Belfast cycling community to hold vigil for Gary McMahon

The Belfast cycling community is holding a vigil in memory of Gary McMahon to "underline the total lack of protection for cyclists in so many parts of Belfast".

Mr McMahon, 58, was killed in a collision with a lorry in the Clifton Street area of the city shortly before 7.50am on November 21.

Police said at the time he "sadly passed away at the scene as a result of his injuries" and that their enquiries into the incident were ongoing.

READ MORE: PSNI name Belfast cyclist who died after crash with lorry

Now Gary's fellow cyclists from across the city will cycle from Writers Square in Belfast to Henry Place just off Clifton Street in the north of the city on Saturday, December 14 in his memory.

The Belfast Cycle Campaign said the cycle vigil starts at 3pm - but those who would prefer not to cycle can meet them at Henry Place at 3.30pm. Police will be also be supporting along the route and controlling the traffic lights to allow people to safely ride through Carlisle Circus.

A spokesperson added: "Candles, flowers and words of support for the friends and family are welcome. Please remember that there is an ongoing police investigation which we should not prejudice."

Belfast still has less than 2 miles of protected cycle lanes across the city, with recent parking problems noted on one city centre cycle lane after the bollards were removed.

Sustrans and other groups have long been calling for a major uptick the delivery of safe cycling infrastructure - but cyclists in most parts of the city are still have no choice but to use the city's busy roads.

Meanwhile, the Irish News recently reported that just £3.3m of the £16m funding pledged up to 2025 for Belfast's cycle lane network has been spent in the past four years.

The Belfast Cycling Network plan 2022-2031 set out plans aimed at "joining up existing elements of the network" by adding 34,150m (or 33,450m) of cycle lanes to the city. They include:

But there has only been progress on two of the 16 cycle lanes that are supposed to be finished by the end of next year. We asked DfI when they started recent upgrades to the Sydenham bypass earlier this year if this work would include installing a divide between the 50mph road the bike lanes.

A spokesperson said that a consultation in December 2023 "demonstrated that there was a preference for the Department to develop improved pedestrian and cycle facilities that had greater separation from the Sydenham Bypass than the current infrastructure" and that they are "developing detailed designs for the the first phase of the Sydenham Walking and Cycling Path, from Sydenham by-pass underpass at Victoria Park, along Larkfield Drive, and Inverary Drive".

They added that their bypass upgrades, which have been paused in the run up to Christmas, "does not include any changes to the existing cycling infrastructure along the Sydenham Bypass, apart from providing a smoother, safer running surface".

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