Don’t miss your chance to voice your thoughts on future plans for Kilkenny

A new scheme to provide safe and accessible infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Kilkenny has opened to public consultation, and it’s our chance to have our say.

Kilkenny County Council is currently inviting our input on plans to enhance pedestrian and cyclist facilities within Kilkenny City.

This scheme will then be progressed on a phased basis from 2024 to 2030.

It has been noted that people in Kilkenny have consistently cited safety as one of the main barriers to active travel.

Many parents, for example, still get nervous at the thoughts of their younger children cycling to school given current cycling infrastructure.

Fears like this have been noted by the council, which is why a major part of the consultation focuses on the Freshford Road and Granges Road.

Approximately 3,000 school-age children will soon commute to school via these roads.

It is hoped that the provision of safe, segregated facilities will allow students to walk, wheel or cycle to school rather than needing a motor vehicle.

Your input on matters such as these are vitally important to ensuring the success of such a scheme.

The same is true for the Waterford and Bohernatounish Road, a busy corridor that links residential areas to the Presentation Secondary School, Gaelscoil Osraí and Kilkenny School Project.

The route also serves the retail centre, medical services, the Watershed and large employment centres.

Feedback is also being sought on the following roads:

Castlecomer Road
This route provides opportunities for additional tree planting and verges on the wider stretches, enriching the biodiversity of our city, and increasing the attractiveness of our routes.
The route will connect the North-East of the city with public and sustainable transport options at MacDonagh Junction.

Hebron/Dublin Road
This route will add to linkages already developed in the Hebron, Johnswell Road and Newpark area, linking houses to schools, employment, retail and health services and green spaces.
These routes will link to the off-road path by the Nore, along which people can enjoy a traffic free link to the city centre. Future plans will link this route to the parklands to be developed at the St Canice’s site.

Bennettsbridge Road
This is the gateway to the city for many visitors to Kilkenny. The route travels along by the historic walls of Kilkenny Castle and parklands and also links many of the shortcuts to the city centre for residents in the Loughboy and Nuncio Road areas.

All of these routes link many sections of the city including residential areas, retail spaces, industry and recreation.

By making these areas more accessible through maximisation of the effectiveness of cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure, we can, as a result, make Kilkenny a much nicer city to live in.

Your input on any one of these routes could also help maximise the potential economic benefit for Kilkenny.

Your input could help make it easier and more pleasant for people to walk and cycle and for a city like Kilkenny, this can then boost local businesses and further promote tourism.

More effective cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure can also enhance the social life of everyday citizens in other ways.

Pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, for example, can encourage people to linger and explore.

They can help provide a safe and convenient way for people to get around the city, promote physical activity and public health, and reduce congestion and pollution.

Additional cycle lanes and electric bikes will make it easier for tourists and locals alike to navigate the city and explore its many attractions.

By investing and buying into these facilities now, we can make Kilkenny a more livable, sustainable, and enjoyable city for everyone.

It’s unfortunately no surprise that pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users who are at a greater risk of accidents and injuries, especially in areas with heavy traffic.

By providing dedicated facilities such as dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings, we can ensure that people can move around more safely and efficiently.

Through public consultation, everyday citizens have an opportunity to provide feedback on the design, location, and function of the infrastructure.

This feedback can then be used to inform the development of the scheme, and ensure that it meets the needs of the community.

This can help to build trust between the community and the local authority, and increase the likelihood of successful implementation and long-term support.

To have your say, visit ‘consult.kilkenny.ie’ and submit your feedback under the ‘Enhanced Pedestrian & Cyclist Facilities on the Radial Routes within Kilkenny City’ scheme.