The proposed Quietway cycle route from Kimmage to Herbert Park is back on the agenda of Dublin City Council. This is because the decision to terminate the southside part of the Metrolink project at Charlemont means that the crossing over the Luas line at Cowper stop will not be blocked by the Metro, which would have been segregated by walls

In our immediate area, the proposed route for the Quietway would go along Cowper Road, cross over the Luas line at the Cowper stop and then proceed down Cowper Gardens, Park Drive, Albany Road and Merton Drive to Marlborough Road and on to Herbert Park

As part of this, it is planned to block the exit from Merton Road onto Cowper Road, which would mean that residents of Merton Road could only exit onto Palmerston Road via Temple Gardens.

The Richview Residents Association, whose members would be more affected, has questioned the project from a number of points of view

• The forecast increase in frequency of Luas trams, as an alternative to the Metro, would make crossing the Luas line at the Cowper stop more dangerous.
• There are already problems at the Cowper crossing with the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists, who are often reluctant to dismount.
• Cowper Road is already a quiet road with a good safety record
• Existing cycle demand along the route is relatively low, in comparison with other routes