Byrne gets on his bike for new Strabane cycle path

West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne saddles up ready for the new Strabane cycle path on the Melmount Road. Minister for Regional Development Danny Kennedy granted £300,000 of capital funding to construct 1,250metres of cycle path on the Melmount Road extending from the existing cycle route at the Great Northern Road to Beechmount Avenue.

Welcoming Danny Kennedy’s announcement Mr Byrne said; “Cycling across Ireland and the UK is experiencing a major gear change. People across my constituency of West Tyrone are jumping on the bicycle bandwagon and taking to the roads on this cycling frenzy. The benefits of cycling are endless and promote considerable health benefits and general wellbeing.  If you’re headed to anything important, like work; biking is a completely green form of transportation that’s free (so long as you have a bike) and provides some great exercise to boot. Instead of slouching in front of the steering wheel in traffic, biking to work adds additional exercise benefits to your daily or occasional routine.”

“I very much welcome the extension of the existing Cycle Path on Strabane Bypass to the Melmount Road. This fantastic 1,250metre extension will provide a hugely beneficial resource to Strabane’s growing interest in cycling. This however is only the beginning and we in the SDLP will continue to Lobby the Minister for further investigation into the further expansion of this potentially life changing resource.”