Irish Cycling Campaign has compiled our Top Asks for Local Election 2024 Candidates – as presented below.
Firstly though, we are reminding LE candidates from all parties that cycling is one of our most democratic, affordable and accessible means of transport. Cycling is a reliable mode for people at all income levels, especially those who struggle with economic uncertainty and rising energy costs. Cycling gives people an opportunity to stay healthy, which in turn saves society many millions of Euro in healthcare costs. More people cycling means cleaner air, a more rapid decarbonisation of the transport sector, less congested streets, and safer neighbourhoods.
Additionally, it is crucial that at a central government level, at least 20% of capital transport spending must continue to go on active travel, and that the vast majority of the rest is spent on radically improving our public transport systems.
At a local government level, these are our asks:
Higher sustainable transport targets
Rapid advancement of Cycle Networks
Advancing School Streets and Safe Routes to School
Higher quality cycle facilities
Upskilling of Local Authority staff and Councillors
Default 30km/h speed limits in built-up areas
Development plans to prioritise – Land use planning that prevents car-dependent sprawl – Proper permeability and connectivity – Mandatory bike parking at new developments – Maximum, not minimum, numbers of car parking spaces – Encouraging car share
Plans below Development Plan level mirroring the above
Supporting voices from cycling advocacy to be on Council Committees
Enforcement of illegal car parking dealt with effectively
Imaginative promotion of everyday cycling for multiple journey types
Auditing and maintaining all sustainable transport facilities to high standards
Note: (1) Local Groups within Irish Cycling Campaign will be adding bespoke local asks for local candidates to this list. (2) An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland (https://www.antaisce.org/) also endorses our 12 listed asks.
A list with elaborated points can be read below.
Higher cycling, walking and public transport (modal share) targets – i.e. fewer journeys made by private motor cars (since EVs alone won’t bring us to the decarbonisation targets).
The implementation of the ‘Cycle Connects’ cycle networks and the metropolitan cycle network plans for Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and the Greater Dublin Area.
Roll-out of school streets and Safe Routes to School interventions (including cycle parking).
Higher quality cycle facilities (i.e. not compromised at pinch points and junctions etc. and generally following the Cycle Design Manual) and smarter use of contra-flow and modal filters
Upskilling of Local Authority staff and Councillors through CPD programmes and taking part in study trips to the Netherlands / Denmark, and attending the Velo-city conference, so that we end up with higher standards and better facilities etc.
Adoption of 30km/h default limits on built-up roads (to follow from new legislation)
Development plan issues – Land use planning which encourages walking, cycling and public transport use and prevents car-dependent sprawl – Proper permeability and connectivity – Mandatory bike parking at new developments – apartments, shops, PT hubs / Higher Bike Parking standards (both numbers and quality of facilities) at various public locations (town centres, sports grounds, churches, gyms, hospitals, apartments etc. – Maximum, not minimum, numbers of car parking spaces (Cf. DHLG&H guidelines) – Encouraging car share (e.g. with dedicated car share spaces in new developments)
Plans below Development Plan level to mirror the above (e.g. Local Area Plans and Local Economic Community Plan (LECP))
LE Candidates to support voices from cycling advocacy within council committees and structures (e.g. Strategic Policy Committees, Joint Policing Committees and Road Safety Working Together Groups)
Enforcement of illegal car parking dealt with effectively (by a combination of Council wardens and contractors – plus An Garda Síochána) – and designing out possibilities for offending.
Imaginative and ongoing promotion of everyday cycling for multiple journey trips (just not commuting) and intermodal journeying (particularly bikes plus public transport)
Auditing and maintaining all walking and cycling and public transport facilities to high standards. Ensure ongoing budgets for maintenance e.g. buying specific maintenance plant/ machines
The Limerick Greenway, also known as the Great Southern Trail Greenway has been open now for a few years, and the route now extends to Listowel, Kerry, since October 2022.
A previous post, commemorates the long years of campaigning that it took to bring this project to fruition.
This is a more personal account of the Kerry Section only, from Abbeyfeale to Listowel, which we walked, there one day, back the next, rather than cycled.
Abbeyfeale is in Co. Limerick, and the first 3km of the route is officially the Limerick Greenway and rest, ~12km, is in Kerry. It seems slightly absurd that the Greenway is so divided, reminiscent of the roads around the border with Northern Ireland, although the differences are slight.
The route is generally very good quality, laid in tarmac, with gravel edges, for better drainage. Signage is also good quality (differing slightly between the Limerick & Kerry Sections, as mentioned), although a bit more of it e.g. local information (e.g. wildlife, farming, railway history), distance information etc. would be good to see. This section, at 15km, is the longest section on the entire Greenway, and although there are a sprinkling of seats along the way, there are few houses, no villages and definitely no water or refreshments.
One welcome feature, shown above, are the tool stations, two along this section. It’s clear that the actual tools will have a pretty short working life as they are already quite badly corroded. The pump seemed in good order.
Apparently, when the railway closed in the 1970s, although the Local Authorities had first refusal of ownership, they declined, seeing it as of little value at the time. This was, in retrospect, regrettable, as it made wresting use of the route back from landowners a long and fraught process.
Part of this dynamic is evidently the construction of the many crossing points, which are mostly agricultural; in some places, bridges were constructed, the route dipped to allow headroom, thereby breaking the level way established by the railway engineers, as seen above.
In other places there are gates, suggesting infrequent agricultural use; some gates featured smaller by-pass gates, that would allow Greenway Users to pass, with caution. This is preferable to the constant opening and closing of gates, experienced by both walkers and cyclists elsewhere. At the infrequent road crossings, all minor roads, there are dog-leg barriers, which don’t enforce dismount, but prevent careless passage.
In the cuttings there are few original bridges, as above. These stretches, mostly damp, feature the richest plant growth. The route could generally be called a “wildlife corridor”, presumably as the verges are free of the chemicals that have destroyed much of the flora in the countryside generally. This is apparently true of many transport corridors, although some may unfortunately still be sprayed.
One – completely unnecessary and preventable – confusion arises as to which side of the road to walk and ride; see Code of Conduct. This enjoins walkers to “Keep left and pass on right” without specifying what cyclists should do, although implicitly the same. In contrast – hence the confusion – the Highway Code Standard Practice is for pedestrians is walk on the right, to face oncoming traffic; this is particularly necessary for a Greenway, as bicycles, even electric ones, are very quiet, and not all remember to use a bell, or even have one.
We did this route over a weekend, and saw a fair few other users, almost all cyclists, but nowhere near as many as the better-known Mayo or Waterford Greenways. This seems a pity as the route is attractive, with pleasant towns along the way. It is evident that more promotion and more facilities will be needed to change this.
At the other end of the Greenway, which currently reaches Rathkeale, there are hopes of a extension into Limerick City; it is evident this will be both more valuable, particularly to locals, but also more difficult, as the space is correspondingly more contested.
We had a super turnout of supporters of cycling from the Dáil, Seanad and beyond at the annual Oireachtas spin.
It’s almost become a tradition now for Oireachtas members to ride around Dublin to celebrate Bike Week and the joys of cycling.
It’s a great way for us to catch up with Oireachtas members who appreciate how good cycling is for mental and physical health, how it offers real economic opportunities, and how it can help restore local and global environments.
(L to R) Senators Maria Sherlock and Gerard Horken, cycle organiser Ivana Bacik TD (Mike McKillen)
Ivana Bacik TD (Lab), Lynn Boylan TD (SF), Richard Bruton TD (FG), Patrick Costello (GP), Senator Roisin Garvey (GP), Senator Gerard Horken (FF), Senator Alice-Mary Higgins (Ind), Pauline O’Reilly TD (GP), Darren O’Rourke (SF) Senator Marie Sherlock (Lab), were members who made time to bike and chat.
We were very grateful to Ivana and staff for gathering the All-Party group and organising the event, in cooperation with our hard-working Irish Cycling Campaign Vice-chair, Dave Tobin. Also a shout-out to Dublin Cycling Campaign members who came along.
‘Great to see Bike Week uniting the likes of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Greens, Labour, Sinn Féin and others, and for once no-one competing for first place!’
Cyclists are at their most vulnerable at junctions — the location of one in four of all cycling fatalities. Can changes to traffic movements help make cycling safer?
In 2011 the Dublin Cycling Campaign highlighted what it considered to be the most dangerous junctions in Dublin. These were places where cyclists were left unprotected from vehicles and particularly vulnerable to collision with cars, buses or lorries …
Irish Cycling Campaign recently hosted a special online session about measuring active travel, engaging your communities and influencing policymakers.
Our special guest speaker was Community Manager Robert McIntosh from Telraam, who provided an overview of what their devices do and how you can get started.
Irish Cycling Campaign’s Dave Anderson spoke about the experiences of his local group, Navan Cycling Initiative, in using Telraam, the supports offered and potential funding options.
The online webinar was recorded and is now available here to watch:
Irish Cycling Campaign wishes to thank Telraam’s Robert McIntosh for sharing his expertise and advice at this ICC webinar.
For more info about Telraam, head to https://talks.telraam.net
In this article, we look back on 2023 through the frame of our 2021-26 Strategy (with our six strategic aims shown below) and consider how much progress we have made. In particular, we highlight where Irish Cycling Campaign / our Local Groups are making a real impact on the mobility culture of Ireland. Note, however, that this article only scrapes the surface of all of the incredible work conducted by our network of volunteers for which we are very grateful.
ICC’s overarching aims as per our current strategy, are:
Develop a vibrant and resilient all-island cycling advocacy community
Influence the national conversation on mobility and quality of life
Seek to ensure public policy embraces cycling
Advocate for more effective institutions and new legislation
Seek to ensure there is ample funding spent on cycling
Seek to secure high quality routes and infrastructure
We frame our 2023 highlighted achievements around these:
Community Underpinning effective advocacy work is having a resilient organisation, and we put significant work into this in 2023.
National Conversation Throughout 2023, Irish Cycling Campaign was the ‘go-to’ NGO for the media for insights on cycling policy. We also helped to shape the conversation on wider (public) transport topics, and on links between public health outcomes and transport investment types. A summary of our 2023 media contributions can be read here while our contributions in the media in 2024 to date can be read here. Without these contributions, media discourses would be dominated by less informed and more car-centric perspectives. Our contributions soften the ground for a greater public acceptance for active travel investments.
Public Policy Throughout 2023, we advocated to the Departments of: Transport; Environment, Climate & Communications; Health; and Finance for cycling as a climate-friendly, healthy, congestion-free transport mode.
Institutions and Legislation One of the most difficult domains ICC operates in is where we seek to change the culture of driving, and this brings us into close contact with the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority in particular.
Amongst the topics raised with An Garda Síochána were collision reporting, the portal for video evidence, and wider enforcement issues through our meetings with the A/Commissioner for Community & Roads Policing, Paula Hilman, and her team. We are now building on these conversations so as to put a greater emphasis on reducing road danger from driver behaviour, vehicle speeds, and ever increasing vehicle sizes.
Irish Cycling Campaign is delighted to see so many of our Local Groups organising events for Bike Week 2024 in every corner of the country. In this article, we list some of the main events that groups are running – while noting that it is not exhaustive!
We encourage everyone to support our events – and also to join Irish Cycling Campaign if you are not already a member https://cyclist.ie/join/ Thank you!
The Wheels of Athenry / Co.Galway
Athenry CycleFest 2024
Saturday, 11th May, 1 – 4pm
Athenry Town Park
Athenry CycleFest 2024 will be kicking off #BikeWeek in County Galway on Saturday the 11th of May from 1 – 4pm in the Town Park!
Wheel on down to Athenry CycleFest for a *FREE* and jam packed afternoon of Cycling, Community, and Craic in the Town Park.
The afternoon’s grand finale is the ATHENRY PEDAL PARADE at 3pm starting at the Town Park.
For a taster of what to expect check out our promo vid HERE.
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CLONAKILTY BICYCLE FESTIVAL, CO CORK
All info at www.clonakiltybicyclefestival.org
FRIDAY 17TH MAY 2024 7pmOpening night: Lap of the town, blessing of the bicycles & film night opening night at DeBarras Folk Club (upstairs)
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 10am Chakra Dance Cycle – leave at 10am – cycle to Ring to loosen up those Chakra’s through dance – co hosted with Ciara Holland – free, please book, text 085 874 5891 or [email protected]
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 3pm – ‘Kidical Mass’ Cycle meet at Emmet Square – Another addition of our most popular event for kids. Bring your bike to Emmet Square for an all ages lap around Clonakilty
SATURDAY 18TH MAY 2024 7pm – Sunset Bird Watch Cycle (10km) meet at Emmet Square – cycle from Clonakilty town to the Inchydoney estuary identifying local birds species. In collaboration with Bird Watch Ireland Free
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 10.30am Stop, Look, Listen cycle – meet at Emmet Square – cycle a lap of the town to the biodiversity garden at Bennetts Field, and listen to 3 pieces of music on the theme of nature and biodiversity.
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 3pm – River cycle in collaboration with Clochán Uisce (our local rivers group) – meet at Emmet Square to explore the biodiversity in our local rivers and check its health including kick sampling and water testing as part of the EU drinkable rivers program. Family friendly.
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 5.30pm ‘Waste not, want not’ Curry Cycle! a 5 km cycle around Clonakilty to arrive at our secret location for a ‘Waste Not Want Not’ Curry prepared by chef Gillian Hegarty (followed directly by end of fest Bikeoke Party). BYO tupperware and take home any leftovers. Registration essential 30 max – free dinner with prebooking! Free, please book, text 085 874 5891 or [email protected]
SUNDAY 19TH MAY 2024 7pm End of festival Bikeoke party – O’Donovans Alley Garden (no need to book) – can anyone top Thady’s performance of Tequilla from last year?
Clonakilty Bike Circus
Christmas Tree Yard at Spiller’s Lane Bike Week Calendar of Events May 11 thru May 19, 2024
All Week
Free Bicycle Safety Checks Come learn about the Bike Circus and what it means to be a member. Have your bike safety checked for free. Meet the Yard Dogz, our friendly crew of volunteers.
The Pushbike’s Companion Want to be your bike’s best friend? Come learn about free bike maintenance and repair courses available at the Bike Circus.
Saturday 11/05 @ 11:00 Hrs
Pre-Flight Your Children’s Bikes for Safety Safety Maintenance. Introduction to Vee Brakes. Brief instruction, then greasy hands play time for all participants.
Saturday 11/05 @ Noon
Group Cycle – Family Adventure We open Bike Week with a family-friendly picnic ramble along Clonakilty Bay, a migratory wildfowl sanctuary. Suitable for all cyclists. Seniors are invited to join us aboard The Silver Bullet, Clon’s free trishaw.
Monday, 13/05 @ Noon Eldercycle – Keep on Bikin’ Over 60 and want to return to cycling? Our resident octogenarian cyclist presents this program just for you. Explore the options for those who still hear the wild goose call.
Monday, 13/05 @ 14:00 Hrs. Wind in Your Hair Assistive Cycling: Electric and specially constructed tandems, bikes, & trikes to make cycling available for all. Silver Bullet spins around Clon all day.
Tuesday, 14/05 @ 14:00 Hrs. ‘Thar Be Dragons!’ Ebikes For the Uninitiated. Ebikes have taken the world, the market is awash in choices. Why are some so dear, others selling as Internet bargains? This is a chance to learn about eBikes free of sales pressure. There will be bikes to examine and discuss. We’ll tell all.
Dogg Oscar Frame Building
What is The Bike Circus?
The Bike Circus is voluntary organization, a tool-share devoted to everyday cycling. We offer free training in bike maintenance & repair and a formal apprenticeship for those who want to dig a little deeper. We fix bikes. We help people fix their own bikes. We build custom bikes for special cyclists. The Circus is open to all and promotes inclusion without regard to age, gender, or physical limitation. We are entirely voluntary and private, receiving no regular funding from any agency or government. All our personnel, ‘The Yard Dogz,’ are volunteers.
We are a spin-off of the Clonakilty Bike Festival and sponsored by Clonakilty Blackpudding. They have assisted us since the outset. We thank them for their contribution.
Come visit us. You’re very welcome. Keep on Bikin’!
Saturday May 11th, 10.00 – Coffee by Bike (starting in town, various coffee shops)
Come with us on a tour of the city’s best independent coffee spots by bike, discover new routes and sample new blends in this easy going social cycle.
Gathering point – Michael Collins
Wednesday May 15th, 13.00 – 14.30 – Douglas Street / Business Event – Bike Douglas Street
An event for businesses of Cork to discuss making their businesses and the city friendlier to cycling.
We will have bikes on hand for a guided cycle of the area as well as a sampling of treats from local businesses.
Gathering point – Parklet Douglas Street.
Wednesday May 15th, 14.30 – 16.30 – Cork through the Spokes
In association with Cork Folklore Project. Come to share your Oral History of Cycling in Cork in the past. Do you remember the bike delivery boys, do you have a story about cycling down Patrick’s Hill? We’d love to hear about that and anything else, come join us for a chat. Location – North Cathedral Visitor Centre
Saturday May 18th, 14.00 – 15.00 – Kids Event (Fitzgerald’s Park) – Super Cycle on the Lee Come dressed as your favourite superhero and cycle a safe path on the riverside along with the best super tunes. Gathering point – Fitzgerald’s Park Cafe
Sunday May 19th – Open for Cycling (Various Start points into City Centre) We lead cycles from key points of the city into the city centre which is Open for Cycling on this day. Gathering points – Various leading to Patrick Street
Leitrim Cycling Festival is a free, family-friendly festival held during Bike Week and will be hosted in Keshcarrigan from May 17-19.
Each year, the festival moves to a different town or village and is organised by a small group of volunteers in collaboration with each local community.
The festival aims to celebrate cycling, communities and the beautiful county of Leitrim in Ireland’s hidden heartlands. Keshcarrigan is a small village in south Leitrim nestled between the hills of Sheebeg, the Ballinamore canal and the lakes of Keshcarrigan and Lough Scur.
This year’s programme includes many of the annual festival highlights including the community cycle and picnic, the launch lap, music, art workshops and of course the much-loved slow bicycle race.
In addition, you will find many events unique to Keshcarrigan, such as the free boat tours of Lough Scur thanks to the Shannon Queen, Astrokids play time, a workshop with local author Maria Hoey, a heritage cycle and treasure hunt, and the Kiltubrid Pipe Band leading the launch lap.
This year’s festival is also during National Biodiversity Week, and thanks to funding from the Irish Environmental Network, the programme includes an event celebrating the cultural and social value of the hawthorn tree with the Leitrim Hawthorn Project.
Come on a nature cycle along the Tralee to Fenit Greenway and meet some of the wild plants and habitats along the way.
Tar linn ar rothaíocht dhúlra ar Bhealach Glas Thrálí – Fhianait, ag buaileadh leis na plandaí ages ghnáthog fhiáin ar an slí.
Meeting Point: Greenway entrance – Opposite Tralee Train Station
Gorey, Co. Wexford. Gorey Pedestrian and Cycling Association & Wexford County Council
A fun morning with bike themed events in Gorey Town Park, including a short Family Slow Roll in Gorey town in association with Gorey Pedestrian and Cycle Association. Slow bike race; prizes for best dressed bike; face painting ,bike themed prizes. Balance Bike Buddies will also be on hand to teach some basic cycling skills to younger children.
Time: 11am to 1pm
Date: Saturday, the 18th of May
Location: Gorey Town Park and local streets of Gorey, Co. Wexford
Suitability: All. Competent cyclists only on the Slow Roll as this takes place on the public streets. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
BIODIVERSITY BIKE RIDE WITH GOREY PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Join biodiversity expert Natasha Ariff and the Gorey Pedestrian and Cycling for a biodiversity bike ride and learn how we can protect nature in Gorey. The route will stop by several biodiversity sites in Gorey town where we will learn what we have around us, and how we can do so much more to protect our environment in Gorey. Followed by complimentary refreshments at Gorey Town Park
Time: 11:00pm – 1:00pm
Date: Sunday the 19th of May
Location: Meet at the Heritage Orchard (Next to the Fire Station in Gorey)
Suitability: All fitness levels. Everyone joining must have a roadworthy bicycle, a helmet, hi viz. Limited spaces
Irish Cycling Campaign (formerly Cyclist.ie) has been an active member of the European Cyclists’ Federation for many years – and really first going back to the mid-1990s when Dublin Cycling Campaign was the initial contact point with ECF before our own national body was formed. For the last 15 years (plus), we have attended the ECF AGM, and this year Damien Ó Tuama flew the ICC flag at the gathering. In this article, he shares some reflections on what was a fruitful and enjoyable trip.
Back in Zagreb It was great to be back in Zagreb, a city I first visited back in 2008 when on a camper-van adventure with a good friend and with two old single speed foldable bikes on board. Zagreb is a friendly city, and it’s an easy place to move about in on their distinctive blue trams and on foot. It’s also easy enough to bike around the city and I elaborate on this below. I was delighted to be in the Croatian capital again and this time reconnecting with my ECF colleagues, including those I worked with closely during my time on the ECF Board from 2016-2021.
The Formal AGM The ECF AGM was held in the quite beautiful “Journalist Building” which is close enough to the centre of the city. The building was funded by the Croatian Journalists’ Association, one of the oldest professional associations in Croatia (established in 1910), and it is still owned by it. It’s the meeting point for Croatian journalists and media workers, but also a venue for different cultural, literary, scientific and artistic events. It was a perfect size for our posse of around 60 participants, with a lovely view from the curved balcony as shown here.
The formal part of the AGM took place over two days – a full day’s business on the Friday and a further half day of debate and discussions on the Saturday morning.
ECF AGM delegates plus ECF staff – Photo kindly provided by ECF
The CEO of ECF is Jill Warren (@JillWarrenECF), and she has been at the helm of the organisation since 2020. Jill gave a great overview of what has been another effective year of advocacy work for ECF. Probably the highlight of the last year came in the last few months when the European Council, Commission and Parliament signed the European Declaration on Cycling, marking the official adoption of the first inter-institutional cycling policy at the European level. Amongst other benefits, this Declaration can be referred to by national organisations all around Europe as it shows the direction that transport policy needs to take over the coming years. Another work area that Jill highlighted were the significant lobbying efforts made to reshape the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which now sets, for the very first time, European minimum bicycle parking norms for virtually all types of buildings, both residential as well as non-residential – see here. Huge credit is due to all of the staff here, but particularly Fabian Küster who has been working on this topic for well over 5 years.
Overall, ECF is in good shape, with a wide portfolio of funding sources underpinning its day-to-day functioning and enabling it to employ 20+ super committed and knowledgeable staff members.
Some of Jill’s highlights of ECF’s work in 2023-2024
Elections for the board took place on Day #2 after the candidates had introduced themselves on Day #1. There was a very healthy interest in the process with a total of 16 candidates applying in February for four available board positions. I was part of a three person Nominations Committee, along with (current board member) Camille Thomé and (former board member) Raluca Fiser, that had the job of encouraging potential candidates to apply, analysing applications, interviewing candidates and producing a short-list of recommended candidates for the election itself – not an easy job with so many good applicants vying to be on the ECF Board!
Electronic voting underway in the ECF Board Elections
In the end, Henk Swarttouw (@copenhenken) from The Netherlands was re-elected as President of the Board (the only applicant for this position), with Sidsel Burk Hjuler (Denmark) and Graham Waston (UK) both re-elected for a second three year term, and with the final vacant position going to Siliva Casorran from Barcelona. They join the four existing board members Francesco Baroncini (Italy), Camille Thomé (France), Jan Vermeulen (Belgium) and Angela Francke (Germany). All in all, it’s a strong board with a decent gender mix and a reasonably good geographical representation, although it is missing someone from the eastern part of the Continent.
L-R: Tena Šarić Rukavina and Ema Tarabochia Veršić from Sindkat Biciklista
There was plenty of good debates at the AGM, particularly in regard to the mid-term review of the ECF Strategy and in response to the panel discussion on “How to make cycling an election issue?” In that session, ECF moderated a discussion with members on the strategies, tactics and messages needed to make cycling a relevant issue during election season, and how election campaigns focused on cycling can reach political incumbents and candidates from across the political spectrum. It was nicely moderated by Philip Amaral (@AmaralPhilip), ECF’s Director of Policy and Development, who is also ECF’s contact point for the European elections. These discussions will feed into Irish Cycling Campaign’s own plans ahead of the Local and European elections – see https://cyclist.ie/2024/04/asks-for-local-elections-candidates/.
Philip Amaral, ECF’s Director of Policy and Development
Some conclusions from the Croatian cycle campaigners on how to make cycling an election issue
Jens Peter Hansen (Danish Cyclists’ Federation) spoke on his work of quantifying motor vehicles’ close passing of him on Danish roads.
Getting About in Zagreb / Cycling Trips All of the AGM delegates has access to Zagreb’s Nextbike bike sharing scheme for the duration of the AGM and over the weekend, but I also took the tram quite a bit as it was super easy and convenient. Just 53c for a ticket if bought in advance (or 80c if bought from the tram driver). The trams themselves span a mixture of older ones going back to the 1950s (the ones common to much of Eastern and Central European cities – as shown below) to much bigger and slicker brand new ones (shown further below).
Hats off to local ECF Member group and the AGM hosts, Sindikat Biciklista (@cyklofil), for organising a really entertaining and informative city bike ride for all of the ECF participants! We started and finished at the Croatian National Theatre and got a great insight into the city’s history and culture – and its topography!
Shared running of trams and bikes in the centre of Zagreb ECF on tour in the old town!
Janko and Zvoni from Sindikat Biciclista, the Croatian Cycling Campaign
A sculpture by Ivan Meštrović showing Nikola Tesla, one of the most famous sons of Croatia (or of the Austrian Empire as it was then)
Sindikat Biciklista also organised a special cycle trip on the Sunday morning, where we explored the southern part of the city including the extensive sports campus in which cars are being systematically removed so as to reduce road dangers and encourage more walking and cycling.
The Sunday morning cycle crew. Back row, L-R: Stefan (Montenegro), Hugo (Switzerland), Damien (Ireland), Sladjana (Montenegro / Norway), Blazo (Montenegro), Igor (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Dejan (Montenegro), Dragan (Bosnia & Herzegovina); Front row, L-R: Silvia (Spain), Marko (Serbia), Robert (Croatia) – Photo kindly provided by Dragan!
One of Zagreb’s self-service egg vending machines
In terms of the quality of the cycling infrastructure in the city, it’s fair to say that it’s a real mixed bag. There are many cycle tracks positioned directly alongside footpaths on the main avenues, and people on bikes lose priority on a regular basis at side roads. There are also plenty of examples of ridiculously narrow cycle lanes – narrower than the width of one’s shoulders – which are squeezed in by removing space for pedestrians, while the main carriageways remain dominated by often multi-lane fast moving cars (as shown below). That said there are plenty of quieter streets where cycling is the perfect way to get about – particularly in the old town.
Both parked and fast moving cars dominate much of Zagreb’s public space – with super narrow cycle tracks squeezed in here and there
Social Events As important for catching up properly with colleagues from other ECF member groups are the social events organised as part of the AGM. We were very impressed to have the official ECF AGM 2024 dinner taking place at Dverce Palace, at the invitation of the City of Zagreb, with a welcome address by Mayor Mr. Tomislav Tomašević (shown below).
L-R: Jill Warren (ECF CEO), Henk Swarttouw (ECF President), Mr. Tomislav Tomašević (Major of Zagreb), Janko Večerina (President of Sindikat Biciclista, the Croatian Cycling Campaign) and the staff of the Mayor
The rest of the ECF AGM delegates!
And following the grandeur of the Mayor’s palace, we meandered down a narrow lane and slipped into a slightly hidden and much more informal jazz bar with a fine beer garden out the back for further catch-ups with colleagues.
In Summary As always, when meeting up with the ECF gang, it’s a lovely friendly affair. One is reconnecting with friends and colleagues, all of whom are campaigning hard in their own countries – and/or at an European level – to improve conditions for cycling and to make places more liveable. I’m particularly grateful to the hosts from Sindikat Biciklista (pictured below), who ran a brilliantly organised and most enjoyable AGM. They brought us to some fine formal venues, but also some very decent bars for music and chat – it’s so good to have that expert local knowledge guiding us in the host city! Hats off to Janko and his team for a fine job.
Personally, it was also great spending time with cycling campaigners from the Balkans – not only from Croatia, but also from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia (with their new e-biking organisation) — and getting a sense of how they are campaigning in their cities and towns. My most memorable conversations though were with the cycling advocates from TUBIDEF in Turkey. Of their group, Serafettin is from the city of Antakya, which was pretty much completely flattened in the earthquake of early 2023 – see here – including his entire district and apartment buildings which he showed me in recently captured videos of his area. It was quite unfathomable how obliterated his city was, and the massive death toll experienced there. My heart goes out to him and his people as they embark on a long journey of dealing with so much grief and rebuilding the city.
As always, it was a rich and enjoyable experience attending the ECF AGM and spending time with other campaigners who are properly clued into what is happening in their local and national political contexts, and who enjoy a chat and a beer. The next AGM of ECF will take place in Brussels in 2025 and, all going well, we will have a mini-delegation from Irish Cycling Campaign attending, including some new faces on our side.
The Irish Cycling Campaign’s initiative to prohibit or reduce fossil fuel advertising has moved forward a significant step with today’s Earth Day promotion by Paul Murphy TD of his Bill.
Deputy Murphy’s Bill was initially published last month. It seeks to prohibit the advertising of any fossil fuels, and any land vehicle or aircraft using fossil fuel. The way our transport system is skewed towards the use of cars, the dominance of our roads by car use, and the huge health detriments of our sedentary lifestyle and chronic car dependence are all worsened by advertising.
To quote Deputy Murphy, ‘Once you start to notice it, it is striking just how much car advertising there is: how many advertisements you see on TV are for cars; how many billboards are for car advertisements; and how much sponsorship of popular TV programmes, such as “The Late Late Show”, is from car manufacturers. There is evidence this has a direct link to the lack of media coverage of climate change, a topic, for example, that “The Late Late Show” has barely covered in all its years of showcasing shiny new cars. Last year in Ireland the number of new fossil-fuelled cars increased by 10% to more than 99,000’.
So some restriction on the ability of the motor industry to spend tens of millions in the Irish market would bring huge benefits to society. Action is long overdue.
The Bill’s already passed the first stage in the Oireachtas and received significant news coverage, such as the following:
Attending the press release at Buswells Hotel today was (centre of photograph) the Campaign’s Board Member Mary Sinnott, who worked to bring the issue to the attention of Deputy Murphy and team, filmmaker and activist Peadar King and Dr. Seán Owens, whose campaigning work focusses on the devastating effects of climate change on public health. Deputy Bríd Smith is on the far left, beside Deputy Murphy.
We understand that Sinn Féin also have a Bill, promoted by Senator Lynn Boylan aimed at restricting fossil fuel lobbying and (as an apolitical advocacy group) the Campaign will be glad to work with any body seeking to improve our transport choices, improve road safety, reduce air and noise pollution, and of course to limit climate change.
Reflecting on the Bill, Mary told the press conference,
‘Irish road transportation contributes 94% of transport-related greenhouse gases.Restricting fossil fuel product advertising will rebalance consumer choice towards sustainable modes of transport. It will reflect our national commitment to reduce our CO2 emissions by 2030, and to phase them out by 2050. Those committments we are already behind on.’
Mary quoted the poem “Begin” by Brendan Kenneally:
Though we live in a world that dreams of ending that always seems about to give in something that will not acknowledge conclusion insists that we forever begin
National Biodiversity Week 2024 runs over 10 days from Fri 17 to Sunday 26 May. It is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with funding provided to them by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The week is all about connecting people with nature and communicating the importance of biodiversity and the need to protect it. It’s also about entertainment and socialising though, and Irish Cycling Campaign is busy planning ‘Bikes and Biodiversity’ events in many parts of the country through our local groups. We acknowledge here the kind support of IEN (which we became a member of in late 2023) in enabling us to run these events.
You can see the full list of events here:
Local Group leading the Event
Bikes & Biodiversity Event
Website / Webpage with more info on the event
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted River Cycle in collaboration with Clochán Uisce (local rivers group), a cycle to explore the biodiversity in our local riversand check its health including kick sampling and water testing as part of the EU drinkable rivers program, Family friendly. Sunday 19th May at 3pm.
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted Bird Watch estuary Sunset cycle cycle from clinical town to the Inchydoney estuary identifying local bird species, run in collaboration with Bird Watch Ireland. Sat 18th May (time TBC – tidal related).
Clonakilty Bicycle Festival hosted Stop, Look, Listen Biodiversity cycle. Cycle a lap of the town to the biodiversity garden at Bennetts Field, and listen to three pieces of music on the theme of nature and biodiversity. Sunday 19th May, 10.30am.
Cloughjordan Cycling hosted `NatureCycles` – a guided looped cycle to natural heritage locations in the wider Cloughjordan area where the guide will inform about each locations nature value. The cycle will include a visit to a small family run organic farm to learn more about their diverse agri-ecosystem. Sunday 19th May.
Gorey Pedestrian & Cycling Association hosted Biodiversity Bike Ride. “Instead of Nature walks, come for a Nature cycle (or ride). The cycle route will stop by several biodiversity areas in Gorey. Learn what we have and how we can do so much more to protect the nature in Gorey.
Kerry Cycling Campaign hosted Nature Cycle along the Tralee to Fenit Greenway and meet some of the wild plants and habitats along the way. Tar linn arrothaíocht dhúlra ar Bhealach Glas Thrálí – Fhianait, ag buaileadh leis na plandaí ages ghnáthog fhiáin ar an slí. Led by Niamh Ní Dhúill (Natural Wild Gardens) and Cathy Eastman.
Hosted by Leitrim Cycling Festival with the Leitrim Hawthorn Project. As part of the Leitrim Cycling Festival (this year in Keshcarrigan), the event will celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the Hawthorn tree through music, dance, storytelling and sharing the folklore and medicinal properties of the tree and discovering its key role in supporting biodiversity. Facilitated by Tara Boath Mooney, artist, singer, facilitator who has helped lead the community heritage project and its research into the Hawthorn traditions throughout Leitrim.
Naas Cycling Campaign / Naas Biodiversity Group hosted event. Explore nature-friendly projects completed by the Naas Biodiversity Group in recent years. For example, our Pocket Forests, rainwater planters, plus hedgerows that have been newly planted or rejuvenated through hedge laying. Meet like-minded people and learn practical tips to protect nature in your local area! The event is children-friendly (and for people who are not super confident cycling!), as we’ll be cycling slowly and over a relatively short route.
When: Friday 17th May at 7-9pm
Where: Meeting at the Naas Lakes, Naas, Co. Kildare. We will cycle together to K Leisure, stopping along the way to discuss different projects.
No registration necessary, just turn up on the way! If you need a bike or have any questions, contact the Naas Biodiversity Group on [email protected] or 0894147367.
Sligo Cycling Campaign hosted ‘After work Biodiversity Cycle to Strandhill and Culleenamore Sand Dunes’ to study Coastal Biodiversity Picnic with supper included as participants will miss an evening meal at home. Guided by an Ecologist from Woodrow. Thu 23rd May 2024, 5.30pm to 9pm.
Wexford Bicycle User Group hosted Biodiversity Cycle to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve / Wexford Slobs with a guide from NPWS / Wexford Naturalist Field Club.
Adam D’Arcy from Cork Cycling Campaign is just back from Oulu in Finland and he has kindly sent Irish Cycling Campaign a little report on his cycling experiences in, arguably, the leading city in the world for winter cycling. Many thanks Adam!
This April (2024), I got to spend a week in Oulu, Finland as part of an Erasmus exchange with Oulu University. It is roughly the same size as Cork city in population but feels quite different in character.
The city grew in the 1960s when new industries expanded attracting workers from rural areas. The original street grid pattern was more intensely occupied, but new suburbs emerged with a mix of apartment blocks and single family homes nestled between the pine trees in a sort of park-like landscape.
The default wide paths are shared between walkers and cyclists, but they also have a network of two-way cycle routes (Baana) which provide a way to cycle almost anywhere with minimal interaction with cars. This enables school kids, students, workers or leisure cyclists to soak in some nature as they get around. Cars must yield to cyclists where these Baana cross the roads and, incredibly, the cars do stop!
By the use of underpasses they avoid busy roads, while the islands of the bay are linked by bridges providing nice views of the water framed by trees.
They style themselves as a leader in Winter Cycling and even in a good bit of snow, there were plenty of cyclists around. Most cyclists have summer tyres, but also winter tyres which have little metal studs and are essential in snow, thus enabling year round cycling.
With the help of Damien Ó Tuama and our friends in the European Cyclists’ Federation, I got in touch with the local branch of the Finnish Cyclists’ Federation – Oulun Polkupyöräilijät (try saying that after a few beers!) – and their Chairperson, Anni, kindly lent me a bike for the week for my daily commute to the university and other excursions. As it happened, they had a meeting lined up while I was there so I went along and met them for a pint and a chat.
They face similar issues to ourselves, cycle path maintenance, interaction with pedestrians etc., but all in all, they are streets ahead of us when it comes to daily cycling – about 20% of trips are done by bike and they want to do even more. Well worth a visit if you get half a chance.
If you are abroad over the coming months and end up in a place which has a strong cycling culture or in a city/country which is making special efforts to grow cycling – and you fancy penning a few words on your trip – we would love to hear from you! Just drop our National Cycling Coordinator a line here.
