Irish Cycling Campaign delivered the press release below on Wednesday 01 January 2025 following yet another grim year of road traffic collisions and casualties.
Irish Cycling Campaign Urges Immediate Action Amid Rising Road Fatalities and Pushes for Investment in Safe Active Travel Infrastructure
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
The Irish Cycling Campaign is gravely concerned at the rising number of road fatalities in Ireland, particularly among vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, and e-scooter users. As of December 31st, 2024, 178 people have died on Irish roads – a grim continuation of last year’s trends. Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (39 deaths), cyclists (11 deaths), e-scooter users (4 deaths), and motorcyclists (17 deaths), account for approximately 39% of the total road fatalities. These statistics do not take into account the impact of the many serious injuries caused by road collisions.
This past week alone has seen multiple fatalities involving hit-and-run incidents where vulnerable road users have been victims, reflecting a broader crisis of accountability and enforcement on Irish roads. These tragic incidents underscore the urgent need for structural changes to ensure greater road safety for all road users. Systemic change is needed through more sustainable transport, the design of roads and streets, through stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and through evidence-based educational campaigns. Over the past 15 years, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau staffing has declined by over 50% in some counties, reaching critically low levels. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, there was a net reduction of 154 frontline Gardaí across the network of nearly 570 Garda stations. This significant decline severely undermines the enforcement of traffic laws and the deterrence of dangerous driving behaviours.
Recent judicial decisions have raised concerns about the enforcement of traffic laws in Ireland. In December 2024, Judge Andrew Cody dismissed over 30 speeding cases in Portlaoise District Court, criticising the fairness of the speed zone in question, ignoring the reality of a number of road deaths in the Portlaoise area in recent years. Similarly, in September 2024, a driver caught exceeding 120 kmph avoided disqualification after a judge ruled the speeding was unintentional. Such rulings undermine efforts to deter dangerous driving behaviours, ignore a robust road safety evidence base, and compromise road safety at a time when we need the judiciary to fulfill their role in keeping our roads safe.
The Campaign welcomes the upcoming reform of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the planned replacement of the RSA with two new agencies. This reform is urgently needed. The Campaign is calling on government to ensure that the road safety advocacy remit is underpinned with well-resourced expertise in sustainable transport and public health.
Neasa Bheilbigh, Chairperson of the Irish Cycling Campaign, stated: “Vulnerable road users make up nearly 40% of all fatalities on Irish roads this year. This is a shocking and unacceptable statistic that demands immediate action. The government has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable people on our roads. We know what works: safe and segregated infrastructure for walking and cycling, robust enforcement of traffic laws, and investment in public transport. It’s time for our leaders to act decisively.”
Dave Tobin, Vice Chairperson of the Irish Cycling Campaign, added: “Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are now drafting a new Programme for Government. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prioritise active travel and improve safety for vulnerable road users. We are calling for at least 20% of the transport budget to be allocated to walking and cycling as recommended by the UN to save lives, reverse pollution and reduce carbon emissions. This level of investment would save lives, while creating more liveable towns and cities. Safe infrastructure is not just a luxury – it’s a necessity.”
With a new Programme for Government currently being developed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the Irish Cycling Campaign calls for:
Safe and Segregated Active Travel Infrastructure: Properly funding and prioritising active travel infrastructure is crucial. The Campaign urges the government to allocate at least 20% of the national transport budget for walking and cycling, alongside significant investment in public transport solutions to help reduce car traffic on our roads. This commitment would align with international best practices and support the government’s climate and safety goals. Investment in active travel makes our roads safer for all road users, improves public health, reduces traffic congestion, and reduces air and noise pollution.
Engineering-First Solutions: Infrastructure changes, including protected cycle lanes, improved pedestrian crossings, and better road design, must be prioritised as the most effective way to prevent road deaths and injuries by reducing driver collisions.
Enhanced Traffic Policing Resources: Immediate restoration and strengthening of Garda Roads Policing staffing is necessary to ensure laws are enforced and dangerous behaviours are deterred.
Strong Political Will: The government must use the upcoming Programme for Government to commit to a sustainable, safe, and equitable transport system. Relevant expertise and streamlined processes at local authority level is required for urgent delivery of safer roads in our communities. This should also include expediting the delivery of revised speed limits.
Road Safety Authority Reform: Any new entity tasked with road safety advocacy and education must take a systems-wide approach and be resourced with the relevant expertise to help ensure the delivery of engineering solutions, enforcement and behavioural change measures to tackle the causes of injury and death on our roads.
The Irish Cycling Campaign emphasises that road deaths and injuries are not inevitable; they are preventable. Properly funding and designing a transport system that protects vulnerable road users must be at the core of government policy. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the devastating trends on Ireland’s roads and create a safer, greener, and more liveable country for everyone.
ENDS
The Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) is the national everyday cycling advocacy body with membership from cycling advocacy groups, greenway groups and bike festivals on the island of Ireland. It is also the Irish representative body for cycling at the European level as the Irish member of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF).
Irish Cycling Campaign, formerly Cyclist.ie, has been sending delegates to ECF’s Velo-city International cycling planning conference since the 1990s, and we were delighted to be represented at its latest edition held in June 2024.
It took place in the wonderful bicycle friendly city of Ghent in Belgium and was the largest Velo-city yet held with over 1650 registered delegates from 60 different countries. In this report, Mairéad Forsythe (ICC Chairperson), Will Andrews (ICC Exec Committee member) and Damien Ó Tuama (National Cycling Coordinator with ICC & An Taisce) share some reflections on the four day event.
Just some of the delegates’ parked bicycles at Velo-city 2024
Opening ceremony and plenary
Henk Swarttouw, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), stressed the value of the European Declaration on Cycling that was adopted in April 2024 (as reported on by ECF here). This declaration will impact how global bodies such as the World Health Organisation, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund see cycling infrastructure as an essential part of transport. The declaration sees cycling as “the most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport and recreation, and its key importance for European society and economy”. Kudos to the ECF for its incredibly valuable lobbying work on this over several years.
Mairéad, Damien and Henk (from ECF)
Janette Sadik-Kahn’s (former Transport Commissioner for New York City) gave an inspirational opening speech. She clarified that there’s an ongoing ‘fight’ for space on city streets – but, additionally, that New York City’s Mayor gained great popular support for the bike lane / pedestrian plaza / bike-share measures that were introduced. She shared statistics showing that in New York improved bicycle infrastructure was responsible for a 49% increase in retail sales; the corresponding figures for London and Tokyo were 30% and 20% respectively. She referenced the cities of London and Paris where, in both places, more people now make journeys by bike than by car. This certainly wasn’t the case a decade or two ago. Further (less obvious) leaders are cities such as Bogota, Bratislava, Tirana, Brussels, Arnhem and even Austin in Texas. Cities are seeing cycling as essential infrastructure.
Janette Sadik-Kahn speaking in the main plenary session venue
Will Butler Adams, Brompton’s CEO for the last 18 years, spoke about the utter inefficiency of individuals in ever larger cars moving about (very slowly) in cities within 2.5 tonnes of enclosed metal boxes. He argued for cycling to be sold as a fun, diverse and interesting way to experience urban travel.
There was also a lovely suggestion (by one of the plenary speakers) for engineers to use periscopes in a reverse orientation so as to be able to see the street from a child’s perspective – particularly in the context of ever larger Sports Utility Vehicles dominating many city streets.
Ghent Deputy Mayor
Ghent’s deputy mayor Filip Watteeuw explained how the 50% of through traffic was discouraged in their 2017 circulation plan and that the city is now greener, safer and more liveable (see below). This came after decades of car dominance where only the residual space was given over to cycling. He told us how new improvements in the infrastructure had led to a significant increase in the cycling modal share (see also below). And that there is a new word in the Oxford dictionary “Ghentify” meaning to improve the quality of life through cycling infrastructure. He posed the rhetorical question: how would Ghent look if the 30%+ of trips currently made by bike were to be made by private car?
In regard to Velo-city itself, he argued that it’s about gaining strength and stubbornness for the next battles for street space!
Ghent Circulation Plan Technical Tour by Tim from City admin
Each year at Velo-City, there are ‘technical tours’ of local places and of new infrastructural interventions of interest. One of the most popular this year focussed on Ghent’s Circulation Plan which reduced through-traffic in the city. The plan was initiated over a weekend in 2017, with 80 streets changing the direction of traffic and 2,500 signs changed within the central area bounded by the F40 peripheral road. The parallels with Dublin’s currently debated City Centre Transport Plan were striking.
The photo (below) shows Tim, the municipality employee and leader of the technical tour, with his diagram of how the city works for private motor traffic before and after the implementation of the Circulation Plan. On the diagram to the left in his hand (under his jacket sleeve), you can see that motor traffic could – beforehand – go from the outer ring towards the centre of the city and onto a central ring, which could be circled fully; Tim’s right-hand diagram – now – shows motor traffic that enters from any point in the outside peripheral road, the F40, is unable to go around the inner ring; you can only go a little way round before being diverted back out again. The city is divided into six ‘sections’ and, as a motorist, you only have access to one of these from the outer ring. But as a public transport user or cyclist or pedestrian, there entire city centre is permeable and quick to traverse.
As part of the Circulation Plan, the existing pedestrian area of 25 hectares, created in 1997, was doubled in size. Additionally, months before the plan’s introduction, in 2017, a 30km/h limit was introduced in the wider city area. The Circulation Plan itself saw the approximately 50% of motor traffic, that was just passing through the centre, stopped. Cameras log the registration plates of cars and fine those not permitted (loading, taxis etc. are exempted) €58. This is a traffic fine, rather than a congestion fee. The photo here shows one of the cameras complete with a warning sign.
Tim told us that in the years since the plan was introduced, car sharing schemes have been ‘booming’, and car ownership levels consistently dropping. Priority has been retained for bicycles, leading to a 50% increase in cyclists in the central, F40-bound area.
Traffic, tram and bus monitoring was carried out 6 months before and 6 months after implementation, and is repeated every 3 years accompanied by transport surveys and user diaries. Tim told us that users still report some delays and slowness for trams + buses. On some narrow streets, cycling is limited to before 11am and after 6pm. The photo here shows the signs mandating this.
After the implementation of the plan, there was 96% drop in motor traffic levels at one particular junction, and 92% at another. We visited these places, and the quietness and peace was remarkable; it must be lovely for the residents overlooking these pleasant streets.
Furthermore, there has been a 50% increase in cyclists in the central, F40-bound area. Collisions and injuries also both decreased. Finally, since the zone is also a low-emission zone, enforced by camera, air quality – measured at several stations throughout the zone – has improved by 32%.
It’s the biggest car-free area in Belgium, and benefits from very proactive parking management. Ghentians are naturally very proud of their circulation plan.
And this is all very relevant for Dublin, of course, where a much more modest traffic circulation plan has been agreed by Dublin City Council but is now under threat from vested interests (mainly in the form of car park owners). For more on the relevance of the Belgian example for Dublin, see this article on the Dublin Cycling Campaign website https://www.dublincycling.com/cycling/ghent-diverted-massive-through-traffic-dublin-can-too.
A photo taken on technical tour showing the covered-over / infilled canal that was contrasted with the current situation with the canal exposed / in place again – and with the old office building now being converted into social housing.
Leading Cycling Campaigning Organisations
For Damien, one of the most inspiring talks was given by Roxanne de Beaux, the CEO of Cambridge Cycling Campaign. Roxanne (pictured below) is one of eight employees in the organisation and they are soon to grow to (at least) 10 staff members. The organisation has around 1700 paid members, but with a very effective fundraising committee that has allowed the organisation to grow its paid professional staff complement over the years. Their mission is to build influence and authority with expert knowledge. She described the organisation as being “relentless” in delivering high quality submissions on all of the relevant consultations in Cambridge, and in developers being extremely keen to talk to them before submitting planning applications so that the active travel elements have been thought through carefully before proposals are finalised and sent to the local authorities.
Plenary session on communcations and messaging
There was an interesting concluding discussion about how we communicate and think about promoting cycling. Brian Bell from Strava, Grant Ennis (author of ‘Dark PR – How Corporate Disinformation Harms our Health and the Environment – and you might like to check out this web discussion entitled Dark PR: how the road lobby has framed death as normal), public engagement specialist Jamie Clark and Sarah Mitchell, CEO of Cycling UK, had varying views on what messages to emphasise.
All agreed that fighting mis- and dis-information needs our focus and ongoing learning. While it’s impossible to predict which myths and stories will ‘catch fire’, we can be vigilant in counteracting myths with evidence and clear communications.
We need to investigate the stereotypes. To include non-traditional cycle users and those outside our usual culture is critical, while understanding the cultural conversations going on: Culture leads while politics and policies follow (although we note that all four panellists were from the English-speaking world!). Advocating without understanding the audience is futile, so listening is just as important as putting out our messages.
Grant concluded by reminding us we need to keep publicising and communicating our specific demands, seeking real political change, keeping going, and repeating as long as necessary.
Giant Bicycle Parade
An annual feature of Velo-City is a huge parade made up of the delegates and local people.
This year the Parade had 3,000 participants with much enthusiastic participation by local cycling groups and engagement along the route including dancing, a brass band, and even a mock ‘anti-cycling’ protest reminiscent of those against immigration. You can get a sense of the event from the Street Films produced short film here:
And with some further images here:
Mairéad getting ready to be chauffeured around at the parade!
We are not sure what the correct technical name is for this semi-reversed tandem recumbent that seems uniquely designed to make for easy chats between the riders – but lovely to see such a diversity of cycles and cyclists on the parade!
It was also lovely to see this piano and pianist bearing quadricycle on the parade
Further sessions
Other sessions covered bike theft (and bike registration), funding for cycling, health benefits of cycling, including a Dutch group who believe and work to achieve “safe cycling until you’re 100”. There were lots of mentions of cities who had introduced 30 km/h speed limits to make their streets safer. There was an interesting talk from Belgium where the Cycling Policy provides for every Minister to promote cycling, with 52 cross-Departmental actions to improve cycling (including getting more bikes on trains).
Our National Cycling Coordinator Damien contributed to an interesting discussion touching on politics and cycling (pictured). Eline Oftedal, CEO of Norwegian Cyclists’ Association, told us to reach out to those with more right-wing beliefs, emphasising the individuality of cycling, and keeping doors open for discussion and debate. Emil Christensen of Denmark agreed that both left and right wings of politics support cycling as a policy, though it can compete with other priorities. There was agreement that we must live with the current political reality. Meanwhile Duncan Dollimore, Head of Campaigns with Cycling UK, stressed the need to emphasise the wider benefits that cycling friendly places give rise to — such as improved public health for all and lower health care costs for society, reduced congestion that everyone benefits from and more liveable towns and cities – rather than talking so much about cycling per se.
Panellists at the session on ‘Making the benefits of cycling an election issue’, moderated by Froso Christofides, ECF’s Director for Members & Networks (on the left)
We were intrigued to hear hand-cycle user Isabelle Clement of Wheels for Wellbeing whose disability doesn’t keep her from advocating for active transport. She claimed that the world of disabled people has been told that the car is the ‘only way to travel’ and further said this was a form of ‘brainwashing’ and that, in the UK, anti-LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhood) groups had ‘used and abused’ the disabled community in their efforts to maintain car use. Interesting to hear. Isabelle called on us to listen to the most excluded when planning or advocating on transport measures.
The best aspect of Velo-city was the opportunity to network and meet people from around the world, both cycling advocates and officials from local and national governments. We also met old friends and made new friends among the strong delegations of officials from the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Fingal, Dublin City and Cork County Councils (amongst other delegates from Ireland). Michelle Murphy of Dublin City Council set out the vision here of 95% of the population living within 400m of high-quality cycle network. Bring it on, we say!
The central reception area had stands representing everything from the Dutch Cycling Embassy, to ECF, commercial commodities and e-bikes, e-bikes, and more e-bikes. The future seems to be in e-bikes, with more e-bikes than acoustic bikes sold in Europe in the last few years.
That said, one of the main themes of the conference was around the challenges of accommodating different types of cycles and cyclists on our infrastructure. There is is a fast-growing cohort of quick-moving e-bikes and other forms of mobility, but we must not forget the value of slow-moving, non-powered cycles. A related overarching theme of the event was inclusivity – we must strengthen efforts to include those who are less able, whether through different ages, income levels, physical or mental ability, ethnicity or choice of cycle.
Final Comments
Our Irish Cycling Campaign team from Velo-city is still digesting the mountains of knowledge and ideas garnered at this year’s conference. After further reflections, this will feed into additional articles to be posted here over the coming weeks and months, including perhaps some observations from the rail and sail and Eurostar Brompton journeys of Damien and Will to travel to and from Ghent. We might also convey the Velo-city 2024 ideas via a special online webinar where we will invite more of the Irish delegates attending the conference.
In the meantime, you can find more information on the Velo City website which lists speakers, session themes etc. And you can read the daily reports from the four days of Velo-city here:
The next edition of Velo-city will take place in Gdansk in Poland in 2025 and we hope to be able to send an Irish Cycling Campaign delegation there. More again about this.
Last week’s Active Travel and Greenways Conference in Limerick brought together a broad range of stakeholders – Local Authority staff, Active Travel teams, the National Transport Authority (NTA), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Fáilte Ireland and more – to discuss Ireland’s evolving cycling and walking infrastructure. Irish Cycling Campaign was there, represented by the Chairperson of our Executive Committee, Dave Tobin.
The event, held in the Limerick Strand Hotel over 26-27 March 2025, underscored how collaboration between all of these groups is central to delivering high-quality networks that serve both communities and visitors.
A Platform for Shared Learning With sessions covering funding, tourism, behavioural science and project delivery, the conference fostered critically engaged discussions on best practices and the challenges of implementation. Particularly valuable was the opportunity for professionals from different agencies to learn directly from one another – whether it was engineers discussing technical standards, planners exploring integration with public transport, or tourism experts considering how greenways can drive local economies.
The interactive site visits on Day 1 showcased Limerick’s commitment to Active Travel, with participants cycling through new infrastructure in the city and the Limerick Greenway. These first-hand experiences reinforced the importance of well-designed networks that cater to both daily commuters and leisure users.
Limerick Leading the Way A standout theme of the event was Limerick’s clear progress towards completing its cycling network. The work of Limerick City and County Council’s Active Travel Team, coupled with its strategic approach to designing greenways, has placed it at the forefront of Ireland’s cycling transformation. Limerick’s work demonstrates how persistent investment and integrated planning can deliver real, tangible benefits — something other counties around the country can look to for inspiration.
Letterkenny’s Strong Vision Letterkenny in Donegal also emerged as a leader in the discussions, with its range of town cycling projects setting a strong example of how urban areas can be reimagined for sustainable transport. Donegal County Council’s presentation highlighted how a well-planned Active Travel network can not only improve mobility but also boost local business and the quality of life for its residents.
A Call for Continued Collaboration The closing reflections of the two day conference emphasised that while individual projects are indeed advancing, greater inter-agency cooperation is needed to accelerate delivery nationwide. Events like this conference play a critical role in ensuring that knowledge-sharing and collaboration remain at the heart of Ireland’s Active Travel movement.
As Limerick continues to push forward, and other towns like Letterkenny lay the groundwork for transformational change, there is clear momentum behind building a truly connected, cycle-friendly Ireland. The challenge now is to maintain that momentum, ensuring that these conversations translate into action on the ground.
Earlier today (Wed 02 April 2025), representatives from the Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) met with Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, to discuss priorities for cycling and walking in Ireland. ICC’s team comprised Neasa Bheilbigh, Dave Tobin and Damien Ó Tuama.
The discussions focused on the importance of stable, multi-annual funding for active travel projects, strengthening delivery structures, aligning Road Safety Authority (RSA) reforms with cycling needs, and ensuring active travel remains central to national transport policy.
Minister O’Brien reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to active travel and acknowledged the importance of sustained investment to complete cycling networks in cities and towns across the country. He expressed strong support for progressing safe, high-quality cycling infrastructure and ensuring local authority Active Travel teams have the resources and expertise needed for effective project delivery.
The Minister also recognised the role of active travel in improving road safety, reducing emissions, and supporting healthier, more liveable communities. He pledged to work with the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Department of Transport and Local Authorities to accelerate delivery and ensure cycling remains a key pillar of the Government’s transport strategy over the coming years.
The Irish Cycling Campaign welcomes the Minister’s support and looks forward to working together to turn these commitments into real improvements for people cycling across Ireland. We appreciate the Minister’s time and engagement, and look forward to continued collaboration in the months and years ahead.
The Irish Cycling Campaign’s National Meeting, held on Saturday, March 29th, 2025, at the Citizen Innovation Lab in Limerick City, brought together cycling advocates, policy experts, and local representatives from across the country. The event underscored Limerick’s emergence as a leader in sustainable transport and showcased the city’s commitment to high-quality cycling infrastructure.
Neasa Bheilbigh, Chair of the Irish Cycling Campaign with Senator Maria Byrne (FG), Cllr Peter Doyle (FG), Cllr Joe Leddin (Lab) and Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator.
Friday Evening: Three Bridges Critical Mass Cycle
The gathering commenced on Friday evening with the Three Bridges Critical Mass Cycle. Participants convened at Colbert Station before departing from Merchant’s Quay Council Building. This spirited ride through Limerick’s scenic routes fostered camaraderie among attendees and highlighted the city’s cyclist-friendly initiatives.
Saturday: Engaging Panels and Infrastructure Exploration
Saturday’s agenda was rich with insightful discussions and interactive sessions:
Effective Communication for Active Travel and Behaviour Change: Panelists explored strategies to promote cycling and active travel, emphasizing the importance of clear messaging and community engagement.
Inclusion & Representation in Active Travel: This session addressed the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in cycling, advocating for inclusive policies and infrastructure that cater to all members of the community.
Public Perspectives on Cycle Infrastructure in Limerick: Led by Ross Higgins and the Active Travel Office, this panel delved into submissions on local infrastructure projects, and discussed future plans to enhance consultation.
Panel on Inclusion and representation in Active Travel; Ross Higgins (UL), Sally Wilson (Limerick Sports Partnership), Hannah Jannsen (Paul Partnership), Clara Clark (Cycling without Age), Maria O’Dwyer (social researcher) and Anne Cronin (Limerick Cycling Campaign)
In the afternoon, attendees participated in an Infrastructure Cycle led by the Limerick Active Travel Team. This hands-on experience allowed participants to assess current cycling routes and provided valuable feedback for ongoing and future projects.
Keynote Speakers and Community Engagement
The event featured esteemed speakers, including John Moran, UL researcher Ross Higgins, and Sean McGlynn of Limerick Active Travel. Their insights into urban planning, research findings, and practical implementations enriched the discussions and inspired attendees.
Senior Engineer Dan Slavin from the Limerick Active Travel Team giving the background to the Childer’s Road scheme on Limerick’s south side during the Infrastructure Cycle.
Looking Ahead
The National Meeting not only celebrated Limerick’s advancements in cycling infrastructure but also reinforced the collective commitment to promoting active travel nationwide. The Irish Cycling Campaign extends heartfelt gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organizers who contributed to the event’s success.
As we reflect on the fruitful discussions and shared experiences, we are reminded of the power of collaboration in driving positive change. We look forward to building upon this momentum and continuing our efforts to create a more sustainable and cycling-friendly Ireland.
Some additional photos of attendees of the national meeting in Limerick.
Irish Cycling Campaign is thrilled to announce its participation in a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade organised Shared Island Civic Society Fund initiative. The project is entitled “Cycling across borders – exchanging know-how between cycling advocacy organisations, North and South“, and it involves a close collaboration with Cycling UK Northern Ireland.
Over the course of the project, we will be working alongside many community based cycling campaigning organisations in Northern Ireland, in the border counties and across the whole island.
The Shared Island Civic Society Fund is an initiative designed to promote practical North South cooperation. It aims to encourage and support civic society and community organisations to further strengthen existing partnerships and/or to develop new cross-border links, to build connectivity, and to work together to ensure an inclusive and diverse island.
On the commencement of the project Neasa Bheilbigh, Chair of the Executive Committee of ICC, said:
“Irish Cycling Campaign is really delighted to have its work recognised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and for it to fund this project which brings together cycling advocates from Northand South to share know-how on everyday cycling campaigning across the island. We are really looking forward to exchanging experiences and ideas with sustainable transport advocates in Northern Ireland”.
Andrew McClean, Cycling UK’s Northern Ireland Lead, said that Cycling UK was very happy to be joining forces with Irish Cycling Campaign on this project:
“Both Cycling UK and the Irish Cycling Campaign are members of the European Cyclists’ Federation, and between us we have decades of experience pushing for cycling to be seen as a core part of transport and public health. In working more closely together, our aim is to get the government to recognise the huge benefits cycling can bring, strengthening our public health, economy and sustainability commitments.”
One exciting strand of the project will be spending time at the lovely Leitrim Cycling Festival, which this year takes place in the village of Tullaghan on the coast of Leitrim from 23-25 May https://leitrimcyclingfestival.com/. Lead organiser of the festival, Jo Sachs Eldridge, said:
“It’s just wonderful that this Shared Island project is happening, and Leitrim Cycling Festival is delighted to be a part of it. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Leitrim in May, and particularly for our special session on exchanging creative ideas on cycle campaigning in urban and rural contexts, and all across the island, North and South. Details to be announced soon!”
Then later in 2025 (most likely in the Autumn), Irish Cycling Campaign and Cycling UK NI will co-organise a special edition of the Gathering of Cycling Campaigners, that will follow the equivalent event happening in Limerick on Sat 29th March (as per this post). Both Gatherings are all about exchanging stories and top tips on creating strong everyday cycling cultures in our communities. Details to be made available in due course.
If you are interested in connecting into the “Cycling across borders” project, please contact Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator with Irish Cycling Campaign or Andrew McClean of Cycling UK NI (see below).
Dublin City Council celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 with a cycling theme. On Thursday 6th March in the Generator Hostel on Smithfield Square, they screened the Saudi Arabian film, Wadjda, about a 10-year-old girl who wants to buy a bike to race her friend Abdullah. In this article Miren Maialen from Dublin Cycling Campaign’s Executive Committee reports back on the evening.
First and foremost, it was a really enjoyable occasion attending the film screening and the panel discussion. The film itself is about a 10-year-old girl who wants to buy a bike to race her friend, but Wadjda’s mother refuses, fearing repercussions from Saudi society.
After the film, there was a great debate exploring the wider barriers to cycling that panelists have experienced and overcome, and examining how we can all encourage and empower more girls and women to cycle. The panel was chaired by Siobhán McNamara, Vice-Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, and it included Catríona Nally, from Ballymun Youth Action Project and Recovery Road Cycling Club, and Josephine Healion, Paralympic Cyclist and World Championship medal winner, as well as Jannatul, a new cyclist from Bangladesh who participated in Dublin City Council’s adult cycle training.
It was really great to listen to all of the participants in the panel.
Siobhán, who chaired the discussions, highlighted the positive work being undertaken by Irish Cycling Campaign, with their local branch the Dublin Cycling Campaign advocating for better infrastructure for cycling and, more generally, for making Dublin a great city for cycling for all ages and abilities.
Jannatul explained how important it was for her to learn how to cycle, particularly in terms of the freedom it gives her and, simply, for the pure enjoyment of cycling.
It was great to hear from Caitríona about the initiatives for her community and how it is bringing positive change and how the women in her local community are enjoying the cycling; and to hear from Josephine from the perspective of a vision impaired athlete – she competes in the women’s tandem events on both the track and the road. There was a packed audience there and great discussions around the main themes raised.
As mentioned at the event, if you are interested in adult cycle training, please get in touch with Dublin City by email (to [email protected]) any time.
Dublin City Council celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 with a cycling theme. On Thursday 6th March in the Generator Hostel on Smithfield Square, they screened the Saudi Arabian film, Wadjda, about a 10-year-old girl who wants to buy a bike to race her friend Abdullah. In this article Miren Maialen from Dublin Cycling Campaign’s Executive Committee reports back on the evening.
First and foremost, it was a really enjoyable occasion attending the film screening and the panel discussion. The film itself is about a 10-year-old girl who wants to buy a bike to race her friend, but Wadjda’s mother refuses, fearing repercussions from Saudi society.
After the film, there was a great debate exploring the wider barriers to cycling that panelists have experienced and overcome, and examining how we can all encourage and empower more girls and women to cycle. The panel was chaired by Siobhán McNamara, Vice-Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, and it included Catríona Nally, from Ballymun Youth Action Project and Recovery Road Cycling Club, and Josephine Healion, Paralympic Cyclist and World Championship medal winner, as well as Jannatul, a new cyclist from Bangladesh who participated in Dublin City Council’s adult cycle training.
It was really great to listen to all of the participants in the panel.
Siobhán, who chaired the discussions, highlighted the positive work being undertaken by Irish Cycling Campaign, with their local branch the Dublin Cycling Campaign advocating for better infrastructure for cycling and, more generally, for making Dublin a great city for cycling for all ages and abilities.
Jannatul explained how important it was for her to learn how to cycle, particularly in terms of the freedom it gives her and, simply, for the pure enjoyment of cycling.
It was great to hear from Caitríona about the initiatives for her community and how it is bringing positive change and how the women in her local community are enjoying the cycling; and to hear from Josephine from the perspective of a vision impaired athlete – she competes in the women’s tandem events on both the track and the road. There was a packed audience there and great discussions around the main themes raised.
As mentioned at the event, if you are interested in adult cycle training, please get in touch with Dublin City by email (to [email protected]) any time.
This page here shows the composition of the Irish Cycling Campaign Executive Committee for the year of 2024, following on from its Annual General Meeting held on 29 February 2024!
The refreshed Executive Committee included some members who were part of the previous EC (that ran from late 2021 to early 2024), but it also brought in three new faces – Sinéad Halpin (Cork), Kevin Jennings (Galway) and Vinnie Wall (Cork).
Neasa Bheilbigh (Galway Cycling Campaign)
I have been the Chairperson of Irish Cycling Campaign for the last two years (plus). I am also a member of the Galway Cycling Campaign and the Galway Cycle Bus. I have seen the impact active travel can have on children’s physical, social and emotional well-being and am passionate about creating an environment in which children can travel to school safely and independently. I see cycling advocacy as something that should be inclusive and believe strongly that those of all ages and abilities should be enabled to cycle. I have two young children and we love getting around town and going on adventures on our cargo bike.
I am the current Public Relations Officer of Limerick Cycling Campaign. I am a primary school teacher in a suburban Limerick school, and also act as treasurer and board member for the Northside Family Resource Centre in Moyross, Limerick. Additionally, I currently represent the environmental pillar of the Limerick PPN on the Limerick Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). I have a strong focus on social inclusion both in terms of prioritising infrastructure projects in our city communities that have been historically left behind, and also ensuring that voices from all sections of our community are integral to the work of our group.
I am a founding member and Secretary of Navan Cycling Initiative and have played a key role organising events, creating maps and encouraging the cycling ecosystem. While new to cycling advocacy, I have been a keen cyclist for a number of years, though I draw the line at wearing lycra. In my day job, I am a freelance software product consultant, and have a background in IT and software development.
Will Andrews (Dublin Cycling Campaign)
Will is a dyed-in-the-wool Dub who started commuting by bike in Dublin in 1983. An architect from East Wall, he was honoured to serve as chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign from 2009 to 2012.
He’s worked on training kids and adults in confident cycling, helping engage HGV drivers in structured training that increased their empathy for cyclists, and has run bike parades and ride-outs. Will has a keen interest in cities that are vibrant and sustainable and, as part of an M.Sc. course on ‘Urban Environment’ in UCD’s School of Geography, studied the public health impacts of the proposed permanent Liffey Cycle Route, finding them to potentially offer savings in health costs of over €200 million.
I started Leitrim Cycling Festival to celebrate bicycles and communities and to find other people who also think cycling might be the answer to so many questions. I’m so pleased to have discovered this proactive, committed, growing group of cycling advocates – it makes change seem much more possible. Before I returned home to Leitrim I worked as a Transport Planner in the UK where I specialised in active travel and believe asking the right people the right questions (and really listening!) is the key to the development of good quality, useful routes.
Sinéad Halpin (Cork Cycling Campaign)
I am a native of Cork City’s northside, currently living and cycling in Mayfield. I am a mum of two and can be seen with them on the back of my long tail cargo bike on the way to their school and then onto my own work as a second level teacher. I have been cycling regularly since getting my first bike in early 2020. I became involved with the Cork Cycling Campaign and I’ve been active in organising and taking part in events for the past few years. My specific interest is in advocating for cycling infrastructure for the people of the city and country that have been left without it, the traditionally more marginalised and the under-represented.
Kevin Jennings (Galway Cycling Campaign)
I have been active in cycling advocacy fairly intensely for the past five years, having been inspired to take action by seeing my now friends in the Galway CycleBus. I’ve served as chairperson of Galway Cycling Campaign for three busy years from July 2019. I’ve gone through the stages of seeing our roads with the eyes of a confident cycler, as a companion of a cycler carrying a child, having children on the back of the bike or in trailers and having children cycling alongside us. My eldest child (12) now cycles to some of his sporting events and is ready to go alone. I’m worried sick. I’m learning to see the world from the perspective of disabled people, older people or carers but there’s no substitute for lived experience.
Vinnie Wall (Cork)
I’m a consultant anaesthesiologist working in Cork having returned from Paris. I’m hugely passionate about movement from a health perspective and would argue that getting into a car every day is a wasted health opportunity. You were born to move! I’ve been an active cycle advocate in the past and pushed the Cork hospital cycleway in 2020 and I’m a member of Irish Doctors for the Environment and I’ve done a diploma in public health. The number of road deaths in Ireland is unacceptable and I believe road violence is a public health emergency.
Damien Ó Tuama (National Cycling Coordinator)
While not an elected member of the Executive Committee, our National Cycling Coordinator supports and works closely with the Irish Cycling Campaign’s EC.
Damien has held the Irish Cycling Campaign (formerly Cyclist.ie) National Cycling Coordinator post since 2013, a position shared with An Taisce. His current focus is in supporting Irish Cycling Campaign’s 30+ Local Groups and advancing the goals of our strategy. He worked in the transportation space for over 20 years, and completed his doctoral research exploring transitions in mobility systems in 2015 (in Trinity College Dublin).
Damien is currently also an Evaluator and Steering Committee member for research projects under the EPA Research Programme Annual Call under the pillars of Climate and Sustainability. He spent five years on the board of the European Cyclists’ Federation (2016-2021), and in 2020 was appointed to the board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland following a Public Appointments Service process. Damien enjoys music, gigs, DIY and adventures!
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Details of the 2021-23 Executive Committee can be found here.
Irish Cycling Campaign was well represented at the Climate and Environment hustings held earlier today (Wed 20 November) at the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street in Dublin. Dr. Mike McKillen, Colm Ryder and Dr. Damien Ó Tuama attended wearing ICC hats.
The Labour Party, by their Leader Deputy Ivana Bacik
Sinn Féin, by Deputy Darren O’Rourke
Green Party, by Senator Pippa Hackett
Fine Gael, by Deputy Hildegarde Naughton
People Before Profit-Solidarity, by Deputy Paul Murphy
Fianna Fáíl, by Deputy Thomas Byrne
Social Democrats, by Jennifer Whitmore
There was some reference to transport in the contributions, but not a huge amount. Both Ivana Bacik and Darren O’Rourke referred respectively to The Labour Party’s and Sinn Féin’s commitments to public transport, while Pippa Hackett referred to the current Programme for Government’s commitment of the spend ratio of 2:1 for public transport projects versus new roads. Deputy Naughton mentioned her own role in initiating the current Safe Routes to Schools projects. Much of the debate centred on retrofitting, carbon taxes, the Nature Restoration Law, data centres and LNG (Liquefied natural gas).
A YouTube recording of the event can be viewed here:
Irish Cycling Campaign is currently examining all the parties’ manifestos with a view to producing an analysis over the coming days. We will be reporting on this on the Irish Cycling Campaign website here. Watch this space.
In short though, we know that Ireland is still not on track to stay within our national carbon budgets or our EU commitments for 2030. All of the political parties will need to radically up their games if we are to rapidly reduce emission from transport.
The Irish Cycling Campaign is both a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. The Board of Directors/Trustees is the grouping of people who are responsible for governing the organisation. The Board does not play an active role in campaigning and other day-to-day issues, but retains oversight and deals with matters relating to legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, financial control, internal policy development, staffing, and so on. We are now looking to fill up to three vacancies.
Always acting appropriately and in the best interests of our organisation
Preparing for, attending and participating fully in meetings of the Board, which are generally held online during the evening at least every two months
Actively contributing to the work of the Board and following through on actions agreed to
Time commitment: a couple of hours a week over a three-year term (ideally)
What kind of people are you looking for?
Adults of any age and from any background
Based anywhere in Ireland, with a particular desire for people outside of Dublin
Having a commitment to good governance
Suitable skills: we are especially interested in hearing from you if you have expertise in data protection, finance, HR or insurance
You preferably cycle but do you NOT need to have been involved in cycle campaigning previously
What would I get out of it?
Doing something practical to combat the climate, health, congestion, road safety and associated crises
Gaining satisfaction from being involved in an organisation that is a leader in cycling development and is at an exciting juncture
Being part of a friendly, hardworking team of other volunteers
A chance to share your skills and learn some new ones along the way
I might potentially be interested – what do I do?
If you want to find out more, you can contact our Board Chairperson Mairead Forsythe for an informal chat. If you are ready to throw your hat in the ring, please complete this nomination form by (the extended deadline of) Wed 20 November 2024. We are very much looking forward to hearing from you!
Photo from the Facebook page of Great Southern Greenway
