Around 100 cyclists took part in a celebratory cycle along the Strand Road in Sandymount in south Dublin this evening to celebrate a ruling which paves the way for a controversial cycleway to be constructed there.
The group, which included adults blowing whistles and children in cargo bikes with music playing from them, proceeded in a long line from Grand Canal Square and along the seafront to Sandymount Strand.
It came after Dublin City Council won its appeal against a ruling that it could not build a cycleway on the road - reducing traffic to a one-way system - without planning permission.
In 2020, as part of Covid-19 mobility measures, the local authority proposed a temporary cycleway along the seafront restricting cars to one lane travelling southbound only.
A local residents' group and an Independent councillor took a case against the project and the High Court found that the council could not proceed with the scheme without planning permission.
It appealed the decision because the ruling could have had implications for its ability to build other cycleways and implement traffic calming measures.
The Court of Appeal has found in the council's favour, saying the original High Court judge did not have adequate information about the local authority's decision-making process.
It also dismissed a counter-appeal by Councillor Mannix Flynn, saying the findings of the High Court - if upheld - would have serious implications for the executive functions of Dublin City Council.
The decision paves the way for the council to proceed with plans to build the cycleway on Strand Road and reduce traffic to a one-way system. The local authority said that it will inform the public of its plans when it has studied the detailed judgment.
Úna Morrison of the Irish Cycling Campaign said she hopes Dublin City Council will now move quickly to construct the cycleway.
"This is particularly important because it links Sandycove to Sutton. All the way along the coastline there's so many HGV vehicles going past, and it makes it a very inhospitable route to cycle.
"There are four primary schools here in the area to enable children to be able to cycle to school and have a continuous route all the way along the bay as well."
"We need to move a little bit quicker to enable and test these routes and see what happens, rather than wait for multiple years for something else to happen. So I think it's something that we can move on.
"We've had enough delays. Let's get on with it and see the impact it could have for everybody's lives. We know that 50% of Dubliners want to choose cycling, but are impeded by not having safe infrastructure.
"Cycling is a really safe way, fast, cheap, affordable way to get around, so it's something that can make cycling much more accessible. It also will give all of the Dublin areas much cleaner air if we reduce the number of cars on the road."
However, Karl Anderson of Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association said his group would like to see other alternatives explored.
"The decision relates to a proposal and an option. It doesn't mean it's the only option. The view of the residents' association is that it's not in favour of 2km of traffic being taken off this road and moved up through the smaller residential areas which are really not capable of taking that kind of traffic and that kind of traffic.
"We do think that there needs to be a lot more consultation. The options are presented, views are gathered, and a decision is made. Not 100% of the community is going to be happy, but it's important that this opportunity is not lost, and all the options are taken on board, and everybody will have different views on it."
Mr Anderson said an off-road cycle lane as part of proposed flood works would be his group’s preferred option.
"There's a really exciting plan under way, championed by the Office of Public Works and by Dublin City Council to transform the seafront to address quite a number of issues, and that presents a huge opportunity for the cycle lane to be integrated as part of that enhancement transformation project.
"Having it done along with that would save two disruptions, and it would be integrated, and it could be absolutely fabulous and a really safe option for cyclists and pedestrians. And I think that option would hopefully please the majority of the community."
Dublin City Council says it will inform the residents of their plans for the area after they have examined the lengthy judgment.
Speaking outside the Court, Claire French, Senior Executive Engineer with Dublin City Council's Traffic Department said: "We are delighted with today's decision, and it was comprehensive. We won on all the points. So it reinforces that we were on the right track, and we were doing the right thing at the time.
She said it also helps the Council plan future active travel programmes and what to do next with the Strand Road plan.
"It has a major impact. It shows us the way to do it. It gives us the confidence that we're doing it in the correct manner, and will enable us to continue our program.
"We're going to consider the whole judgement, which is very comprehensive, over the next couple of weeks, and then we'll let everybody know in due course what the next steps are."
Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu also welcomed the decision.
"It has had a massive chilling event on active and sustainable transport around the city and around the country. In a climate emergency, we cannot afford to wait.
"We need proper active sustainable transport now in the city council and across local authorities, this is up to the government to support. I think what was initially a divisive issue, especially during Covid, it was hard for people to communicate, and it's always hard for people to see what was going to happen. Whereas now, I think a lot of people have come together, so we'll see what happens."
Cllr Flynn, who took the original case with local residents, and lodged a counter appeal to the Dublin City Council appeal, said he accepted the courts ruling but the legal action showed that residents needed to be included in these decisions.
"Dublin City Council proceeded in this particular incident to undermine the local community. The local community felt that they needed to challenge this. We went to court. We established the court case. We won those court cases. They were appealed to this court, and this court now has overturned those appeals on points of law that the judge heard.
"So I'm very proud of the community, and I'm very proud that took this case against Dublin City Council and active travel and indeed ideologists who want to promote and shove cycle lanes down our throats."
Community 'should be consulted' on what happens next
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents' Association said that it is "delighted" there is clarity on the issue.
"If Dublin City Council (DCC) decides to proceed with a cycle lane on the Strand Road in Sandymount, in whatever form it takes, it must be integrated with the plans underway by OPW (Office of Public Works) and DCC to transform the seafront at Sandymount and not be a standalone project," the group said in a statement.
"Whatever options DCC puts forward for a cycle lane the community should be consulted and have an opportunity to express a view.
"Having said that, nobody wants this positive development opportunity for the city to drag out indefinitely".
Dublin Commuter Coalition said it is "very happy" with the decision, but added that the issue highlights the significant impact that legal challenges can have on local infrastructure projects.
"It is increasingly frustrating that cyclists have to wait so long for these vital safe routes so frequently, especially in the case of trials which can be very informative on whether to roll out more permanent infrastructure," the coalition's said.
The Serpentine Avenue, Tritonville and Claremont Roads group said it encourages the council "to have a forthright and open consultation with the local community before proceeding with any road closures".
In a statement, local Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan said: "If Dublin City Council do now intend to proceed with the original proposal, there absolutely needs in the first instance to be engagement with local councillors and the Sandymount community.
"Given the Sandymount Flood Relief contractors have now been appointed, however, and that project is progressing, it would be preferable in my view that an off-road cycle path be developed in tandem with the flood relief rather than trialling a one way road along the Strand.
"That has always made more sense and makes even more common sense now in 2025 when the flood relief project has started which wasn't the case back in 2021 when the trial was first put forward."
