philosophy for both cyclists and pedestrians, with cyclists strictly observing a low speed limit of 10kph, yielding at all times to pedestrians.  The surface of the route is currently quite rough in places.  However, in a meeting with FCC in July 2009, FCC staff expressed the hope that they would be able to access funds to upgrade the route in the future.

Skerries Cycling Initiative (SCI) ‘Highly Commended’ at the Irish Times Living Dublin Awards

Skerries Cycling Initiative (SCI) was ‘Highly Commended’ at the Irish Times Living Dublin Awards on Thursday the 18th of December in the Westin Hotel, Dublin . Chairman Ray Ryan accepted a certificate and cheque on behalf of SCI. Also representing the cycling group were Ilse O’Keeffe and Hugh Halpin.

Afterwards SCI Chairman Ray Ryan commented;

“Let's take a moment to analyse the recognition afforded to a young and humble cycling campaign group yesterday during the Irish Times Living Dublin Awards ceremony.   It seems unlikely that we would have been guests there a few years ago. So what's happened?  Perhaps it is beginning to dawn on people that riding a bike is a lot more than a method of getting to a destination.  It is part of a mentally and physically healthy way of life that is genuinely sustainable - in the real sense of that word. At the ceremony, it was evident that deeper thinkers within Dublin commercial circles, the city council and politics really had got the message: a town or city is indeed a more 'living' entity when some of the crushing burden of motorised traffic is replaced by people moving under their own steam on bicycles.  OK, this may be a step forward in the broader scale of events, but its progress nevertheless.  It will whet our appetite to achieve other goals e.g. to get the Sustrans Cycling Plan for Skerries accepted and funded, to create a safer rural rectangle for cyclists and walkers around Skerries incorporating Ardgillan Park,  to provide more safety for inter-town commuting and to get the Sutton-to-Sandycove project extended to a Bray-to-Balbriggan project. On we go!”