Very welcoming, but falls short at Raheen roundabout

Overall as someone who regularly drives this road for children to attend school, I would like to take the option for them to cycle, but to do so safely. Currently with the somewhat abandonment of cars are St.Nessans school and the heavy traffic load it causes there is work that needs to be done at this location that this proposal will adress and is welcomed for this. Regularly cars are parked close to and almost block the existing pedestrian crossing, and take over the keepout sections of the road where otherwise cyclists could safely traverse. The current plan to have dedicated cycling lanes is a great addtion to safety along this stretch of road, and would allow more cyclists of all age groups to safely travel along this road.

To where the plans fall short. As someone coming from Ballycummin direction, the Raheen Roundabout in its current format is sub-par for traversing safely as an adult cyclist, and definetely not safe for school-going children. The proposed cycling lane stopping short of the Raheen Roundabout and not continuing on to join the R526 and the Raheen Business park where some cycling lanes already exist is something that should be put in place. Having a safe passage along the R520 falls short of providing a safe passage upon joining the R526, which from the accident map from Part 8 Planning Report is the location where collisions are occuring. This is a critical point where safety for all road users needs improvement and is not being taken into account with this proposal.

The new zebra crossing across from the South Court hotel will make crossing the road safer, as the current crossing on the roundabout is too close to safely allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross as traffic can be travelling at speed and chances are taken by those trying to cross and there is no onus on motor vehicles to stop.