Dublin is one of those European cities that tends to stay a little under the radar. It’s certainly less famous than let’s say Paris, Amsterdam or Rome and it usually doesn’t even figure amongst the ‘alternative’ must see cities, such as Copenhagen or Hamburg. Why that is though, we’re not sure. Whoever’s visited the city before will know it has many sights to offer, a lovely restaurant scene and magnificent surroundings to discover. No matter what your field of interest consists of, Dublin will have something to keep you entertained.
Thanks to its size – not too big, not too small – and its geography – pretty much flat – Dublin’s also the perfect destination to discover by bike. You’ll have to deal with the rapidly changing weather, sure, yet there’s no better way of transportation to get you around the city. However, whoever says bike says cycling lane and the city’s cycling network could definitely do with a little extra. And surely, change is coming soon.
Big plans
As part of Dublin’s Greenways plan, the Royal Canal in north Dublin will soon be transformed into a 2,1 kilometer-long heaven for cyclists, pedestrians and other people not wishing to use their car. A green safe space if you want, leading you all the way from Phibsborough to the Silicon Docks and the Liffey river costing 30 million euros.
We will be able to enjoy the canal more, experience safer walking and cycling facilities and connect with each other more, particularly for those living or working in the northern part of the city.
Caroline Conroy, Mayor of Dublin
“This project will also play an important part in our common objective of reducing our carbon footprint. It is the third phase to be implemented on the Royal Canal, demonstrating Dublin City Council’s commitment to roll out a state of the art active travel network, ” said the mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy in a press statement.
As we speak, Dublin’s Active Travel Network stretches over 10 kilometers, which isn’t exactly a lot compared to the city’s size. The Royal Canal project will add about 2 kilometers to that network and over the next eight years, the city council aims to get up to no less than 310 kilometers in total, according to TimeOut. It doesn’t need saying there’s still a long way to go but we’re already getting enthused about the idea of discovering Dublin by bike, without having to worry about cars in any way. In the meantime, we’re content with the 2 extra kilometers nonetheless!
