The obesity epidemic is costing the State over €1.1 billion in direct health costs and indirect costs such as absenteeism, according to a major new study to be published today. Read article
Category Archives: Irish Posts
Ireland, see also NI
Ireland’s roads dangerous for children?
The Independent Child Death Review Group report uncovers high level of child fatalities attributable to Road Traffic Accidents
11 out of 68 non-natural child deaths known the HSE (and 3 out of 17 while in the care of the HSE) found to be attributable to Road Traffic Accidents
Cyclist.ie find this data scandalous but reject often-heard calls for children to be corralled away inside – childhood obesity is now a far higher risk; our streets must be made safer for all
Full report and relevant tables Continue reading Ireland’s roads dangerous for children?
Mammy State ruling is verging on the ridiculous
Just in case you thought that the Nanny State had gone away, think again.
In fact, make that the Mammy State, because nobody but a brooding, finger-wagging, cross Mammy could take exception to the vision of a Sound of Music-style family meandering through the woods on bicycles. The Mammy in question is the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland and the outrageous behaviour they espied consisted of a national press advertisement featuring a two adults and three children cycling on a lane-way through fields. Read article
Cyclists welcome rejection by An Board Pleanala of controversial Kerry N86 road design
Cyclists hail scrapping of NRA “fake greenway” scheme
Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s National Cycling Network and Lobby Group has welcomed An Bord Pleanala’s rejection of a controversial National Roads Authority (NRA) scheme for the N86 in the Dingle peninsula. The road upgrade scheme running from Camp to Dingle had attracted particular concern because the designers planned to co-locate a tourist cycling path directly beside high speed traffic for the entire length of the scheme (28km).
See also Irish Times article
Cyclists welcome changes to Traffic Regulations
Traffic law changes end a grave injustice say cyclists. Cyclists celebrate end of unfair traffic regulation.
Cyclist.ie, the network for all the cycling campaigns in Ireland, has welcomed the recent ending of the regulation requiring mandatory use of cycle tracks by cyclists. The removal of the obligation was long sought for and was included as Objective 15.4 of the Government’s National Cycle Policy Framework (April, 2009). The changes to the Traffic Regulations were released by the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD in September and became law earlier this month. As acknowledged in the National Cycle Policy Framework, much of the cycling infrastructure constructed in Ireland is of a poor standard and can place cyclists in a dangerous position – such as inside turning HGVs.
Example of ill-designed cycle lane
Continue reading Cyclists welcome changes to Traffic Regulations
Number of cycling commuters rises dramatically
CYCLING TO work, college or school has risen by 15 per cent nationally since 2006 and – more dramatically – by more than a third in Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Cork, according to an analysis of last year’s census. Read more
But work to do in Limerick & Waterford
The bicycle – a new favourite icon for art and business
Popular and modern, the bike has captured the public imagination and is being idealised by artists and businesses. Read article
CSO data: Student Travel
Submission to Road Safety Authority
Minister Kelly announces €4.5m funding for 11 ‘Active Travel’ towns
Initiative will lead to a more cycle friendly culture across the country
Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly has today announced over €4.5 million funding for walking and cycling infrastructure as part of the ‘Active Travel Towns’ Programme.
The initiative sees eleven successful Irish towns granted funding for local cycling and walking strategies – including new cycle-lanes, provision of walkways and behavioural change initiatives in local schools and workplaces to encourage people to switch their transport mode. Continue reading Minister Kelly announces €4.5m funding for 11 ‘Active Travel’ towns