Public consultations on the introduction of speed limits on the Royal Canal Greenway and Shannon Blueway are due to take place soon.
A speed limit of 15kph for mechanically propelled vehicles such as e-scooters and e-bikes is being proposed by Waterways Ireland.
Paddy Harkin is an inspector with Waterways Ireland.
He says the current by-laws are 30 years out of date and vulnerable users of the greenways and blueways need to be protected
"If you look at the Royal Canal Greenway which runs through Longford up to Richmond Harbour in Clondra, you have a shared space there. You have anglers, you have walkers, you have people taking dogs for walks. On top of that you have these powered transporters, like scooters, electric bikes, etc. We are proposing a speed limit of 15kph for the greenways for electric bikes and all other types of mechanical vehicles such as scooters, but that is all out of public consultation".
The first public consultation meeting will take place in the Bush Hotel in Carrick on Shannon next Monday from 6pm to 9pm with another meeting set to take place in Dunrovin at Coosan Point in Athlone on the 10th of July from 6pm to 9pm and one in the Mullingar Park Hotel on the 4th of July from 6pm to 9pm.
