Link Greenway to Bus Stop in the town centre
As a regular user of the Greenway, I am fully supportive of the proposed cycleways/walkways indicated in orange colour on the published 'Amenity and Sustainable Transport Map'. It will be good to have defined routes to attract visitors into the town centre from the Greenway, encouraging tourism and helping the local economy. Hopefully these routes will be mapped and signposted.
However, there is also an opportunity to promote sustainable transport further by including the location of the public bus stops on the map (at Deel Bridge), and by providing a shorter and more direct cycle/walkway link between the end of the Greenway and the Main Street.
The published plan indicates a proposed cycle/walkway along the busy R518 New Road, however an alternative/additional route would be to cross the green space opposite the Greenway trail head and to continue along St. Mary Park & Old Road to the Main Street. (refer to sketch attached). This would be a natural desire line, it is a much quieter street and would be a shorter and safer route to consider, especially for families with young children.
There is an excellent 'Expressway' bus service (No. 13 & 14) serving the town of Rathkeale with eleven bus services daily. It links with the other towns along the Greenway (Newcastle West - Templeglantine - Abbeyfeale - Listowel) enabling one-way cycle/walking journeys on the Greenway, returning by public transport. The use of this service could be encouraged by signposting a safe cycle/walkway between the Greenway and the bus stop. The bus also connects with the established tourist destinations of Killarney, Tralee, Adare, and Limerick City, and offers a sustainable travel option for people to get to the Greenway from the bigger urban settlements & airports.
Therefore, please consider the inclusion of the bus stop locations on the map, with the cycle/walking links identified between the bus stop and Greenway. This will facilitate more people to use sustainable modes of transport to travel to/from the start/end of the Greenway.
Include the public bus Stop locations on the 'Amenity & Sustainable Transport Map' and include the shortest and safest link route between the Greenway and town centre.
To provide an integrated join-up approach to various types of sustainable transport options, greenway & public bus service running parallel.
Provides opportunity to walk/cycle the Greenway from town to town one way and return using the Expressway public bus services.
Facilitate more people, especially tourists, to travel to the Greenway from the main urban centres by bus, further encouraging sustainable transport.
Encourages more visitors into town centres, helps local economy.