The Real Function of Galway’s "Cycle Paths" ?

Galway’s "cycle paths" are apparently ideal when it comes to finding somewhere to put any inconvenient road signs.  (This includes signs of the permanent variety as well as well as bus stops.)

The "cycle paths" don’t just save motorist convenience as a place to store signs.

They are also used for routing pipes and services. This ensures that the actual disruption due to road works is also predominantly targeted at people on bicycles rather than at motorists.

Galway’s Roundabouts

Galway’s Roundabouts

Life outside a car in the "City of the Tribes"

Galway’s Roundabouts On multilane roundabouts of the design favoured by Galway corporation cyclists have an injury accident rate that is 14-16 times that of motorists. Motorcycle/Scooter users are only marginally better off at 10-13 times the injury rate. They are also a nightmare for pedestrians. Many of them were built at a time when over 39% of permanent private households in the City didn’t have a car. While for short urban journeys within the city, foot and cycle use outweighed motorcar milage by a factor of almost two. [1] March 29, 2006 Irish Junction Design Practice: An Information Sheet Galway Cycling Campaign -Feachtas Rothaiochta na Gaillimhe Irish Junction Design Practice An Information Sheet   What’s the issue? March 28, 2006