Plans are being drawn up by Dublin City Council that could see cars restricted to a single lane of the north quays to make way for a two-way bike lane. The proposal is part of an initiative to increase the number of commuter journeys by bike from its current 4 per cent to 10 per cent by 2020.
Speaking with the Irish Times, city council chief executive Owen Keegan says a dedicated cycle lane will encourage more people to ditch the car in favour of two wheels, acknowledged the proposal would cause traffic chaos on the north quays, but said it was an essential part of a sustainable transport system in the city: "It is not something that we have to apologise for, it is inevitable."
The stance is in stark contrast to that of Lord Mayor, Christy Burke who told TheJournal.ie: "I think it would be a disaster, to be honest. The road is narrow enough. To fit in a bike lane would be too much."
"There is a stretch from Heuston Station where it is ok, but after Adam and Eve's Church, it's very narrow."
A formal plan for the north quays traffic is expected to be brought forward by the city council in the coming weeks.
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Council chief Keegan - nick-named the 'traffic czar' - is himself a keen cyclist who commutes from his home in Deansgrange every day.