A cycle lane that will benefit few but will negatively effect a vast number of people.

I recognise that a safe environment is needed to promote cycling in Limerick city. But to wipe out an important facility, like parking, for a large number of Limerick city residents in order to do this makes no sense to me.

The right for local residents to live in a safe, cycle friendly and walkable residential road is a given.

I do not believe that adding a two way cycle lane to an already narrow residential road alongside motorised vehicles makes sense when this road runs parallel to two much larger roads, O'Connell avenue and the Dock road.

There is already parking chaos due to the number of secondary and primary schools in the area, the College and the Churches and creches. To remove the exiting parking for a cycle lane will not fix this problem but create a larger problem elsewhere.

Parking is not needed by only the residents. It is needed for food and oil deliveries. Care assistance for elderly residents and emergency vehicles. Visitors and utility service people. As well as deliveries to small businesses in the area that simply can not operate without this.

School drop-offs will become impossible. Where cars could pull in before, they will now have to stop on the road and open car doors out onto the cycle lane to drop off children. This will create an even bigger build up of traffic in the area and create an unsafe situation for children and cyclists.

The South circular road does not only provide parking for local residents. It provides essential parking for people outside the city centre to gain access to the city. Especially on match days, St. Patricks day and other large events and festival. As well as the Redemptorist Church celebrations like the Novena.

If parking is removed from the South Circular road this will incentivise traffic from New Street, Ashbourne Avenue, and Summerville Avenue to use the South Circular Road as the fastest route into the city. This seems to defeat the purpose of making it a safer more peaceful environment.

I feel other measures need to be considered on order to make a positive change to the area. There must be other ways of reducing school traffic in the area like a park and ride scheme or a designated drop off point. Traffic calming measures, enforcement of existing parking regulations, reducing speed limits and will create a safe environment for cyclists who wish to cycle through the area while respecting the needs of residents in the area.

I am all for positive change but this proposal has created a very stressful and divisive atmosphere in an otherwise beautiful community of people. Changes can be made for the better but I do not believe that this proposal is the right one.