City Councillor Terry O'Flaherty has warned of "an accident waiting to happen" on a popular walkway between Renmore and the city centre.
She has written to Junior Transport Minister Sean Canney in relation to dangers posed to pedestrians by fast-moving e-scooters and bicycles on the pathway known as The Line, which runs parallel to the rail track.
She stressed that the walkway, which is in the ownership of Irish Rail and is very narrow in parts, is an important shortcut for anyone wishing to walk to the city centre from Renmore.
And she pointed out that she had contacted Irish Rail in July last year with some suggestions for safety measures — but had not received a reply.
"Recently I have received a number of complaints, particularly from residents in Renmore who walk this line, that between bicycles and e-scooters the route has become very dangerous for pedestrians, and it’s an accident waiting to happen," Councillor O'Flaherty wrote in her letter to Minister Canney.
She said that a neighbour of hers had called to her house last week in a very upset state, relating how she was "lucky to be alive" as she had been almost run over by a youth on an e-scooter.
"While it would be ideal to ban bicycles and particularly the e-scooters, this may not be easy to implement, but in the meantime, there should be measures put in place to prevent accidents occurring.
"Following a number of emails received regarding this matter I brought it to the attention of Irish Rail officials but I have yet to receive a response, which, in my opinion, is not good enough," her letter added.
The Independent Councillor said that she had discussed the problem with the local Community Garda, who had come up with some very good ideas regarding installing safety measures. She had passed these on in one of her emails last July to Irish Rail but so far, nothing had happened.
"It looks to me that unless someone is injured, or worse still a serious accident, that nothing will be done," Councillor O'Flaherty added in her letter, asking the Minister to take action on the issue.
