Laois cyclists on Portlaoise road ‘taking their life in their hands’

While Portlaoise is undergoing millions of investment to make it a cycling friendly, low carbon town, the safety of cyclists on one major road has been heavily criticised by local councillors.

The busy Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise is the most residentially built up area in the town, yet stretches of it have no cycle lanes.

Cllrs Caroline Dwane Stanley and Catherine Fitzgerald say it is not safe.

“I am not surprised to see that more women feel nervous cycling. It is up to us to create cycle lanes, particularly on the Mountmellick Road. You are taking your life in your hands it’s that bad,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Fitzgerald said parents are right not to let their children cycle on it.

“Different roads are going to be very difficult to put infrastructure on, particularly the Mountmellick Road. It’s a bit unfair to people there, I don’t know how we’ll solve it. We have to emphasise it. They do feel neglected. All the other roads I can see major improvements. But people are not willing to let their child cycle on the Mountmellick Road and I don’t blame them. It’s about getting money from the Department. It’s up to us to put pressure on the Minister,” she said.

Two out of three Portlaoise people feel unsafe on bicycles Laois council told

They were speaking at the February meeting of Portlaoise Municipal Districts where results of a survey showed that 92.5% of Portlaoise people want more money invested in cycling infrastructure, and that 66% feel unsafe cycling in the town, two thirds of those being women.