Smarter Travel Cycle Route

County Cork

The Department of Transport’s Smarter Travel Project Fund is a fund of around €15 million in total that will run over 5 years, meaning an annual total of around €3 million is available to support projects. This fund is aimed at support for smaller demonstration projects that can deliver real and measurable change in how people travel. The fund will support projects of up to three years in length. The fund will aim to support small sustainable transport projects that can deliver real and measurable changes at a local level, or for example, overcome specific local barriers to more sustainable choices .

Cork County Council recognises a number of benefits from encouraging more cycling. It is good exercise that improves our physical and mental health. It promotes increased interaction between those out walking and cycling, which strengthens community. Increased cycling creates vibrant and social areas. It is also a quiet, non-polluting and non-threatening form of transport.

Route Location Map

Passage West to Rochestown Cycle Route Location Map

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Route Location Map
Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Route Location Map

Passage West to Rochestown Cycle Route Location Map

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

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The Passage West to Rochestown Cycle Route was completed by Cork County Council in 2009, by means of a grant from the Smarter Travel Projects Fund, provided by the Department of Transport. This combined foot and cycle path is 4.8 kilometres and links Passage West and Rochestown to Cork City Centre. The path links in with another 5 kilometres of path in Cork city, making a significant cycling network. The route has been in operation since November 2009.

The development of the cycle route is primarily geared towards people commuting to work or study. It delivers a high-quality cycling connection serving the towns of Passage West and Rochestown with a direct cycle link to the city centre and Mahon employment zones. There are a number of primary and post primary schools at either end of the route and the delivery of this path has the potential to encourage more children to walk or cycle to school. Younger people have more independence when they can take more trips by bicycle. It gives increased confidence as they can travel to and from school on their own or with their friends, while it frees parents from the need to drive their children to school. When younger people begin to drive they have a strong understanding of how to drive safely on public roads and how to interact with cyclists.
It is also a valuable amenity space, as it is located adjacent to the Cork Harbour National Heritage Area.

Cycle Route

This combined foot and cycle path is 4.8 kilometres and links Passage West and Rochestown to Cork City Centre. The path links in with another 5 kilometres of path in Cork city, making a significant cycling network.

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Cycle Route
Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Cycle Route

This combined foot and cycle path is 4.8 kilometres and links Passage West and Rochestown to Cork City Centre. The path links in with another 5 kilometres of path in Cork city, making a significant cycling network.

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

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Most of the route is off road, which makes it safe for cyclists and pedestrians (pedestrians have the right of way). It is also level, as it is located on a former railway line, and is ideal for cyclists. It is an attractive option for those looking for an alternative to the car and wanting to avoid the congestion. Cyclists are almost completely immune to urban congestion. They also ease congestion as they use road space very efficiently. The door to door journey times for trips by bicycle are predictable to within a few minutes. It is the quickest mode of transport   in an urban environment for trips up to 5 or 6 km.  

Cycle and Pedestrian Route

Most of the route is off road, which makes it safe for cyclists and pedestrians (pedestrians have the right of way). It is also level, as it is located on a former railway line, and is ideal for cyclists.

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Cycle and Pedestrian Route
Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Cycle and Pedestrian Route

Most of the route is off road, which makes it safe for cyclists and pedestrians (pedestrians have the right of way). It is also level, as it is located on a former railway line, and is ideal for cyclists.

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Enlarge image

The fact that the former railway line was in public ownership provided a unique opportunity to develop it as a cycle route. However, houses had been build on part of the route which meant that it was not available for the cycle route. This give rise to some difficulty which meant that property boundaries had to be renegotiated and the cycle route had to run along a busy Regional Road for a short distance. A significant amount of work was required to manage the cycle route through this particular area, and this was achieved with the goodwill of the local residents and property owners.

Scenic Bike and Pedestrian Route

A view from the bicycle and footpath along the coast in Cork

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Scenic Bike and Pedestrian Route
Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

Scenic Bike and Pedestrian Route

A view from the bicycle and footpath along the coast in Cork

Courtesy of Peter O’Donoghue

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Cork County Council and the Department of Transport both recognise that provision of infrastructure is only part of the solution to getting people out of their cars and onto the bike. Significant promotional work is required to get the message across and over a sustained period, if the desired transfer to cycling is to be achieved. In the case of the Passage West to Rochestown Cycle Route, the County Council prepared a 2010 Calender highlighting the newly provided cycle routes in the local area and each primary school child was give one. The route itself was launched by the County Mayor during 2010's Bike Week with a family cycle which ended with entertainment at Blackrock Castle. This type of promotion, allied to national initiatives such as Smarter Travel and the Green Flag for Schools programme are required if national targets are to be met.