OPINION: The green miles- New Derry, Donegal, Tyrone walking and cycling routes laying foundations for the future

It is great to see the new proposals for a major expansion of the network locally and to see work progressing on various different greenways across Derry, Strabane, Inishowen and other areas. ​

The new footbridge is now in place at the Penny Burn and, with the Culmore and Inishowen greenways underway, we could very soon be able to use routes that stretch all the way from Derry city centre to Quigley’s Point and Derry City Centre to Clooney and Kilfennan.

There are also proposals for routes linking Derry city centre and Strabane along the A5, Derry and Buncrana, and Derry, via Strathfoyle and Maydown, to City of Derry Airport and beyond.

The ancient CholmCille way and another route linking the Derg Valley to Lough Derg would, undoubtedly, prove extremely popular and tourist attractions in their own right. ​

These are all fantastic initiatives and it is a breath of fresh air to see the greenway network expanding at pace, in contrast to so much other planned infrastructure that seems to get choked in red tape or never gets off the page. ​

https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/greenway-pedestrians-and-cyclists-urged-to-stay-in-lane-as-derry-strabane-and-donegal-routes-progress-4467954

The benefits of greenways are obvious and evidenced daily by the amount of families, walkers, runners and cyclists, clubs and groups making use of those completed to date. Hopefully, we are just getting started.