On Tuesday 8th April 2025, Irish Cycling Campaign members Cllr. Donna Cooney, Colm Ryder and Miren-Maialen Samper joined Irish Doctors for the Environment to highlight the real and current dangers of climate change.
The campaigners converged on Granby Row, just off Parnell Square, at the newly unveiled billboard which reads “we have to kill fossil fuels before they kill us”. The aim of the billboard, located prominently in the public realm, is to exert pressure on the government to implement a ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship, and to regulate — as a matter of urgency — advertising that promotes fossil fuels.
As the organisers explained, pollution from fossil fuels causes more deaths globally than smoking. Fossil fuels are driving the greatest health crisis of our time, yet the fossil fuel industry continues to enjoy unrestricted advertising and sponsorship rights.
Both Irish Cycling Campaign and Irish Doctors for the Environment are member organisations of the Climate and Health Alliance which work to highlight the fact that the climate crisis is a health crisis. For more information on the Climate and Health Alliance, see https://climateandhealthalliance.wordpress.com/
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.
The hosts of the previous Erasmus+ Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project trips that Irish Cycling Campaign took part in set incredibly high standards with their stimulating programmes and by looking after their guests so well, so we were a little nervous in ICC in devising a Dublin programme that could match the quality of the previous ones. We were keen to ensure that everyone had rich and educational experiences of our capital city and surrounds.
But with the help of many fabulous volunteers from ICC – and, in particular, members of our Local Group, Dublin Cycling Campaign – we assembled a diverse programme that responded to the four big themes of the project: climate action, sustainable transport, social inclusion and intergenerational collaborations.
In this article, four of our active volunteers – Damien, Allison, Phil and Hugh – each provide a summary of the four core days of the programme, with further inputs and photographs shared by other ICC members.
There are many to thank for their support with the programme, but we wish to pay a special thanks to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, for his warm welcome to the city, and also to the staff of Dublin City Council for the loan of their Cycling Without Age trishaw which made a massive difference in terms of making our events fully inclusive for all of the Erasmus participants.
Friday 11 Oct [Damien Ó Tuama and Allison Roberts]
The Tailors’ Hall Session The Dublin leg kicked off in the lovely Tailors’ Hall on Back Lane after the visitors walked (and wheeled) their way over from the Generator Hostel on Smithfield Square where the group of 45 persons stayed.
Mairéad Forsythe, Chairperson of Irish Cycling Campaign, gave the formal welcome on behalf of ICC. She was followed by ICC’s National Cycling Coordinator, Damien Ó Tuama, who shared some of the history of the 300+ year old Tailors’ Hall, and introduced the group to the work of An Taisce and Irish Cycling Campaign. He also gave the group some insights into what’s happening with the Active Travel plans in Dublin City, and into the latest news on the development of the capital’s cycle facilities (as shown on the map below, kindly provided by the City Council).
Hugh and Chifly with the latest iteration of the Dublin City Cycle Network map
Following this local scene setting, each of the six partner organisations who had travelled to Dublin gave a mini-update on the latest news from their cities and towns.
Students from IES Alhama introducing their school and the latest news from Corella
Crucial to any visitor landing into Ireland is getting a grasp of the local lingo, and Hugh Raftery from Dublin Cycling Campaign shared some essential Hiberno-English phrases and descriptors of the Irish weather as shown here.
Hugh with the first of his posters listing the essential descriptors for the types of rainy conditions that students might encounter on their trip
The morning session concluded with two very interesting presentations which responded squarely to two of the overarching themes of the project.
Firstly, Przemek and Greg from Merchants Quay Ireland spoke to the students and the teachers about the work their organisation does. In essence, Merchants Quay Ireland, a registered charity that supports people affected by homelessness and addiction, offers food, advice, health care, mental health support and addiction services. It offers accessible and effective services in a non-judgemental and compassionate way.
The second mini-workshop was delivered by Solene from Voice, an Irish environmental charity that empowers individuals and local communities to take positive action to conserve our natural resources. Solene, pictured below, is working on the ”Fabric of Change” project, which is all about helping consumers understand the impact of their clothing choices on the environment, and empowering them to make more sustainable decisions. The attendees certainly came away from her session with a much clearer understanding of how fashion is one of the most polluting industries worldwide, creating major social and environmental issues.
Solene Schirrer from Voice
A Walking Tour of the City with Alita Irish Cycling Campaign was thrilled to have Alita Rivero to lead the walking tour of Dublin City. Alita is an Argentinian Dubliner who produced and edited the monthly Dublin Cycling Campaign newsletter for almost 10 years, and has a wonderful knowledge of the lanes and lore of the city. The group sampled many slices of the city as shown in some of the photos below.
Alita Rivera (on the right) leading the walking tour at St. Patrick’s Park – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
The walking tour included a quick visit to Drury Street Bicycle Parking Facility – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
A mini-stop on the Millennium Bridge – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
The trishaw and Bloomin Crumlin’s e-cargo bike made everything easier for our tour around the city – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
Dinner in Blas Café (Allison) We gathered at the Blas café (located in an old chocolate factory!) for our evening dinner, and were greeted with Irish tunes played by Brendan (on the uilleann pipes) and Joe (on guitar) – as pictured below. Hassan, our host and chef, put out canapes of little breads with beetroot hummus and then a buffet for us all to dig in. Everyone was hungry! The potatoes, chickpeas and salad (and chicken for the meat lovers) were all delicious, as were the dips, yoghurt and jalapeno. Definitely worth a visit if you haven’t been there! See https://www.blascafe.ie/.
Joe and Brendan entertaining the guests
A live sample from the session – Footage kindly provided by Karen Keogh from Newtown School
After dinner, we headed back to the Generator Hostel, where Ari and I were able to bunk in with Libya and Aroa, teachers from the Estella team.
Hugh and Damien receiving home grown melons from villa Maria and other edible gifts from Corella!
Saturday 12 Oct – Cycle Tour to Howth via Mud Island & Bull Island Nature Reserve [Allison]
On Saturday we woke early and enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the basement of the Generator hostel. Ari & I had brought up Clon Bike Fest t-towels which we had just enough for all the teachers and adults 🙂
Clockwise from front left – Ari, Chifly, Margarida, Edmundo, Tono and Cristina
At 9am we headed outside where rental bikes arrived from Irish Cycling Safaris (thanks Marion!) and River Cycles (thank you Paul!). The students and teachers chose their bikes and took a lap of the square to check the fit and brakes! Between the crew staying at the Generator Hostel and the 15+ Irish Cycling Campaign marshals, we had a full team of around 60 of us on bikes ready for the trip. Ari & I opted to marshall the rear of the bike convoy, along with Paul Corcoran from ICC on his cargo bike.
A brief encounter with Luke Kelly en route! – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella
Alita from Dublin Cycling Campaign – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella
We wove our way east alongside the Liffey and navigated lots of traffic lights, buses and drivers. When we reached the Convention Centre, we headed north towards our first stop at Mud Island Community Gardens. We spent about two hours at the gardens, looking around and learning about the project and the various wild herbs there as well as all around Ireland – from the importance of beauty and roses in treating shock (they were used as decoration for post-traumatic stress centers post war for soldiers), to alder as an important anti-bacterial, nettles as an important activator for the lymphatic system, and plantain as the best cure for nettle stings and good for healing wounds and digestive health!
Ari and I are still talking about the man who gave us the tour (Aaron Foley) and how he rubbed nettles all over his arms saying “they are only painful because we have been taught to think that” while he was covered in stings! After we got back to Clonakilty, Ari got a bunch of nettle stings and tried out the “it doesn’t really hurt it only tingles” tactic and it seemed to work!
Aaron Foley explains the importance of biodiversity in our world – Photo by Allison
Playtime in Mud Island with Danielle and Snoobles (Photo by Denis)
We learnt that the Mud Island Community garden was on an old dumping ground and only after years of appeals to the Council was it handed over to become a community garden. It now thrives as a social and inclusive space run completely by volunteers. After the tour, we had a load of sandwiches delivered from the nearby Cloud Café and set off then to continue onwards on our cycle.
We headed north along the City Centre to Clontarf cycle route and then onto the coastal cycleway. This was a great easy and flat cycle – with one good downpour that soaked us all but then the sun came straight out again! Next stop was Bull Island – an area of particular national importance for its dunes and biodiversity. We were very grateful to have with us Karin Dubsky, the Coordinator of Coastwatch Ireland, and Dave Tilly, a very knowledgeable local man with a particular understanding of how the intertidal zone functions and changes. So many birds and other creatures depend on the dunes there for food and nesting.
Ari and I had to then cut our visit short and we made our way for the last few kilometres to Howth for a Dart to Tara Street, and then cycled back west along the Liffey, and onto the train back to Cork!
Bull Island sea shells – Photo – Biciclistas de Corella
En route on the coastal cycleway – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
Photo Credit – Damien Ó Tuama
Meanwhile the rest of the Erasmus gang finished up their tour with Karin and David, and made their way to Howth for fish and chips at Wrights of Howth. After the bikes were collected, the crew continued their multi-modal day’s journeys by DART back to the city and then by foot (and tram) to the Generator.
A big thanks from Irish Cycling Campaign to all of our marshals who helped out over the course of the day. They were: Alina, Alita, Allison, Ciarán, Damien, Deirdre, Denis, Hugh, Mairéad, María, Patrick, Paul, Phil, Rory and Siobhán.
Sunday 13 Oct – Wicklow Day [Phil]
Nine AM was our pick-up time to be brought by coach to visit Beyond the Trees in the Avondale Estate in Co. Wicklow. The morning was overcast and pretty cold for a mid October day, so being well wrapped up was a good call.
Avondale House and Estate is the birthplace of Irish independence pioneer, Charles Stuart Parnell. It is also the home of Samuel Hayes, a man ahead of his time. Not only did he write Ireland’s first book devoted to trees, but he also realised that the native forests of Ireland were disappearing. He knew the solution was in afforestation and managing woodlands, so he set about creating a forest park on his land. After nearly 300 years since Hayes’ time, many of the trees survive today and are in a healthy and mature state. It’s through this forest where a 1.4km long treetop walk and viewing tower has recently been built and where we began our guided tour.
Photo – Phil Murray
Beautifully constructed from locally sourced wood, the treetop walk has a gentle gradient but at its peak is 23 metres off the forest floor. It’s designed to be fully accessible for all ages and abilities. One of the elderly members of our party who has mobility issues availed of a wheelchair provided by the guide.
As we made our way along we were told stories of the history of the estate as well as the forest and wildlife. Bats were found living in the attic of the estate house during renovations. As a protected species, provision was made to allow the bats to easily get in and out via small openings in the sloped roof. We also learned of the reintroduction of birds of prey such as the red kite and the return of the red squirrel – the native Irish squirrel that was pushed out by the invasive grey squirrel. It is believed that the hunting skills of the pinemartins have reduced grey squirrel numbers and thus allowed the red squirrel to regain its territory.
At the end of the walkway we arrived at the spectacular 38m high viewing tower. This huge and impressive structure – like the walkway – used locally sourced timber and was accessed by a gently sloping walk-way. 11 levels up to the top and we were met with a beautiful autumnal view of the local Avondale forest, rolling green fields and distant mountain peaks. Wicklow’s highest peak at 950m, Lugnaquilla was easily visible in a north-western direction.
Photo – Phil Murray
There were two options to descend the tower: take the walkway eleven levels down, or else take a high-speed (13 second long) option via a stainless steel tube slide. Needless to say, almost our entire group took the slide including our eldest and least mobile member. Some of the younger members took the slide a few times.
Photo – Phil Murray
Following a delicious lunch on site, a group of us went on a one-hour walk around the grounds. Taking us through mature forests, past an old train line and along the banks of the Avondale River it was a fitting end to a highly enjoyable day immersed in nature.
Aroa, Libia and Phil – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
The day did not end with the Wicklow trip though. After getting back to the Generator, the crew headed to upstairs in Slattery’s on Capel Street for some traditional grub, Dublin style. After the day outdoors and all the walking, their food went down well.
Monday 14 Oct – Lord Mayor’s Reception / Further City Explorations [Hugh]
Our final day kicked off with a visit to the Mansion House in Dublin and to meet James Geoghegan, the 356th Lord Mayor of Dublin. In what has now become an annual tradition, the Dublin Cycling Campaign presented the Lord Mayor with a bicycle for use over his term of office – see the separate Dublin Cycling Campaign story on this here. The group were delighted to get the chance to meet him outside the Mansion House.
Photo – Dublin Cycling Campaign
Photo – Dublin Cycling Campaign
We were welcomed into the Oak Room of the Mansion House, with an extended meeting with the Lord Mayor. He told us about the history of the Lord Mayor’s office. We then presented him with some gifts from Spain and Poland.
Photo – Courtesy of Dublin City Council
Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, addressing the Erasmus guests
A symbolic gift from Corella – Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
While in the Oak Room, we had a “Science Buzz” presentation by Michael Grehan. Michael is a Science Teacher from Belvedere College Dublin, and he demonstrated how physics is key to getting around by bicycle and to exploring the world around us. His demonstration was a real treat for both the teachers and the students.
Michael Grehan demonstrating the gyroscopic effect! Photo – Carlos Isaba
In the afternoon, the teachers and adults met in the café of the National Gallery for the Coordinators meeting of the Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project, while the students had some free time to explore the city further. Later in the afternoon then, we gathered at Foster Place for a Bike Disco organised by An Taisce to celebrate Climate Action Week, and the students had a chance to participate on a multi-person bike bus as shown below.
Photo Credit – Biciclistas De Corella
End of the Bike Disco outside of the offices of An Taisce on Foster Place – Photo – An Taisce
The four day / five night Learning / Teaching / Training trip finished up that night in the Generator Hostel with the awarding of certificates to all of the hard working participants, and with singing and mingling running late into the night.
In Conclusion
Over the course of the four full days, participants engaged with each of the overarching themes of the project: climate action, sustainable transport, social inclusion and intergenerational collaborations. ICC hopes that the activities undertaken will spur both students and adults to explore and act on these topics in greater depth over the coming years.
Another benefit was, of course, in forging stronger bonds and friendships between all of the project partners. It was a pleasure for ICC to host and to reconnect with our friends from Spain, Portugal, Poland, Waterford and beyond! We are already looking forward to travelling to Estella in Navarra in 2025 for the final Learning / Teaching / Training trip.
Irish Cycling Campaign wishes to thank our volunteers for their help with organising multiple aspects of the planning and execution of the programme – and particularly all of our marshals assisting on the group cycle on the Saturday. Thanks also to Dublin Cycling Campaigner Miren-Maialen Samper, who herself is from San Sebastian Donostia, who popped along over the course of the few days to welcome the crew in several languages.
Finally, we wish to pay a sincere thanks again to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, for his warm welcome to the Mansion House, and indeed to Dublin City Council’s staff for their support with many elements of the trip.
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Note
A summary video on the whole trip assembled by Biclistas de Corella can be viewed here:
It has been a busy few weeks in Irish Cycling Campaign, particularly the last week when we had the pleasure of hosting our Erasmus friends as part of the Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action project – and we’ll be posting a story on their experiences here next week.
A few weeks earlier though, Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) was delighted to be invited to the launch of the Shared Island Youth Forum Outcome Statement in the Printworks Event and Exhibition Centre, Dublin Castle. There were 250 civic representatives from across the island in attendance, and Taoiseach Simon Harris TD delivered the keynote address.
Taoiseach Simon Harris TD delivering the keynote address
The Shared Island Youth Forum comprises 80 young civic leaders from diverse backgrounds born since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The Forum met nine times over the last year to deliberate and agree upon a statement of their vision and values for the future of the island, across themes of Sustainability, Opportunity, Wellbeing, Culture, and Identity and Equality, with Irish Cycling Campaign feeding into the thematic session on Sustainability which was held in the Aviva Stadium in 2023.
Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, ICC’s National Cycling Coordinator, was at the launch flying the sustainable transport flag, along with Andrew McClean from Cycling UK Northern Ireland who had travelled from Belfast for the event. We were also delighted to bump into Caroline Whyte from Feasta and Karin Dubsky from Coastwatch Ireland (both member organisations of the Irish Environmental Network) at the launch.
Andrew McClean (Cycling UK Northern Ireland) and Caroline Whyte (Feasta) at the launch in Dublin Castle
Irish Cycling Campaign and Cycling UK Northern Ireland were particularly focused on the Sustainability strand of the vision, and were impressed to read the following (on page 8) within the Vision of Sustainability:
The island is connected by a fully integrated, localised and sustainable transport network, featuring:
a strong rail infrastructure, with a rail line to every county;
more trams, buses and commuter trains, and shared community cars;
safe walkways and improved cycling infrastructure;
a network of joined-up cycle paths and greenways that is a transformational amenity for residents and a driver for sustainable tourism.
Further on then under the section on “Inspiring Actions for a Shared Future”, Sustainability, the following is included:
Scale up investment in local accessible public transport, roads and cycling infrastructure for all; campaign to encourage more sustainable local tourism, through visiting and holidaying across the island (page 16).
It’s reassuring that the Youth Forum included these statements in their vision document. In fact, the values underpinning the report and the statements on sustainable transport above align well with Irish Cycling Campaign’s own values and vision – as can be read in our own statement of values here and in our recent submission on the All Island Strategic Rail Review.
Earlier today (Wed 09 Oct 2024) Irish Cycling Campaign attended the Workday Community Impact Awards in the lovely The Lighthouse Cinema on Smithfield Square. ICC was represented by our National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama.
While the Campaign’s application was not selected for the finalists’ list, it was worthwhile heading along after being invited to the awards. It’s always very interesting to meet others from the NGO sector who are campaigning and working on social issues, and who face similar challenges to those that ICC encounter – eg. raising the profile of the issues and fundraising.
After hearing pitches from the short-listed applicants, there followed a broad discussion on the role of business in supporting civil society (Community Groups, NGOs Social Enterprises), particularly in an inner city context. There were plenty of references to what’s sometimes (slightly clunkily!) called “the quadruple helix” of academia, business, government and civic society. This chimed with us in ICC as our work intersects with all four of those domains.
The winners of the awards were then announced by Minister of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohue. They were:
My Mind – whose mission is to positively change lives by providing professional, affordable, accessible therapy to anyone experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges. https://www.mymind.org/. First place.
Novas – a registered charity and Approved Housing Body working with families and single adults who are disadvantaged and socially excluded; primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. https://www.novas.ie/about-us/ – Second Place.
The Down Syndrome Centre – which provides crucial services to children with Down syndrome. https://downsyndromecentre.ie/ – Third Place.
Some images from the day are shown below.
Irish Cycling Campaign looks forward to engaging in the future with the attendees we met today!
Minister Paschal Donohue (left) and Graham Abell (Workday)
It’s just over a month before Irish Cycling Campaign welcomes the Erasmus+ partners to Dublin for the local leg of the international project that ICC is participating in.
The project is called Generations Cycling for Inclusion and Climate Action, and “Learning, Teaching and Training” cultural exchange visits have already taken place in Corella (Spain), Azambuja (Portugal), Waterford, and Wodislaw Slaski (Poland) – see the www.irishcyclngcampaign.ie website for stories on each of these.
The project partners will arrive into Dublin on Thursday 10th Oct and leave on Tuesday 15th, with four action packed days of activities in between. This will include a guided cycle for the 60+ visitors along some of Dublin’s brand new cycling infrastructure on Saturday 12 October.
We will be looking out to ICC members, and to Dublin Cycling Campaigners in particular, for some marshalling support for that group cycle, and for other help over the days of the trip. If you think you might be able to help out, please contact our National Cycling Coordinator (Damien Ó Tuama) here. All help very much appreciated so as to give a lovely warm welcome to the visitors.
Irish Cycling Campaign was contacted in May 2024 by Ann-Marie Conrado, Associate Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in the US. The reason: to explore the feasibility of us helping to steer a project conducted by its ‘Design Thinking’ students on the challenge of increasing cycling ridership in Dublin. The students were engaging in a Notre Dame Dublin study abroad program. We were delighted to get on board!
Research Process Soon afterwards, ICC members Colm Ryder and Dave Anderson joined the students in interactive and lively workshops to provide the background knowledge of what is happening in the cycling domain in Dublin and to help define the research question. Then in June, the team of Design Thinking students spent the month engaging on the streets with both cyclists and non-cyclists so as to understand the barriers to cycling, and proposing new approaches to addressing the challenges to get more people on bikes.
The students presented their findings to an ICC delegation on 27th June at the home of Notre Dame in Dublin, O’Connell House on Merrion Square. Additionally, the students also discussed their findings with a delegation from Sligo Cycling Campaign while in the west the following week.
Prof Ann-Marie Conrado with her University of Notre Dame students taking part in the project
On ‘Design Thinking’ itself, there appears to be no shortage of definitions of what it is, but essentially it can be thought of as an approach to problem-solving where it focuses on the solution to a problem instead of the problem itself. And according to Ann-Marie in conversations at the presentation, the process can be understood visually as a ‘double diamond’, which is a way to describe the steps taken in any design and innovation project, irrespective of methods and tools used. You can read more about it here.
Findings The students covered a lot in their condensed month-long project. They delved into some of the fears around cycling such as the difficulty in using the Dublin Bikes bike-sharing scheme for the first time, the safety fears around navigating on two wheels, and the fear of bike theft. Then they examined what they described as ‘trigger events’ in prompting people to take up cycling after a long absence. Amongst the opportunities the team identified were proposals around improving the navigability of the city centre, as shown here:
Additionally, their proposed solutions examined the need for better poster campaigns to remind commuters of how quick and predictable (journey time-wise) journeys by bike can be – and wider campaigns to share tips and information between new and experienced cyclists.
The students’ (59 slide long) presentation can be viewed here HERE and there is plenty in there for cycling advocates to chew on!
A Perspective from Sligo The eight members of Sligo Cycling Campaign who attended the Notre Dame presentation in the Sligo Park Hotel are looking forward to viewing it again and applying some of the learning. Initially we wondered if a cycling project researched in a Dublin context would be applicable in a town with a rural hinterland. We need not have worried as all of us were captivated by the positivity of the students and the transferability of their ideas. One thing that struck us was the value of diversity within the student team. They were students of Industrial Design, Political Science, English, Finance and other disciplines.
Cycling advocates are all too aware of the barriers to cycling and the presentation covered these, but the kernel of the presentation for us was the focus on opportunities. The students described a scenario where Emma’s bus is delayed in traffic and she looks out the window to see people on bicycles whizzing by, to a subsequent scene where Emma is deciding to try cycling to work. But there was no road to Damascus, rather incremental steps with various supports along the way. Some supports, for example the map mentioned above, targeted practical issues such as “I don’t know the way”. Others addressed deeper emotional obstacles, such as “I’m scared!”. In the students’ scenario, this fear was addressed by Emma joining a “Cycling Sisters” support group and cycling, in the first instance, away from busy traffic.
In Conclusion Irish Cycling Campaign sincerely thanks the students and staff of the University of Notre Dame for their work on this important topic. We think the collaboration was a valuable exercise, both for campaigners and students. We will, no doubt, be taking many of the recommendations forward as we advance our own advocacy strategy. We would also like to pay a special thanks to Eimear Clowry Delaney, Director of Notre Dame Dublin, for her contact with ICC from the outset.
Finally, if your institution (academic or otherwise) is interested in working with Irish Cycling Campaign to further explore how to reshape the mobility system so that everyday cycling plays a much bigger part, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us via [email protected].
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 …
PRESS RELEASE FROM IRISH CYCLING CAMPAIGN FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Dublin Cycling Campaign, the local branch of Irish Cycling Campaign, warmly welcomes the formal opening of the latest link of the Dodder Greenway – in this case, running alongside the river from Herbert Park to the N11 in Donnybrook, and connecting directly with Donnybrook Bridge (see map below).
This link is another important piece of the jigsaw in constructing a seamless and safe cycleway / greenway that will run from the River Liffey to Bohernabreena Reservoir in the Dublin Mountains. It also skirts around the edge of Donnybrook rugby stadium so it should help in providing a high quality cycle route for those choosing to cycle to the stadium for games.
Úna Morrison, Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, said:
“This is a great day for commuting and leisure cyclists in Dublin. This link adds to the evolving Dodder Cycleway that will, ultimately, connect the coast to the mountains with a near-completely motor traffic free route. We were delighted to see the recent links opened in the South Dublin County area, and now we commend the City Council in completing this link, which is due to be followed directly by an open consultation process on the section from Dundrum Road to Milltown Road”.
She added:
“The next element Dublin cyclists want to see is a super high quality link running from Dodder Park in Milltown/Clonskeagh and connecting into this facility – and also simplifying and greatly improving the N11 / Beaver Row / Ailesbury Road junction which is currently quite intimidating for novice cyclists. There are many schools in this area and there is simply huge potential to transform the commuting experience of many students”.
Mairéad Forsythe, Chair of the Board of Irish Cycling Campaign, said the following:
“South Dublin County Council have completed some fantastic sections of the Dodder Cycle Route in recent years, and already we are seeing simply huge numbers of locals and visitors using the route – both on foot and on cycles of all shapes and sizes. Many people are rediscovering their localities as a result of this investment in cycling.”
Irish Cycling Campaign’s National Cycling Coordinator, Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, noted:
“the launch of this link comes immediately after the National Transport Authority’s announcement of the €290 million in funds for cycling and walking infrastructure in 2024. We know from experience abroad, but now also in Ireland, that when we invest in high quality cycling and walking infrastructure that connects to important destinations, and when we introduce lower safer speed limits in built-up areas, we get significant shifts in how people choose to travel. This is all part of a wider transformation of our mobility habits and the decarbonisation of our culture. We are really looking forward to the completion of the full Dodder Route in due course”.
For further quotes, please contact:
Dr. Damien Ó Tuama, National Cycling Coordinator with Irish Cycling Campaign and An Taisce. Mobile 087-2840799
Cyclist.ie is delighted to announce a collaboration with Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland. CFEI is the only official provider of the EU-standard Cycle-Friendly Employer programme in Ireland. Developed by the European Cyclists’ Federation, the programme is aimed at getting more people on bikes and cycling to work. Together, Cyclist.ie and CFEI support the development of more cycle-friendly routes nationwide and more funding opportunities for cycling.
Cyclist.ie is the national cycling advocacy organisation for Ireland. At present it has 35 member groups countrywide in both urban and rural areas, and engages systematically with national level government departments and agencies, and with local authorities through its local groups. Cyclist.ie was founded in 2008 to advocate nationally for better cycling conditions, and built on the work of its member organisations, some of whom had commenced cycle campaigning over 30 years ago (as reported here). Cyclist.ie is the member for Ireland of the European Cyclists’ Federation and has engaged closely on European transport policy formation, through the ECF, for many years. Cyclist.ie is also a member of the Irish Environmental Network and The Wheel (Ireland’s national association of charities, community groups and social enterprises).
Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland is part of the European Cyclists’ Federation’s Cycle-Friendly Employer Consortium. Its goal is to help employers create cycle-friendly workplaces for their team, increase cycling confidence nationwide and encourage behaviour change to support Ireland’s green transition.
CFE is part of Ireland’s Sustainable Mobility Action Plan. Participation in the CFE scheme helps to:
Decrease carbon emissions
Reduce transport costs
Lower employee absence and improve wellbeing
Demonstrate one’s commitment to the environment and sustainability
Attract and retain talent and customers
The collaboration between Cyclist.ie and CFEI will work to increase awareness amongst companies / organisations in Ireland of the CFE certification framework, and of the campaigning and advocacy work of Cyclist.ie which is helping to reshape transport policy and culture in Ireland.
On the announcement of the alliance, Mairéad Forsythe, Chairperson of the Board of Cyclist.ie, said
“We are at an extremely exciting time in the development of cycling in Ireland. Cycling advocacy plays an integral and important role in influencing how progressive transport policy is developed, and Cyclist.ie is leading the way in recasting transport policy at local and national levels. But companies and other organisations also have a crucial role in influencing how employees commute to work – so Cyclist.ie is delighted to team up with Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland and help to shape how companies think about the development of local transport plans and the provision of cycling friendly infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Michael O’Boyle, CEO of Cycle Friendly Employer Ireland, said
“Companies and other organisations are now recognising the multiple benefits of having a healthy workforce with more employees cycling to work. It reduces emissions and is cheaper for employers and employees, and improves health outcomes. CFEI helps employers to measure their current cycle-friendliness and implement effective, actionable strategies to help more employees to cycle to work.
Our services include bike pool schemes, insurance, maintenance support and facilities consultation, as well as building community within and between cycle-friendly organisations.
Individual action can have a big impact and we are delighted to team up with Cyclist.ie to promote cycling throughout Ireland.”
All in all, the alliance between the two organisations is a positive move for cycling development in Ireland. Both organisations look forward to seeing – and to contributing to – the development of a strong cycling culture countrywide.
