Southside Bus Corridor

Sir, - One of the main criticisms of the new Stillorgan Bus Corridor seems to be that there are no park-and-ride facilities for…

Sir, - One of the main criticisms of the new Stillorgan Bus Corridor seems to be that there are no park-and-ride facilities for those who do not live within walking distance of the route.

It amazes me that more people do not consider using a bicycle to get to the QBC route, as it is within easy cycling distance for a great number of users. It takes less than 10 minutes to cycle a mile and it is very simple to park a bike.

Moreover, bike parks require far less land than car parks - at least eight bikes fit in one car space - so it is a very efficient use of land, a valuable resource along much of this high profile route.

Take a trip to any Dutch or Danish bus station or stop, and you will see mountains of parked bikes - a fine example of an "integrated transport system", the concept (or is it just the phrase?) beloved of our political transport spokespersons.

READ MORE

For those with a longer walk after hopping off the bus or train, a foldable bike can solve the problem. Newer models are lightweight and fold in seconds very compactly - again, a common sight in many bike-friendly European cities.

Finally, congratulations to Dublin Corporation on the dramatic increase in the number of secure and attractive bike racks in the city centre. We look forward to seeing even more of these racks alongside bus stops along the new QBCs to cater for the throngs of new bike-and-bus users. - Yours, etc.,

Damien O Tuama, Secretary, Dublin Cycling Campaign, Millmount Grove, Windy Arbour, Dublin 14.