Louth Green Party

"The move away from car dependency and towards an carbon free economy is a core Green Party principle" states Senator Dearey. The reduction of greenhouse gases from traffic, the lowering of traffic congestion and most importantly the safety of school children as they cycle to school are the primary advantages of this new sustainable transport policy. It is likely that this form of transport will be the economic choice of many parents of school children where attempts are being made to reduce the use of the family car.

"The numbers who will choose to cycle to school however will be ultimately determined by the standard of safety along routes between schools and residential areas" says Councillor Ollan Herr; who has been active on this issue for a number of years. He is anxious to raise the standards of safety along the full length of the cycle routes to schools. "Start- Stop cycle ways don't work", he says. "Cycle routes must be continuous, they must be protected from traffic by raised kerbs or narrow linear gardens and where possible they should take routes away altogether from roads. Cycle lanes using road markings alone, will be insufficient in assuring the greater majority of parents to allow children to cycle on our streets". Councillor Herr is hopeful that submissions that he has made to improve the new cycle way design manual to these higher standards will be fruitful. "We need to make a special and a particular case, for the protection of children from car traffic along the cycle ways to our schools. In this way we will be able to facilitate the greatest majority of youngsters to have a regular active lifestyle".

Councillor Butler is hopeful that the new cycle way from the Bay Estate to St Vincent's and the Marist Schools will meet these "European" traffic protection standards. She points out to the extra space along the Eastern Bypass is an opportunity to provide a dual direction cycle way that is physically protected from traffic by a kerb and grass verge, as well as being separate from pedestrians. According to Senator Dearey these new policies on sustainable travel and the funding that has now come on stream would probably not have had the necessary impetus without the Greens in Government. This is an example of the Green economic dividend and a measure of our commitment to a high quality of life.