A NEW 3-KILOMETRE stretch of cycle lanes in south Kildare has sparked strong opposition from locals, who say the project “starts nowhere and ends nowhere” and has been forced on their community without proper consultation.

The lanes, currently under construction, run along both sides of the R448 between the villages of Moone and Timolin.

The two villages are tiny, with just 144 people living in Moone and 132 in Timolin. Combined, they have fewer than 300 residents.

“We’re now getting a cycle lane worth €1.6 million that nobody wants,” said Moone resident Mark Hilliard, chair of the Moone-Timolin Positive Action Group.

Local officials, however, highlight that several serious accidents have occurred on the road and that cars often park on the hard shoulder as key reasons for making changes.

Kildare County Council is delivering the scheme in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as part of the National Cycle Network.

The lanes, raised and separated from traffic by kerbs, replace the former hard shoulders. They are part of wider TII plans to encourage cycling and promote safer, more sustainable travel in rural towns.

Traffic on the R448. Mark Hilliard Mark Hilliard

Instead, the works have united farmers, motorists, pedestrians and even cycling groups in opposition.

Residents argue that the loss of the hard shoulder has left nowhere for vehicles to pull in, created difficulties for farm machinery during harvest season, and left pedestrians without a safe space to walk.

Mark Hilliard said that people are out protesting every day. 

We feel steamrolled — and it could happen to other communities too.

Fellow resident Noreen Kilrane said the project has “ruined one of the only places for locals to walk” and described motorists being forced to stop when tractors or lorries meet on the narrower carriageway.

Farmers also say large machinery can no longer pass safely on the reduced-width road, where previously they availed of the hard shoulder.

A number of local farmers have protested since construction of the cycle lanes began.

Even cycling groups have raised objections. The Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) criticised the planned lanes for being just 1.5 metres wide (the legal “bare minimum”), forcing cyclists to travel single-file.

The group welcomed the idea of installing a cycle lane in the area, but also questioned the safety of junctions where the lanes cross the road without priority, as the current plans feature multiple different designs at different junctions.

Since construction began and cones went down along the 3km stretch, dozens of protests have taken place.

A petition against the cycle lane has also gathered more than 600 signatures.

Protesters have gathered at the R448 every day since construction began.

Agriculture Minister and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon met with locals in Moone last week to hear concerns, promising to raise the issue with TII and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Local Fine Gael councillor Ivan Keatley said TII has since agreed to hold a community workshop to explain the rationale for the project.

Keatley acknowledged the anger but said the scheme still has merit.

“There have been a number of serious accidents along that road. Cars park on the hard shoulder outside the soccer club, and the 100km/h speed limit is far from ideal,” Keatley said.

“The concept is good, but it needs to be done right, and with the community on board.”

He added that a community walkway should have been included, and admitted that councillors had little influence during the planning stage.

“There wasn’t enough consultation,” he said. “TII have a lot to learn.”

Kildare County Council said this week that the lanes are part of a pilot scheme under the National Cycle Network Plan, published by the Minister for Transport in 2024.

The plan emphasises physical segregation between cyclists and vehicles on busy roads, and shared space on quieter routes.

A sign on a bridge near the R448. Mark Hilliard Mark Hilliard

The Department of Transport agreed at the time that pilot projects would be needed to test these approaches before any nationwide rollout. The R448 Moone-Timolin scheme was chosen as a suitable location.

According to the Council, the scheme has been designed in line with all relevant standards and has already undergone independent road safety audits, with another audit due once construction is complete.

The Council also said the project went through a statutory process under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, which included a public consultation.

It added that amendments were made in response to submissions, and further engagement with locals has taken place since works began.

“We’re being used as guinea pigs here,” Hilliard said in response.

“They’re saying there was consultation, and I can tell you there wasn’t. We made a submission to the Council on 25 April last year, and heard nothing until last month, when construction started,” he claimed.

“Our views weren’t taken on board, and they just lumped this vanity project in the middle of the countryside that nobody needs and nobody wants.”

TII have since committed to hosting a workshop in Moone parish hall on Tuesday evening, where their design team will explain the rationale for the cycle lanes and take feedback.