Between the Connswater Greenway at the Victoria Park underpass and the start of the North Down Coastal Path at Kinnegar there is a 4km gap with no traffic-free route. It's time to change that and open up new active travel options in this part of Belfast with the Sydenham Greenway.

This proposal would link Belfast's excellent greenway network with a pathway to Holywood and on to Bangor, but the connections within the new 4km greenway which are just as exciting. Hundreds of workers at George Best Belfast City Airport, IKEA, Holywood Exchange and the north end of the Harbour Estate would be able to viably switch from car to bicycle for commuting.

Big retailers like IKEA could begin to provide cargobike hire and delivery services across Belfast, as happens in other cities in Europe. Right now the Holywood Exchange site is almost exclusively served by motor vehicles.

The Department for Infrastructure are planning a 500+ space park and ride facility right beside the proposed route of this greenway. Backing and building this greenway would enable "park and cycle" journeys to and from Belfast, especially if a linked expansion of the Belfast Bikes system stretched as far as Tillysburn and the City Airport.

This idea requires public support to show the key stakeholders - Belfast City Council, the Department for Infrastructure, Belfast Harbour, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Translink and George Best Belfast City Airport - how a greenway would revolutionise travel options for commuting, leisure, shopping and onward travel via the airport.

Read more about the proposal, see maps and images and find an in-depth article on the Northern Ireland Greenways website.