A decision on whether or not to cut the number of traffic lanes on Amiens Street in Dublin down to one lane has been put on hold till September after a heated debate, which led one councillor to call the plan an "attack on motorists in the city."
The comments were made by local councillor Nial Ring in relation to proposed plans to restrict vehicular traffic to a single lane on Amiens Street to make way for segregated cycle lanes and came during what was described as a 'heated' debate between councillors and Council officials on a new stretch of cycle lanes from Clontarf to Connolly Station, part of the wider Sandycove to Sutton cycleway.
"This proposal to make Amiens Street one lane in and out from Talbot Street to Buckingham Street junction is yet another example of the prolonged, continued and orchestrated attack on motorists in the city," he said.
"The effect of bus lane, cycle lanes and other 'traffic improvement' measures have already resulted in a 17% decline in private cars crossing the canals (2006-2014) but at some stage City officials have to realise that you cannot keep "driving" motorists off the roads."
Cllr Ring said that the proposed plan would result in a significant increase in traffic congestion in Dublin city and would be very negative for motorists. "Nobody has ever considered the effect of traffic congestion on the mental health of drivers, but increased road rage incidents indicate that driving is stressful enough without adding to journey times with this madcap lane reduction proposal."