Bradley Bytes- a sort of political column with Dara Bradley

How long before a pedestrian or cyclist is mowed down and maimed – or worse – metres away from Galway’s brand spanking-new pedestrian and cyclist bridge?

As Galway City Council remains preoccupied with finding a name for it, the citizens of the city are just trying to get to and from it without being killed.

Fears about the location of the new bridge before it was built, have come to pass. It was pointed out repeatedly that the new bridge should not be located downstream of the existing Salmon Weir Bridge because pedestrians and cyclists would have to cross two busy lanes of vehicular traffic to get to it. Not ideal for access to and from the university.

Without a safe crossing at Salmon Weir, it was warned that people on foot would continue to use the old bridge. The old bridge is too narrow for pedestrians and isn’t safe. But neither is it safe trying to cross over to and from the new bridge, without any additional measures like a zebra crossing, or pedestrian lights.

It was entirely predictable – and was predicted – and yet the local authority has done nothing. The people’s voice – the city councillors – remain silent.

Do we really have to wait for a pedestrian or cyclist to be killed at the unnamed bridge before the Council takes action at this new deathtrap it has created?
This is a shortened preview version of this column. For more Bradley Bytes, see the February 2 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.